Monsignor (/ mɒnˈsiːnjər / mon-SEEN-yər; Italian: monsignore [monsiɲˈɲoːre]) is a form of address or title for certain members of the clergy in the Catholic Church. Monsignor is the apocopic form of the Italian monsignore, meaning "my lord".
Monsignor, a title of honour in the Roman Catholic Church, borne by persons of ecclesiastic rank and implying a distinction bestowed by the pope, either in conjunction with an office or merely titular.
The title of monsignor in the Roman Catholic Church signifies a priest who has distinguished himself and has been honored by the Pope for his service to the church.
The term monsignor means literally “my lord.” In some countries it is common to address bishops as monsignor. In the United States and some other countries, we usually refer to a bishop as “bishop” or sometimes, “your excellency.”
The designation “Monsignor” is not a rank or office but an honorific form of address or title bestowed upon certain priests. From the Italian monsignore —meaning, “my lord”—“Monsignor” is usually abbreviated as “Msgr.”
The meaning of MONSIGNOR is a Roman Catholic prelate having a dignity or titular distinction (as of domestic prelate or protonotary apostolic) usually conferred by the pope —used as a title prefixed to the surname or to the given name and surname.
A. “Monsignor” is a title bestowed on a priest who has distinguished himself by exceptional service to the church. It is a title granted by the pope — typically, upon the recommendation of ...
If we may be permitted to use a comparison, Monsignor in the spiritual order corresponds to the word officer in the military. The highest general and the youngest lieutenant are equally officers, and the most venerable patriarch bears the title Monsignor as well as the simplest honorary chaplain.