# What do these titles mean? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 25, 2004, 11:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-these-titles-mean/236323 "2004-03-25T11:01:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mathochist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c89c15/32.png) [@Mathochist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mathochist)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2004, 11:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-these-titles-mean/236323/1 "2004-03-25T11:01:00Z")
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”? ---
**Author:** ![Lsura](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7993a0/32.png) [@Lsura](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lsura)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2004, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-these-titles-mean/236323/2 "2004-03-25T12:49:48Z")
Ok, from what I can see, these are the abbreviations you didn’t know, right? The ones I can identify from [this site](http://www.catholicdoors.com/misc/abbrev.htm) 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 ---
**Author:** ![Ponster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponster/32/17081_2.png) [@Ponster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponster)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2004, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-these-titles-mean/236323/3 "2004-03-25T13:00:11Z")
From [www.m-w.com](http://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) ---
**Author:** ![Ponster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponster/32/17081_2.png) [@Ponster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponster)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2004, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-these-titles-mean/236323/4 "2004-03-25T13:03:22Z")
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](http://www.canadianheritage.gc.ca/progs/cpsc-ccsp/pe/address5_e.cfm) ---
**Author:** ![Nametag](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nametag/32/406_2.png) [@Nametag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nametag)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2004, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-these-titles-mean/236323/5 "2004-03-25T17:08:58Z")
**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. ---
**Author:** ![Ponster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponster/32/17081_2.png) [@Ponster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponster)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2004, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-these-titles-mean/236323/6 "2004-03-25T17:13:51Z")
C.C. = Church Clerk I believe.