List of Ecclesiastical Abbreviations - Abbreviations in General Use, Chiefly Ecclesiastical

Abbreviations in General Use, Chiefly Ecclesiastical

• A.B. – Artium Baccalaureus ("Bachelor of Arts")
• Ab. – Abbas ("Abbot")
• Abp. – Archbishop
• Abs. – Absens ("Absent")
• A.C. – Auditor Camerae (Auditor of the Papal Treasury)
• AC – Ante Christum ("Before Christ")
• ACN – Ante Christum Natum ("Before the Birth of Christ")
• A.D. – Anno Domini ("Year of Our Lord")
• a.d. – ante diem ("The day before")
• Adm. Rev. – Admodum Reverendus ("Very Reverend")
• Adv. – Adventus ("Advent")
• Alb. – Albus ("White" – Breviary)
• al. – alii, alibi, alias ("others", "elsewhere", "otherwise")
• A.M. – Anno Mundi ("in the year of the world")
• A.M. – Artium Magister ("Master of Arts")
• A.M.D.G. – Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam ("For the greater glory of God")
• An. – Annus ("Year")
• Ann. – Anni ("Years")
• Ana, Ant. – Antiphon
• Apost. – Apostolus ("Apostle")
• Ap. Sed. – Apostolica Sedes ("Apostolic See")
• Ap. Sed. Leg. – Apostolicae Sedis Legatus ("Legate of the Apostolic See")
• Archiep. – Archiepiscopus ("Archbishop")
• Archid. – Archidiaconus ("Archdeacon")
• Archiprb. – Archipresbyter ("Archpriest")
• A.R.S. – Anno Reparatae Salutis ("In the year of Our Redemption")
• A.U. – Alma Urbs ("Beloved City" – i.e., Rome)
• Authen. – Authentica ("Authentic" – e.g. letters)
• Aux. – Auxilium, Auxilio ("Help", "With the help of")
• B.A. – Baccalaureus Artium ("Bachelor of Arts")
• B. BB. – Beatus, Beati ("Blessed")
• B.C. – Before Christ
• B.C.L. – Baccalaureus Civilis Legis ("Bachelor of Civil Law")
• B.D. – Bachelor of Divinity
• B.F. – Bona Fide ("In Good Faith")
• Ben. – Benedictio ("Blessing")
• Benevol. – Benevolentia ("Benevolence")
• Bon. Mem. – Bonae Memoriae ("Of Happy Memory")
• B.P. – Beatissime Pater ("Most Holy Father")
• Bro. – Brother
• B. Se. – Baccalaureus Scientiarum ("Bachelor of Sciences")
• B.U.J. – Baccalaureus Utriusque Juris ("Bachelor of Both Laws" – i.e., civil and canon)
• B.T. – Baccalaureus Theologiae ("Bachelor of Theology")
• B.V. – Beatitudo Vestra ("Your Holiness")
• B.V. – Beata Virgo ("Blessed Virgin")
• B.V.M. – Beata Virgo Maria ("Blessed Virgin Mary")
• Cam. – Camera (Papal Treasury)
• Cam. Ap. – Camera Apostolica ("Apostolic Camera" – i.e. Papal Treasury)
• Can. – Canonicus
• Canc. – Cancellarius ("Chancellor")
• Cap. – Capitulum ("Little Chapter" – Breviary)
• Cap. de seq. – Capitulum de Sequenti ("Little chapter of the following feast" – Breviary)
• Capel. – Capella ("Chapel")
• Caus. – Causa ("Cause")
• C.C. – Curatus ("Curate" – used chiefly in Ireland)
• CC. VV. – Clarissimi Viri ("Illustrious Men")
• Cen. Eccl. – Censura Ecclesiastica ("Ecclesiastical Censure")
• Cla. – Clausula ("Clause")
• Cl., Clico. – Clericus, Clerico ("Cleric")
• Clun. – Cluniacenses ("Monks of Cluny")
• C.M. – Causa Mortis ("On occasion of death")
• Cod. – Codex (Manuscript)
• Cog. Leg. – Cognatio Legalis ("Legal Cognation")
• Cog. Spir. – Cognatio Spiritualis ("Spiritual Cognation")
• Coll. Cone. – Collectio Conciliorum ("Collection of the Councils")
• Comm. Prec. – Commemoratio Praecedentis ("Commemoration of the preceding feast" – Breviary)
• Comm. Seq. – Commemoratio Sequentis ("Commemoration of the following feast" – Breviary)
• Compl. – Completorium ("Compline" – Breviary)
• Con. – Contra ("against")
• Cone. – Concilium ("Council")
• Conf. – Confessor
• Conf. Doct. – Confessor et Doctor (Breviary)
• Conf. Pont. – Confessor Pontifex ("Confessor and Bishop" – Breviary)
• Cons. – Consecratio ("Consecration")
• Consecr. – Consecratus ("Consecrated")
• Const. Ap. – Constitutio Apostolica ("Apostolic Constitution")
• Cr. – Credo ("Creed" – Breviary)
• D. – Dominus ("Lord")
• d. – dies ("day")
• D.C.L. – Doctor Civilis Legis ("Doctor of Civil Law")
• D.D. – Doctores ("Doctors")
• D.D. – Donum dedit; Dedicavit ("Gave", "dedicated")
• D.D. – Doctor Divinitatis ("Doctor of Divinity" – i.e. Theology)
• Dec. – Decanus ("Dean")
• Def. – Defunctus ("Deceased")
• D.G. – Dei Gratia ("By the Grace of God")
• D.N. – Dominus Noster ("Our Lord")
