Arms of the Monsignors

Monsignor is properly speaking not a rank itself; it is merely a style given those clergymen who hold one of the following honorary titles or offices. The ornaments of each differ from each other, requiring that each be addressed seperately.

Prelates di fiocchetto -- The men who hold the office of Vice Chacellor of the Holy Roman Church, Prefect of the Pontifical Household, Auditor General (now extinct), and Treasurer General of the Apostolic Church (now extinct) have historically had a special heraldic entitlement. Most often, these officials hold episcopal rank and so use the oranments of a bishop or higher. But, if the holder of one of these offices is not a bishop, he ornaments his coat of arms with a purple galero and 20 red fiocchi, arranged 10 on each side. Purple was the color used by members of the papal court, and is now the color used by lesser prelates of the curia. The red tassels were to show in times past that these men were just a step away from a cardinals hat, something which more or less is still true today.

Protonotary Apostolic -- The oldest rank of monsignors, these men along with the cardinals provided the bureaucracy for the Church in the Middle Ages. Since the Middle Ages, these priests have used a purple galero with 12 red fiocchi to show their proximity to becoming cardinals. Originally, there were only seven notories, and today these seven are termed protonotaries de numero (of the number). All those who hold the title as a honorary title are protonotaries supernumero (above the number). Both groups use the same heraldic ornaments.

Prelates of Honor -- This rank of monsigors came into existence in the 17th century. Today clergymen with this title use a purple galero with 12 purple fiocchi, arranged six on each side.

Chaplains of His Holiness -- The lowest rank of monsignors, priests with this title ornament their coat of arms with a black galero and 12 purple fiocchi, six on each side.

Alberto di Jorio Auditor General before elevation to Cardinalate in 1958.		Ernesto Fuffini Protonotary Apostolic		Michael Corona, KCHS Prelate of Honor The cross emblem above the shield belongs to the Order of the Holy Sepulchre Courtesy of designer & artist Fr. G. Selvester		Francesco Monterisi Chaplain of His Holiness

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