After some hesitation about the opportunity and interest of writing about this colourful subject, I present to the reader some points concerning the title and choir attire commonly used by the founder and superior general of the Institute of Christ the King. Monsignor Gilles Wach.

1) Michael Davies interviewed Monsignor Wach on the 20th anniversary of his priestly ordination, and when he was asked about his title, Monsignor Wach declared that "today I am vicar general emeritus, and my title was only durante munere."

2) Monsignor Wach was at some time one of the two vicars general of the diocese of Mouila, in Gabon. Mouila was then and remains today a minuscule diocese; the Annuario Pontificio of 1991 informs that in Mouila there were 75,000 Catholics, 1 bishop, 12 priests and 5 seminarians. Whatever extraordinary situation which required two vicars general in Mouila does not seem to exist today, since only one vicar general is listed in the current Annuario Pontificio. Other traditionally-minded priests who made their studies in Rome in the late seventies and early eighties happen to be incardinated in this African diocese. Bishop Cyriaque Obamba ruled the diocese from 1977 to 1992 and he was considered as being favourable to Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre.


3) Until 1969, a vicar general was given "durante munere," –exclusively during his term of office--, the privileges of a Titular or Honorary Protonotary, according to the Motu Proprio of St. Pius X, "Inter Multiplices Curas," 21 February 1905. This included the title of Reverend Monsignor and a special black choir dress.

4) I quote from that particular document, paragraph 62 :"Pariter, qui Vicarii Generalis aut etiam Capitularis munere fungitur, hoc munere dumtaxat perdurante, erit Protonotarius Titularis; hinc, si Dignitate aut Canonicatu in Cathedrali non gaudeat, quando Choro interesse velit, habitu Protonotarii praelatitio, qui infra describitur, iure utetur." Essentially: A vicar general was a Titular Protonotary during his term of office; he had the right to the dress code indicated below.

5) Paragraph 64: "Extra Urbem, dummodo Summus Pontifex eo loci non adsit, in sacris functionibus rite utuntur habitu praelatitio, nigri ex integro coloris, idest veste talari, etiam, si libeat, cum cauda (numquam tamen explicanda), zona serica cum duobus flocculis a laeva pendentibus, rochetto, mantelleto et bireto, absque ulla horum omnino parte, subsuto aut ornamento alterius coloris." Which means that the choir dress of a vicar general was the black cassock, with a black silk sash ending in two black tassels, a rochet without any coloured lining other than black, a black woolen mantelleta, lined and trimmed with black, and a black biretta with black pompon. In the case of a vicar general, this privilege was restricted, just as the choir dress of a canon, to the territory of the diocese.

6) Paragraph 67: "Super habitu quotidiano, occasione solemnis conventus, audientiae et similium, ... zonam tantum sericam nigram, cum laciniis item nigris, gestare poterunt, cum pileo chordula ac floccis nigris ornato." In solemn occasions these Titular Protonotaries could use over the normal black cassock a black sash made of silk, with black fringes, and also if they wished a hat with black cord and tassels. Silk was a restricted material as well, hence the privilege.

7) Paragraph 76: "Vicarii Generales ... si quavis ex causa a munere ... cessent, eo ipso, titulo, honoribus et iuribus ipsius Protonotariatus excident." Title, honours and privileges expire with the term. There is no such thing as a "courtesy title" for a former vicar general.

8) The same regulations concerning Titular Protonotaries were confirmed by Pope Pius XI in his Apostolic Constitution "Ad Incrementum Decoris," 15 August 1934, paragraph 59: "Protonotariorum honorariorum munera, iura, privilegiaque describuntur in praefatis Litteris Apostolicis, sub numeris 59-76."

9) The superior general of the Institute of Christ the King wears a choir dress consisting of purple cassock and sash with purple tassels, a rochet with cuffs lined in amaranth red silk, a purple mantelletta, and a black biretta with purple pompon. He wears as well silver buckled shoes, a black cassock trimmed and lined with crimson, crimson buttons, purple rabbi, a purple silk sash with purple fringes, and a purple ferraiolo. Before 1969, this was the choir and social dress of a Domestic Prelate of His Holiness, not the one of a simple Titular Protonotary. I have also seen in the Institute's website a few pictures of Monsignor Wach wearing the purple and gold-lined "tabarro," the cloak with cape and with velvet collar, used exclusively by bishops until its explicit suppression in 1969. And is it a discreet purple "cauda" what I can see in some other pictures?

10) After the Instruction of the Secretary of State "Ut Sive Sollicite," 31 March 1969, the particular choir dress of Monsignor Wach coincides with the one of a Protonotary Apostolic de Numero Participantium, one of the very few high prelates of the Roman Curia who do not have episcopal rank. The Instruction of 1969, by the way, suppressed the tassels in the sash and the buckled shoes.



11) In my opinion, Monsignor Gilles Wach has no right to the title of Monsignor, nor can he use choir or social dress different from a simple priest. Nevertheless, since he was ordained by the pope, he is entitled by custom (maybe even by privilege, I have no documentary references) to have purple buttons and trimming in his cassock; I believe this is still in vigour, and yet I never saw a priest who took advantage of it. Monsignor Wach is a doctor in Theology, and he could as such wear a ring outside liturgical functions. But please do not tell him that!



Maybe someone would like to ask officially the Sacred Congregation for the Clergy. I already did unofficially and got a good laughter.