List of ecclesiastical abbreviations

None

The ecclesiastical words most commonly abbreviated at all times are proper names, titles (official or customary), of persons or corporations, and words of frequent occurrence.

The Jewish scribes and Talmudic scholars also had frequent recourse to abbreviations. Between the seventh and ninth centuries the ancient Roman system of abbreviations gave way to a more difficult one that gradually grew up in the monastic houses and in the chanceries of the new Teutonic kingdoms. Merovingian, Lombard, and Anglo Saxon scripts offer each their own abbreviations, not to speak of the unique scotica manus or libri scottice scripti (Irish hand, or books written in the medieval Irish hand). Eventually such productive centres of technical manuscripts as the Papal Chancery, the theological schools of Paris and Oxford, and the civil law school of Bologna set the standards of abbreviations for all Europe.

Medieval manuscripts abound in abbreviations, owing in part to the abandonment of the uncial, or quasi uncial, and the almost universal use of the cursive, hand. The medieval writer inherited a few from Christian antiquity; others he invented or adapted, in order to save time and parchment. They are found especially in manuscripts of scholastic theology and canon law, annals and chronicles, the Roman law, and in administrative documents, civil and privileges, bulls, rescripts. They multiplied with time, and were never so numerous as on the eve of the discovery of printing; many of the early printed books offer this peculiarity, together with other characteristics of the manuscript page.

The development of printing brought about the abandonment of many abbreviations, while it suggested and introduced new ones a process also favoured by the growth of ecclesiastical legislation, the creation of new offices, etc. There was less medieval abbreviation in the text of books much used on public occasions, e. g. missals, antiphonaries, Bibles; in one way or another the needs of students seem to have been the chief cause of the majority of medieval abbreviations. The means of abbreviation were usually full points or dots (mostly in Roman antiquity), the semicolon (eventually conventionalized), lines (horizontal, perpendicular, oblong, wavy curves, and commas). Vowel sounds were frequently written not after, but over, the consonants. Certain letters, like p and q, that occur with extreme. frequency, e. g. in prepositions and terminations, became the source of many peculiar abbreviations; similarly, frequently recurring words like et (and), est (is). Habit and convenience are today the principal motives for using abbreviations. Most of those in actual use fall under one or other of the following heads: Administrative, Liturgical, Scholastic, and Chronological.

The first class of abbreviations includes those used in the composition of Pontifical documents. They were once very numerous, and lists of them may be seen in the works quoted below (e. g. Quantin, Prou). It may be well to state at once that since 29 December 1878, by order of Leo XIII, the great papal documents (Litterae Apostolicae) are no longer written in the old Gothic hand known as bollatico; all abbreviations, with the exception of a few obvious ones, like S. R. E., were abolished by the same authority (Acta Sanctae Sedis, XI, 465–467). In the transaction of ordinary business the Roman Congregations are wont to use certain brief and pithy formulas (e. g. Negative = "No"; Negative et amplius = "No with emphasis"). They are not, correctly speaking, abbreviations. For a list of these see Canon law. This class includes also the abbreviations for the names of most sees. The full Latin titles of all existing (Latin) dioceses may be seen in the Roman annual, "Gerarchia Cattolica", a complete list of the Latin names of all known dioceses (extant or extinct) is found in the large folio work of the Comte de Mas Latrie, "Trésor de chronologie, d'histoire et de géographie" (Paris, 1884). For the same purpose the reader may also consult the episcopal catalogues of the Benedictine Pius Bonifacius Gams, "Series Episcoporum Ecclesiae Catholicae" (Ratisbon, 1873–86), and the Franciscan Conrad Eubel, Hierarchia Catholica Medii Ævi (Münster, 1898–1902). Under this general heading may be included all abbreviated forms of addresses in ordinary intercourse, whether of individuals or of members of religious orders, congregations, institutes, to which may be added the forms of addresses usual for members of Catholic lay societies and the Papal orders of merit. (See Catholic societies, orders of merit.) The abbreviations of the titles of Roman Congregations, and of the individual canonical ecclesiastical authorities, belong also to this class.

A second class of abbreviations includes those used in the description of liturgical acts or the directions for their performance, e. g. the Holy Mass, the Divine Office (Breviary), the ecclesiastical devotions, etc. Here may also be classed the abbreviated forms for the name of God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost; also for the names of the Blessed Virgin, the saints, etc. ; likewise abbreviations used in the administration of the Sacraments, mortuary epitaphs, etc. (to which class belong the numerous Catacomb inscriptions); finally some miscellaneous abbreviations like those used in the publication of documents concerning beatification and canonization.

