Sarah Mitchell
A vicar general, previously known as an archdeacon, is the principal deputy of a bishop or archbishop of a diocese or archdiocese. They are the highest official in a diocese after the ordinary and are appointed by the bishop or archbishop to act as their agent in administration. The vicar general exercises the bishop's ordinary executive power over the entire diocese, and their jurisdiction is necessarily universal in the whole diocese, for both persons and causes. When addressing a Catholic vicar general, the appropriate form of address is The Very Reverend.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Title | The Very Reverend |
| Postnominals | V.G. |
| Face-to-face address | Very Reverend (full name) |
| Formal written address | The Very Reverend (full name) |
| Abbreviation | Vic |
| Position | Second-in-command to the bishop or archbishop |
| Appointment | Appointed by the bishop or archbishop |
| Jurisdiction | Universal in the whole diocese, but not absolute |
| Powers | Administrative authority, acts on behalf of the bishop |
| Requirements | Doctorate or licentiate in canon law or theology, or an expert in these fields |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
- The Very Reverend (full name), (if Vicar General, add V.G. postnominals)
- Vicars General are the highest official of a diocese after the ordinary
- A vicar general is a local ordinary and acquires power by virtue of office
- The vicar general is the bishop's agent in administration, acting as second-in-command
- The vicar general's power extends to all causes in ordinary episcopal jurisdiction
The Very Reverend (full name), (if Vicar General, add V.G. postnominals)
When addressing a Catholic Vicar General, the correct form of address is "The Very Reverend [full name], V.G.". The "V.G." postnominals are added to indicate that the cleric is a Vicar General.
A vicar general is the principal deputy of a bishop or archbishop of a diocese or archdiocese, and they are the highest official in a diocese after the ordinary. They are appointed by the bishop or archbishop to exercise the bishop's ordinary executive power over the entire diocese. This includes administrative and judicial functions, such as the external administration of the diocese and control of the inferior clergy.
Vicars general are usually priests, auxiliary bishops, or coadjutor bishops, and they must possess a certain level of expertise in canon law or theology. They are not to be blood relations of the bishop or clerics of the diocese, although there is no general law to this effect.
The title "Vicar General" and its associated form of address are specific to Western Christian churches, such as the Latin Church of the Catholic Church and the Anglican Communion.
The Fine Line Between Love and Lust
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Vicars General are the highest official of a diocese after the ordinary
A vicar general is the highest official of a diocese after the ordinary. They are the principal deputy of the bishop or archbishop of a diocese or an archdiocese for the exercise of administrative authority. They possess the title of local ordinary.
Vicars general are appointed by the bishop or archbishop of a diocese or archdiocese. They are the bishop's agent in administration, acting as second-in-command for diocesan executive matters. They are appointed for a fixed duration and can be removed from office for a grave reason. The vicar general exercises the bishop's ordinary executive power over the entire diocese, and their power is necessarily universal in the whole diocese, both for persons and causes.
The power of the vicar general extends to all causes in the ordinary episcopal jurisdiction, except those which common law or the bishop may have reserved or made dependent on a special mandate. The vicar general cannot substitute another cleric in their place to exercise their whole jurisdiction, but they may appoint delegates for special causes.
In terms of addressing a vicar general, they are titled "Very Reverend". When writing to a vicar general, the style is "Rev. Mr. (full name)".
St. Christopher Necklace: Catholic or Not?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
A vicar general is a local ordinary and acquires power by virtue of office
In the Catholic Church, a vicar general is a representative of the bishop and holds a position of authority. When addressing a vicar general, the formal style "The Very Reverend" is used, followed by their full name, and the postnominals V.G. are added, for example, "The Very Reverend John Smith, V.G.".
A vicar general is considered a local ordinary, which means they possess or exercise ordinary jurisdiction connected permanently or in a stable way with an office. Ordinary jurisdiction is typically territorial and personal, as in the case of popes and bishops, but it can also be restricted to certain persons, such as regular prelates, abbots, generals, and provincials of religious orders. These individuals are not considered local ordinaries, as their jurisdiction concerns individuals rather than localities.
