What do these titles mean?

[Mathochist]

I’m currently working my way through Ulysses again and have hit a passage whise detailed contents aren’t necessary for comprehension of the points (thus my not teasing out meaning earlier). It’s a list of clergy present at a certain meeting.

Amongst the clergy present were the very rev. William Delany, S. J., L. L. D.; the rt rev. Gerald Molloy, D. D.; the rev. P. J. Kavanagh, C. S. Sp.; the rev. T. Waters, C. C.; the rev. John M. Ivers, P. P.; the rev. P. J. Cleary, O. S. F.; the rev. L. J. Hickey, O. P.; the very rev. Fr. Nicholas, O. S. F. C.; the very rev. B. Gorman, O. D. C.; the rev. T. Maher, S. J.; the very rev. James Murphy, S. J.; the rev. John Lavery, V. F.; the very rev. William Doherty, D. D.; the rev. Peter Fagan, O. M.; the rev. T. Brangan, O. S. A.; the rev. J. Flavin, C. C.; the rev. M. A. Hackett, C. C.; the rev. W. Hurley, C. C.; the rt rev. Mgr M’Manus, V. G.; the rev. B. R. Slattery, O. M. I.; the very rev. M. D. Scally, P. P.; the rev. F. T. Purcell, O. P.; the very rev. Timothy canon Gorman, P. P.; the rev. J. Flanagan, C. C.

Now, I know S. J. is “Society of Jesus” and I D. D. is Doctor of Divinity (“Divinitatis Doctor”), but I’m pretty lost on the rest of the acronyms. Also, what exactly is the difference between “reverend”, “very reverend”, and “right reverend”?

[Lsura]

Ok, from what I can see, these are the abbreviations you didn’t know, right? The ones I can identify from this site are:

L. L. D. -
C. S. - Probably Congregation of the Missionaries of St. Charles (Scalabrinians) (there are two C.S. entries)
C. C.
O. S. F - Franciscan Brothers or Sisters
O. P. - Order of Friars Preachers (Dominicans)
O. S. F. C -
O. D. C - Carmelites (Discalced, Indian, Teresian & Thapelong Carmel)
V. F - Vicar Forane
O. M - Minim Fathers
O. S. A. - Order of St. Augustine (Augustinians)
V. G. - Vicar General
O. M. I. - Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate
M. D.
P. P - Parish Priest

[Ponster]

From www.m-w.com

Reverend
– a member of the clergy – sometimes used in plural as a title
Very Reverend
– used as a title for various ecclesiastical officials (as cathedral deans and canons, rectors of Roman Catholic colleges and seminaries, and superiors of some religious houses)
Most Reverend
– used as a title for an archbishop or a Roman Catholic bishop
Very Reverend
– used as a title for various ecclesiastical officials (as cathedral deans and canons, rectors of Roman Catholic colleges and seminaries, and superiors of some religious houses)

[Ponster]

Oops…forgot…
Right Reverend which refrers to a a bishop.
Here’s a good link incase you’re introduced to a canon or primate and don’t know how to address them !
http://www.canadianheritage.gc.ca/progs/cpsc-ccsp/pe/address5_e.cfm

[Nametag]

Lsura, you missed C. S. Sp. – Congregation Sancti Spiritus

Those you couldn’t identify:

L. L. D. - Well, this is a “Doctorate in Laws,” but it might also mean something in the Church. OTOH, many prominent clergymen have honorary LLDs.

C. C. – Dunno. Catholic Charities?

O. S. F. C - I’m guessing “Order of Saint Francis (Capuchin)”

M. D. – This is somebody’s initials, not one of the titles.

[Ponster]

C.C. = Church Clerk I believe.