In the third class belong scholastic abbreviations, used to designate honorific titles acquired in the schools, to avoid the repetition of lengthy titles of books and reviews, or to facilitate reference to ecclesiastical and civil legislation.

In the fourth class of abbreviations belong all such as are used to describe the elements of the year, civil or ecclesiastical.

A. D. – Ante Diem (e. g. in the phrase, "Ante Diem VI [or Sextum] Kal. Apriles", is equivalent to the sixth day before the Calends of April, counting both the Calends and the day intended to be indicated); or Anima Dulcis ("Sweet Soul")
A. Q. I. C. – Anima Quiescat In Christo ("May his [or her] Soul Repose in Christ")
B., BMT. – Bene Merenti ("To the Well Deserving")
B. M. – Bonae Memoriae ("Of Happy Memory")
B. F. – Bonae Feminae ("To the Good Woman")
B. I. C. – Bibas [for Vivas] In Christo ("May you Live In Christ")
B. M. F. – Bene Merenti Fecit ("He erected this to the Well Deserving")
B. Q. – Bene Quiescat ("May he [or she] Rest Well")
C. – Consul
CC. – Consules ("Consuls")
C. F. – Clarissima Femina ("Most Illustrious Woman")
Cl. V. – Clarissimus Vir ("Most Illustrious Man")
C. O. – Conjugi Optimo ("To my Excellent Husband")
C. O. B. Q. – Cum Omnibus Bonis Quiescat ("May he [or she] Repose With All Good souls")
COI. – Conjugi ("To my Husband [or Wife]")
CS., COS. – Consul
COSS. – Consules ("Consuls")
C. P. – Clarissima Puella ("Most Illustrious Maiden")
D. – Depositus ("Laid to rest"); or Dulcis ("Dear One")
D. D. – Dedit, Dedicavit ("Gave", "Dedicated")
DEP. – Depositus ("Laid to rest")
D. I. P. – Dormit In Pace ("Sleeps in Peace")
D. M. – Diis Manibus ("To the Manes [of]")
D. M. S. – Diis Manibus Sacrum ("Sacred to the Manes [of]")
D. N. – Domino Nostro ("To Our Lord")
DD. NN. – Dominis Nostris ("To Our Lords")
E. V. – Ex Voto ("In Fulfilment of a Vow")
EX. TM. – Ex Testamento ("In accordance with the Testament of")
E VIV. DISC. – E Vivis Discessit ("Departed from Life")
F. – Fecit ("Did"); or Filius ("Son"); or Feliciter ("Happily")
F. C. – Fieri Curavit ("Caused to be made")
F. F. – Fieri Fecit ("Caused to be made")
FF. – Fratres ("Brothers"); Filii ("Sons")
FS. – Fossor ("Digger")
H. – Haeres ("Heir"); Hic ("Here")
H. L. S. – Hoc Loco Situs ("Laid [or Put] in This Place")
H. M. F. F. – Hoc Monumentum Fieri Fecit ("Caused This Monument to be Made")
H. S. – Hic Situs ("Laid Here")
ID. – Idibus ("On the Ides")
IDNE. – Indictione ("In the Indiction" – a chronological term)
I. L. H. – Jus Liberorum Habens ("Possessing the Right of Children" – i. e., eligibility to public office under age)
