Protonotary apostolic

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In the

Roman Catholic Church, protonotary apostolic (PA; Latin: protonotarius apostolicus) is the title for a member of the highest non-episcopal college of prelates in the Roman Curia or, outside Rome, an honorary prelate on whom the pope has conferred this title and its special privileges. An example is Prince Georg of Bavaria
(1880–1943), who became in 1926 Protonotary by papal decree.

History

In

In the Middle Ages, the protonotaries were very high papal officials and were often raised directly from this office to the

cardinalate.[2] Originally numbering seven, Pope Sixtus V (1585–90) increased their number to twelve. Their importance gradually diminished, and at the time of the French Revolution, the office had almost entirely disappeared. On 8 February 1838, Pope Gregory XVI re-established the college of real protonotaries with seven members called protonotarii de numero participantium, also known as numerary protonotaries, because they shared in the revenues,[1] as officials of the Roman Chancery
.

Since the sixteenth century, the popes had also appointed honorary protonotaries, who enjoyed the same privileges as the seven real members of the college; and titular protonotaries, who held a corresponding position in the administration of the episcopal ordinariate or in the collegiate chapter.[1]

By the motu proprio Inter multiplices of 21 February 1905, Pope Pius X defined the position of the protonotaries, ... privileges, dress, and insignia of the members of the four classes:

  • Apostolic protonotaries de numero (protonotarii apostolici de numero participantium), members 'within the number' of the college of prelates, who exercised their office in connection with the acts of consistories and canonizations, had a representative in the Congregation of the Propaganda, and, according to the reorganization of the Curia by the Constitution "Sapienti consilio" of 29 June 1908, signed the papal Bulls instead of the earlier
    abbreviatores
    .
  • Apostolic protonotaries supernumerary (protonotarii apostolici supranumerarii), a dignity to which only the canons of the four Roman patriarchal
    basilica majors
    (the Lateran and the Prefects of the Diocese of Rome, St. Peter's, St. Mary Major, St. Paul Outside the Walls), and of cathedral chapters outside Rome to which the privilege had been granted, could be raised;
  • Apostolic protonotaries ad instar (protonotarii apostolici ad instar sc. participantium), who were appointed by the pope and had the same external insignia as the real protonotaries;
  • Titular or Honorary Protonotaries (protonotarii titulares seu honorarii), who were found outside Rome, and who received this dignity from the
    vicar capitular
    .

Present practice

An example from more recent times:

  • Roger Morin, Chancellor of the Archdiocese of Ottawa, Episcopal Vicar for the Religious Orders and Chaplain of Rideau Hall, became a Protonotary Apostolic during the Mass of Thanksgiving on April 22, 1987 (Notre Dame Cathedral - Ottawa ON Canada - Archbishop Joseph Aurele Plourde, presider).

Since 1969 (following Pope Paul VI's issuing of two motus proprios, Pontificalis Domus of March 28, 1968 and Pontificalia Insignia of June 21, 1968), the four classes are reduced to two:

  • Generic coat of arms of a protonotary apostolic
    Generic coat of arms of a protonotary apostolic

See also

References

 This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domainHerbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "Prothonotary Apostolic". Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company.

Sources