How Do I Address A Bishop If I Meet One?

[chrysostom]

One person told me to say "your excellency" or simply "bishop" or "Bishop so-and-so" (Bishop lastname or Bishop firstname?).  For those of you who have experience in this sort of thing, what has been the norm?  And does anyone, anywhere, kiss the ring?

 

Not particularly worried, just curious.

Edited June 22, 2014 by chrysostom

[Spem in alium]

My diocese's bishop (now retired), is simply called "Bishop" or "Bishop (first name/surname)". "Your Excellency" is fine to use, though I never heard anyone address my bishop as that. I never saw anyone kiss his ring, either. 

[Nihil Obstat]

Bishop [lastname] is most common right now. "Your excellency" and "your grace" are more formal.

[Credo in Deum]

Bishop [lastname] or "your excellency". When greeting your own Bishop you would want to kneel on your left knee and kiss his ring out of respect for his office. If you cannot kneel then you can bow and kiss his ring. You would also bow if the Bishop is not your Bishop. You would also do these when leaving the Bishop's presence.

[truthfinder]

Your grace is typically for Britain, but also used in some dioceses of Canada; I don't think it is of common usage in the US.

[bernadette d]

Your grace is typically for Britain, but also used in some dioceses of Canada; I don't think it is of common usage in the US.

 

In England "Your grace" is for Archbishop and "My lord" is usual for Bishop. Fewer and fewer Bishops, it seems to me, want you to kiss the ring and even make it difficult for one to do so.

[Nunsense]

In England "Your grace" is for Archbishop and "My lord" is usual for Bishop. Fewer and fewer Bishops, it seems to me, want you to kiss the ring and even make it difficult for one to do so.

 

At one convent where I was, the Prioress was speaking to the Bishop on the phone and she addressed him as 'Your Lordship'. She laughed when she told me he responded by saying, "Yes, your Ladyship?" After that she just called him Bishop and he seemed happier with that! :)

[mortify ii]

"Yo, Bishop!"

[oremus1]

it depends on the bishop. some really prefer to be called Excellency, and expect you to kiss their ring. others would find that very weird, and prefer a handshake and being called 'bishop lastname' or sometimes even 'bishop firstname'. ive met a few and come across both types. personally I err on more formal than less formal unil you can gauge which one they prefer. there used to be indulgence available for kissing the bishop ring. not sure if there still is??

Edited June 22, 2014 by oremus1

[CatherineM]

Your Grace here. I used to call my favorite bishop Slats. I was young and cocky then.

[Selah]

In the west, excellency, in the east, master

[John Ryan]

Is it proper to call a bishop "father"?

[Selah]

Not that I am aware of. That's more of a title reserved for Priests. Though, I doubt a Bishop with any humility would correct you.

[superblue]

so how come as catholics we do not slobber all over a priests ring and bow or curtsy or call the priest some other fancy title to honor his role as priest.

 

But gimme some time as I am still flipping through my bible and catechism to find out where and why it is right and more over expected to go above and beyond a normal greeting. 

[Nihil Obstat]

so how come as catholics we do not slobber all over a priests ring and bow or curtsy or call the priest some other fancy title to honor his role as priest.

 

But gimme some time as I am still flipping through my bible and catechism to find out where and why it is right and more over expected to go above and beyond a normal greeting. 

In days gone by it was customary to bow and kiss a priest's hand. And we still call him "father", so........ y'know... Y u gotta be liek dat?

Is it not appropriate to honour those who have authority over us?

[Credo in Deum]

But gimme some time as I am still flipping through my bible and catechism to find out where and why it is right and more over expected to go above and beyond a normal greeting.

It is done out of respect for their office. God has called them and annoited them. Their positions are not ones of an earthly city but of a heavenly kingdom. Who else acts in persona Christi? Who else has been given the authority to forgive or retain sins? Who else has been given the privlage of consecrating the Holy Eucharist? It was common for Catholics to have a devotion to the hands of a priest. So common that enemies of the Church would notice this and therefore chop the priest's hands off so they could not say Mass or perform their sacred functions. The early Christians used to venerate these hands as relics.

Why do we not practice this type of devotion today? My guess is because lay Catholics and sadly the clergy, have lost their faith in the True Presence of Christ in the Holy Eucharist. Edited June 23, 2014 by Credo in Deum

[superblue]

It is done out of respect for their office. God has called them and annoited them. Their positions are not ones of an earthly city but of a heavenly kingdom. Who else acts in persona Christi? Who else has been given the authority to forgive or retain sins? Who else has been given the privlage of consecrating the Holy Eucharist? It was common for Catholics to have a devotion to the hands of a priest. So common that enemies of the Church would notice this and therefore chop the priest's hands off so they could not say Mass or perform their sacred functions. The early Christians used to venerate these hands as relics.

Why do we not practice this type of devotion today? My guess is because lay Catholics and sadly the clergy, have lost their faith in the True Presence of Christ in the Holy Eucharist.

 

 

Thanks for putting that into perspective, I was not thinking in terms of an anointed /heavenly kingdom, and I never knew priests long ago had their hands chopped off by enemies of the church that is really interesting.

 

I did know how ever that some European practice was to chop off the two fingers used to shoot an arrow rendering the fighter useless as well, why I know that an not the other * shrugs *...

 

 I Guess where I take issue is how this extra respect now is only given to bishops and higher, and no longer to the priest.  as you have already pointed out.  And I hope at least clergy are not losing or have lost any faith in the True Presence of Christ in the Holy Eucharist.  If that is the case then it is becoming the blind leading the blind.

 

ty

[Nihil Obstat]

 

 I Guess where I take issue is how this extra respect now is only given to bishops and higher, and no longer to the priest.  as you have already pointed out.  And I hope at least clergy are not losing or have lost any faith in the True Presence of Christ in the Holy Eucharist.  If that is the case then it is becoming the blind leading the blind.

 

ty

During the processional and recessional at Mass many of us bow to the priest as he passes us. Why do you think we do that?

We all call him "Father." In this very casual, informal society we live in now, we try to do whatever we can to show extra respect to our priests. Why do we do it?

[Anomaly]

Your Grace here. I used to call my favorite bishop Slats. I was young and cocky then.

Would that be Lynch in St. Pete?

[MIKolbe]

protip-

 

do not call him 'dude'