Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-10-17
TITLE OF MONslCNIIOIR| t
Soon to Be Coaisnsd on FlthsT SIetun
 Explained By flthsr Crowley.

| CT Slocum has brought the word mon- signor prominently before the pub He; and as l have been asked many times what is It's significance | thought that to the readers of the Democrat few words on the sub- ject might prove interesting. The College of Protonotaries dates back to the days of St Clement I, who chose certain men noted for piety. prudence and zeal. to record the Acts of the Martyrs. Rome was then divided into seven districts and at the head called "proto' or first notary and 1 hence the name.
 When the prosecutions ceased the functions of the notarics changed, but the office was still retained. and in modern times under the general title of mOnsignOri are four classes, name l ly, CD 'Protonotaries Partici- pantes";; t2) "Protonotaries Supra numerarii":: t3) "Protonotaries ad instar"; (4) "Protonotaries Honor- arii'
 | Whilst the official documents have not yet arrived, 1t is probably to the "Ad instar" class that Father Slocum will be elevated. They are 'ipso- jure" prelatcs of the pontificial household, subject however to the ordinary of the diocese in all matters of jurisdiction. They are the ones | who come under the appellati0n of domestic prelates. The rank of do- nestle prelate traces its particular origin to the establishment of the | College of Cardinals to which. since the eleventh century. the temporal | administration of the church has been committed.
 The "Praetali Curiae" or "Praelati Domus," as the domestic prelates are called, became the intermediates be- tween the pope as the head of the administration. and the cardinals as his chief ministers. They are more numerous than "Praelati partici- pantes," and are priests living in Rome or in other parts of the world. whom the holy see wishes to honor on account of their learning, piety , and zeal for religion In more mod fern times their special duty in Rome has been to give assistance to pro- tonotaries of the first class in their various arduous duties, and outside of Rome to perform the work in their particular localities similar to that of the protonotaries in Rome and al- though of grade lower than the Participates" (of which there are only seven) they enjoy almost the same privilege.
 The dress of the domestic prelate is that of the regular prelate---that is. yiolet-colored socks. collar .and cassock with fastened trail; silk bek with double pendant at the left side; mantellette tcloak) over the rochet Ca species of surplice). The biretta tpriest's cap) Is black with red tuft; the hat also black with silk band of red; red also are the trim mings and buttons of the cassock [ tpriest's regular habiD and man. telette. This is the dress for solemn ceremonies. A second dress for less solemn occasions consists of violet socks and collar, black cassock with red buttons and trimming of the same color, violet belt and cloak of violet without trimmings.
 To, the office of domestic prelate are attached many privileges. chief 1 amongst which are the following: They may pontifcate at mass. with the consent of the ordinary. with the following restrictions: They neither use the ''faldutorium" tbishop's seat) nor the "gremiale" Clap cloth) of the bishop. Outside the cathedral church they are privileged to have an assistant priest vested in cope. unless the ordinary or higher dignitary is present. They may also wear the ring and in pontificating the pectoral cross of plain gold and at vespers may use the insignia for pontiflcal mass. Assisting at solemn pontifcal mass of another bishop they may wear the mitre. but remain with head uncovered whilst assisting him in any ceremony. Vested in prelatic dress they take precedence over other priests and all prelates who have not the privilege of the pontificalia. As the domestic prelacy is not sacrainental dignity. but one of honor and rank. the liturgy of the church does not recognize it in a special way | hy separate ceremonial and hence there arc no prescribed ceremonies of investiture. The following ritual has been used on many occasions: 1. The ordinary sits on the throne or on the '.predella" ltop step of the altar) and makes short address.
 q The assistant priest. standing on the 'predella. reads the brief of appointment in Latin and in the ver- nacular.
 2. The monsignor is led to the throne or the altar where he remains standing.
 (. The ordinary blesses the roehes with the "Benedictio ad omnia" (blessing for all things for which there is no particular blessingl.
 .. The ordinary then sits and places the rochet over the monsig- nor's head: and. after the rochet Is adjusted. the ordinary puts the man. talette over the monsignor's should CTS and fastens it.
 6. This ceremony may take place al any time. If 1t takes place before mass. the monsisnor assists In full dress
 will close by acknowledging mv indebtedness to the pages of the American Ecclesiastical Review for the material of this communication.
 1T. NJ. C..