INB. – In Bono ("In Good [odour]")
IND. – Same as IDNE
INP – In Pace ("In Peace")
I. X. – In Christo ("In Christ")
K. – Kalendas ("Calends"); or Care, Carus, Cara ("Dear One"); or Carissimus[a] ("Dearest")
K. B. M. – Karissimo Bene Merenti ("To the Most Dear and Well deserving")
L. – Locus ("Place")
L. M. – Locus Monumenti ("Place of the Monument")
L. S. – Locus Sepulchri ("Place of the Sepulchre")
M. – Martyr, or Memoria ("Memory") or Monumentum ("Monument")
MM. – Martyres ("Martyrs")
M. P. – Monumentum Posuit ("Erected a Monument")
MRT. – Merenti ("To the Deserving")
N. – Nonas ("Nones"); or Numero ("Number")
NN. – Nostris ("To Our" – with a plural) or Numeri ("Numbers")
O. – Hora ("Hour"); Obiit ("Died")
OB. IN XTO. – Obiit In Christo ("Died In Christ")
OMS. – Omnes ("All")
OP. – Optimus (Excellent, or Supremely Good)
P. – Pax ("Peace"); or Pius ("Dutiful"); or Ponendum ("To be Placed"); or Pridie ("The Day Before"); or Plus ("More")
P. C. – Poni Curavit ("Caused to be Placed")
P. C., P. CONS. – Post Consulatum ("After the Consulate")
P. I. – Poni Jussit ("Ordered to be Placed")
P. M. – Plus Minus ("More or Less"); or Piae Memoriae ("Of Pious Memory"); or Post Mortem ("After Death")
PP. – Praepositus ("Placed over")
PR. K. – Pridie Kalendas ("The Day Before the Calends")
PRB. – Presbyter ("Priest")
PR. N. – Pridie Nonas ("The Day Before the Nones")
P. T. C. S. – Pax Tibi Cum Sanctis ("Peace to Thee With the Saints")
PZ. – Pie Zeses ("May you Live Piously" – Greek)
Q., Qui. – Quiescit ("He Rests")
Q. B. AN. – Qui Bixit [for Vixit] Annos ("Who lived  years")
Q. I. P. – Quiescat In Pace ("May he [or she] Rest in Peace")
Q. V. – Qui Vixit ("Who Lived")
R. – Requiescit ("He Rests"); or Refrigerio ("In [a place of] Refreshment")
Reg. – Regionis ("Of the Region")
S. – Suus ("His"), or Situs ("Placed"), or Sepulchrum ("Sepulchre")
SC. M. – Sanctae Memoriae ("Of Holy Memory")
SD. – Sedit ("He sat")
SSA. – Subscripta ("Subscribed")
S. I. D. – Spiritus In Deo ("Spirit [rests] in God")
S. P. – Sepultus ("Buried"), or Sepulchrum ("Sepulchre")
SS. – Sanctorum (Of the Saints)
S. V. – Sacra Virgo ("Holy Virgin")
T., TT. – Titulus, Tituli ("Title", "Titles")
TM. – Testamentum ("Testament")
V. – Vixit ("He Lived"), or Vixisti ("Thou didst Live")
VB. – Vir Bonus ("A Good Man")
V. C. – Vir Clarissimus ("A Most Illustrious Man")
VV. CC. – Viri Clarissimi ("Most Illustrious Men")
V. H. – Vir Honestus ("A Worthy Man")
V. X. – Vivas, Care (or Cara) ("Mayest thou Live, Dear One"), or Uxor Carissima ("Most Dear Wife")
X., XPC., XS. – Christus ("Christ")