Vicars-general and diocesan officials are ordinaries, and they derive their power ("ordinary jurisdiction") from their office. This is in contrast to delegated jurisdiction, which is a temporary grant of power from a superior to an inferior. For example, a delegated judge versus an ordinary judge.
The local ordinaries, including vicars-general, derive their authority from Divine law or ecclesiastical law. They are granted the power to legislate, adjudicate, and govern within their jurisdiction. This power is acquired by virtue of their office, meaning that their position or role confers upon them the authority to carry out their duties and responsibilities.
Incorruptibles: Beyond Catholicism
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The vicar general is the bishop's agent in administration, acting as second-in-command
A vicar general is the principal deputy to the bishop of a diocese, acting as the bishop's agent in central administration and as second-in-command. The vicar general is the highest official in a diocese after the ordinary and possesses the title of local ordinary. The vicar general is the bishop's right hand, and the bishop's ordinary executive power is shared with the vicar general. The vicar general has executive power over the whole diocese, caring for its day-to-day activities.
The vicar general is legitimately deputed to exercise the bishop's jurisdiction in the bishop's name, so that the vicar general's acts are considered the acts of the bishop himself. The vicar general's power extends to all causes in the ordinary episcopal jurisdiction, except those which common law or the bishop may have made dependent on a special mandate. The vicar general cannot substitute another cleric in their place to exercise their whole jurisdiction, but they may appoint delegates for special causes.
The office of vicar general is unique, and there should not be several of them in one diocese. The vicar general is freely appointed and removed by the bishop, and the bishop cannot suppress the office. The historical origins of this office date back to the fourth century, and the Second Vatican Council referred to it as "the most important office in the diocesan curia".
When addressing a vicar general, the style "The Very Reverend" is used, with the postnominals V.G. added. For example, "The Very Reverend John Smith, V.G.".
Adult Confirmation: Your Catholic Faith Journey
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The vicar general's power extends to all causes in ordinary episcopal jurisdiction
A vicar general is the principal deputy of a bishop or archbishop of a diocese or archdiocese for the exercise of administrative authority. They are the highest official in a diocese after the ordinary and are legitimately deputed to exercise the bishop's episcopal jurisdiction. The vicar general's power extends to all causes in ordinary episcopal jurisdiction, except those which common law or the bishop may have reserved or made dependent on a special mandate. The vicar general's tribunal is one with the bishop's, and there is no appeal from one to the other.
The vicar general's power is necessarily universal in the whole diocese, both for persons and causes. However, this universality is not absolute but moral, and the bishop can restrict it to certain places and causes. The bishop cannot concede to the vicar-general any jurisdiction outside the bounds allowed by law, legitimate custom, or express Apostolic indults. The wide powers of administration now enjoyed by the vicar-general were previously held by the archdeacon, who was the first among the seven deacons. The vicar general acts as the bishop's agent in administration and is second-in-command for diocesan executive matters.
In the Catholic Church, a diocesan bishop or archbishop must appoint at least one vicar general for their diocese or archdiocese. They may appoint more, especially if their territory is split into different states. The vicar general must be a priest, auxiliary bishop, or coadjutor bishop. An auxiliary bishop who is an episcopal vicar or a coadjutor bishop who is a vicar general may only be removed from office for a grave reason. They retain the duties and responsibilities of the office until a succeeding bishop is installed.
In terms of addressing a vicar general, the style "The Very Reverend" is used, followed by their full name. If they are a vicar general, the postnominals V.G. are added. For example, "The Very Reverend John Smith, V.G.". When writing to a vicar general, the style "Rev. Mr." followed by their full name is used.
Who Are Northern Ireland's Catholic Football Players?
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
A vicar general is the principal deputy of the bishop or archbishop of a diocese or an archdiocese for the exercise of administrative authority. They are the highest official in a diocese after the ordinary.
A vicar general acts as second-in-command for diocesan executive matters. They are appointed by the bishop and exercise the bishop's ordinary executive power over the entire diocese.
When addressing a Catholic vicar general, the following titles are used: The Very Reverend, Vic (Vicar), and V.G. (postnominals).
A vicar general must possess a doctorate or at least a licentiate in canon law or theology, or be an expert in these fields. They must also be a priest, auxiliary bishop, or coadjutor bishop.