A. A. – Augustiniani Assumptionis (Assumptionists)
A. B. A. – Antoniani Benedictini Armeni (Mechitarists)
C. J. M. – Congregatio Jesu et Mariae (Eudist Fathers)
C. M. – Congregatio Missionis (Lazarists)
C. M. – Congregatio Mariae (Fathers of the Company of Mary)
C. P. – Congregatio Passionis (Passionists)
C. PP. S. – Congregatio Pretiosissimi Sanguinis (Fathers of the Most Precious Blood)
C. R. – Congregatio Resurrectionis (Resurrectionist Fathers)
C. R. C. S. – Clerici Regulares Congregationis Somaschae (Somaschi Fathers)
C. R. I. C. – Canonici Regulares Immaculatae Conceptionis ("Canons Regular of the Immaculate Conception")
C. R. L. – Canonici Regulares Lateranenses ("Canons Regular of the Lateran")
C. R. M. – Clerici Regulares Minores ("Clerks Regular Minor", Mariani)
C. R. M. D. – Clerici Regulares Matris Dei ("Clerks Regular of the Mother of God")
C. R. M. I. – Clerici Regulares Ministrantes Infirmis ("Clerks Regular Attendant on the Sick", Camillini, Camilliani)
C. R. P. – Congregatio Reformatorum Praemonstratensium (Premonstratensians)
C. R. S. P. – Clerici Regulares Sancti Pauli (Barnabites)
C. R. S. P. – Clerici Regulares Pauperum Matris Dei Scholarum Piarum ("Clerks Regular of the Poor Men of the Mother of God for Pious Schools", Piarists)
C. R. T. – Clerici Regulares Theatini (Theatines)
C. S. B. – Congregatio Sancti Basilii (Basilians)
C. S. C. – Congregatio A Sancta Cruce (Congregation of Holy Cross)
C. S. P. – Congregatio Sancti Pauli (Paulists)
C. S. Sp. – Congregatio Sancti Spiritus (Holy Ghost Fathers, Spiritans)
C. S. V. – Clerici Sancti Viatoris (Clerks, or Clerics, of St. Viateur)
C. SS. CC. – Congregatio Sacratissimorum Cordium (Missionaries of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary)
C. SS. R. – Congregatio Sanctissimi Redemptoris (Redemptorists)
F. S. S. P. – Fraternitas Sacerdotalis Sancti Petri (Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter)
F. S. S. P. X – Fraternitas Sacerdotalis Sancti Pii X (Society of Saint Pius X)
I. C. R. S. S. – Institutum Christi Regis Summi Sacerdotis (Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest)
Inst. Char. – Institutum C(h)aritatis (Rosminians)
L. C. – Legio Christi (Legionaries of Christ)
M. C. – Missionaries of Charity
M. S. – Missionaries of La Salette (France)
M. S. C. – Missionarii Sancti Caroli ("Missionaries of St. Charles")
M. S. C. – Missionarii Sacratissimi Cordis ("Missionaries of the Most Sacred Heart")
O. C. – Ordo C(h)aritatis (Fathers of the Order of Charity)
O. Camald. – Ordo Camaldulensium (Camaldolese)
O. Cart. – Ordo Cartusiensis (Carthusians)
O. Cist. – Ordo Cisterciensium (Cistercians)
O. C. C. – Ordo Carmelitarum Calceatorum (Carmelites)
O. C. D. – Ordo Carmelitarum Discalceatorum (Discalced, Barefoot Carmelites)
O. C. R. – Ordo Reformatorum Cisterciensium (Cistercians, Trappists)
O. F. M. – Ordo Fratrum Minorum (Observant Franciscans)
O. F. M. Rec. Order of Friars Minor Recollects
O. M. – Ordo [Fratrum] Minimorum (Minims of St. Francis of Paola)
O. Merced. – Ordo Beatae Mariae Virginis de Redemptione Captivorum (Mercedarians, Nolaschi)
O. M. C. – Ordo Minorum Conventualium (Conventual Franciscans)
O. M. Cap., O. F. M. Cap., O. M. C. – Ordo Minorum Cappucinorum (Capuchins)
O. M. I. – Oblati Mariae Immaculatae (Oblate Fathers of Mary Immaculate)
O. P., Ord. Fratr. Praed. – Ordo Praedicatorum (Dominicans)
Ord. Praem. – Ordo Praemonstratensium (Premonstratensians, Norbertines)
O. S. A. – Ordo [Eremitarum] Sancti Augustini (Augustinians)
O. S. B. – Ordo Sancti Benedicti (Benedictines)
O. S. C. – Oblati Sancti Caroli (Oblate Fathers of St. Charles)
O. S. F. C. – Ordinis Sancti Francisci Capuccini (Franciscan Capuchins)
O. S. F. S. – Oblati Sancti Francisci Salesii (Oblate Fathers of St. Francis of Sales)
O. S. H. – Ordo [Eremitarum] Sancti Hieronymi (Hieronymites)
O. S. M. – Ordo Servorum Mariae (Servites)
O. S. P. P. E. – Ordo Sancti Pauli Primi Eremitae (Pauline Fathers)
O. SS. C. – Oblati Sacratissimi Cordis (Oblate Fathers of the Sacred Heart)
O. Trinit. – Ordo Sanctissimae Trinitatis (Trinitarians)
P. O. – Pretres de l'Oratoire, Presbyteri Oratorii (Oratorians)
P. S. M. – Pia Societas Missionum (Fathers of the Pious Society of Missions, Pallottini)
P. S. S. – Presbyteri Sancti Sulpicii, Pretres de S. Sulpice (Sulpicians)
S. C. – Salesianorum Congregatio (Congregation of St. Francis of Sales – Salesian Fathers)
S. D. S. – Societas Divini Salvatoris (Society of the Divine Saviour)
S. V. D. – Societas Verbi Divini (Divine Word Missionaries Steyler Missionaries, Verbites)
S. J. – Societas Jesu (Society of Jesus Jesuits)
S. M. – Societas Mariae (Marists)
S. M. O. C. S. G. – Sacer Militaris Ordo Constantinianus Sancti Georgii (Sacred Military Constantinian Order of Saint George)
S. M. O. M. – Supremus Militaris Ordo Melitensis (Sovereign Military Order of Malta)
S. P. M. – Societas Patrum Misericordiae (Fathers of Mercy)
S. J. C. – Canonici Regulares Sancti Joannis Cantii (Canons Regular of Saint John Cantius)
S. S. C. – Columban Fathers (Missionary Society of St Columban)
S. S. S. – Societas Sanctissimi Sacramenti (Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament)
S. T. S. – Societas Trinitatis Sanctae (Society of the Holy Trinity)