• D.N.J.C. – Dominus Noster Jesus Christus ("Our Lord Jesus Christ")
• DN, DNS, DNUS – Dominus ("Lord")
• Doct. – Doctor (Breviary)
• Dom. – Dominica ("Sunday")
• D.O.M. – Deo Optimo Maximo ("To God, the Best and Greatest")
• Doxol. – Doxologia ("Doxology" – Breviary)
• D.R. – Decanus Ruralis ("Rural Dean")
• DS – Deus ("God")
• D.Se. – Doctor Scientiarum ("Doctor of Sciences")
• D.V. – Deo Volente ("God willing")
• Dupl. – Duplex ("Double feast" – Breviary)
• Dupl. Maj. – Duplex Major ("Double Major feast")
• Dupl. I. Cl. – Duplex Primae Classis ("Double First Class feast" – Breviary)
• Dupl. II. Cl. – Duplex Secundae Classis ("Double Second Class feast" – Breviary)
• Eccl. – Ecclesiasticus ("Ecclesiastic")
• E., Eccl. – Ecclesia ("The Church")
• El. – Electio, Electus ("Election", "Elect")
• Emus – Eminentissimus ("Most Eminent")
• EPS, EP., Episc. – Episcopus ("Bishop")
• Et. – Etiam ("Also, Even")
• Evang. – Evangelium ("Gospel" – Breviary)
• Ex. – Extra ("Outside of")
• Exe. – Excommunicatus, Excommunicatio ("Excommunicated, Excommunication")
• Fel. Mem. – Felicis Memoriae ("Of Happy Memory")
• Fel. Rec. – Felicis Recordationis ("Of Happy Memory")
• Fer. – Feria ("Weekday")
• Fr., F. – Frater, Frere ("Brother")
• Fund. – Fundatio ("Foundation")
• Gen. – Generalis ("General")
• Gl. – Gloria ("Glory to God", etc.)
• Gr. – Gratia ("Grace")
• Grad. – Gradus ("Grade")
• Great. – Gratias ("Thanks"); or Gratis ("Without expense")
• hebd. – Hebdomada ("Week")
• Hom. – Homilia ("Homily" – Breviary)
• hor. – hora ("hour")
• IC – Jesus (first and third letters of His name in Greek)
• Id. – Idus ("Ides")
• Igr. – Igitur ("Therefore")
• I.H.S. – Iesus Hominum Salvator ("Jesus Saviour of Men" – usual interpretation). Really a faulty Latin transliteration of the first three letters of *JESUS in Greek (IHS for IHC).
• Ind. – Indictio ("Indiction")
• Ind. – Index
• Inq. – Inquisitio ("Inquisition")
• i.p.i. – in partibus infidelium ("among the infidels")
• Is. – Idus ("Ides")
• J.C. – Jesus Christus ("Jesus Christ")
• J.C.D. – Juris Canonici Doctor, Juris Civilis Doctor ("Doctor of Canon Law", "Doctor of Civil Law")
• J.D. – Juris Doctor ("Doctor of Law")
• J.M.J. – Jesus, Maria, Joseph ("Jesus, Mary, Joseph")
• Jo., Joann. – Joannes ("John")
• J.U.D. – Juris Utriusque Doctor ("Doctor of Both Laws" – Civil and Canon)
• Jud. – Judicium ("Judgment")
• J.U.L. – Juris Utriusque Licentiatus ("Licentiate of Both Laws")
• Jur. – Juris ("Of Law")
• Kal. – Kalendae ("Calends")
• Laic. – Laicus ("Layman")
• Laud. – Laudes ("Lauds" – Breviary)
• L.C.D. – Legis Civilis Doctor ("Doctor of Civil Law")
• l.c.; loc. cit. – Loco citato ("at the place already cited")
• Lect. – Lectio ("Lesson")
• Legit. – Legitime, Legitimus ("Legally", "legitimate")
• L.H.D. – Litterarum Humaniorum Doctor ("Doctor of Literature")
• Lib., Lo. – Liber, Libro ("Book", "In the book")
• Lic. – Licentia, Licentiatus ("License", "Licentiate")
• Litt. – Littera ("Letter")
• LL.B. – Legum Baccalaureus ("Bachelor of Laws")
• LL.D. – Legum Doctor ("Doctor of Laws")
• LL.M. – Legum Magister ("Master of Laws")
• Loc. – Locus ("Place")
• Lov. – Lovanium ("Louvain")
• Lovan. – Lovanienses (Theologians of Louvain)
• L.S. – Loco Sigilli ("Place of the Seal")
• Lud. – Ludovicus
• M. – Maria ("Mary")
• M.A. – Magister Artium ("Master of Arts")
• Mag. – Magister ("Master")
• Mand. – Mandamus ("We command")
• Mand. Ap. – Mandatum Apostolicum ("Apostolic Mandate", e.g. for a bishop's consecration)
• Mart., M., MM. – Martyr, Martyres ("Martyr", "Martyrs" – Breviary)
• Mat. – Matutinum ("Matins" – Breviary)
• Matr. – Matrimonum ("Marriage")
• Mgr., Msgr., or Mons. – Monsignor ("My Lord")
• Miss. – Missa ("Mass" – Breviary); Missionarius ("Missionary")
• Miss. Apost., M.A. – Missionarius Apostolicus ("Missionary Apostolic")
• M.R. – Missionarius Rector ("Missionary Rector")
• m.t.v. – mutatur terminatio versiculi ("the termination of the little verse is changed" – Breviary)
• Nativ. D.N.J.C. – Nativitas Domini Nostri Jesu Christi ("Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ")
• N. D. – Nostra Domina, Notre Dame ("Our Lady")
• Nigr. – Niger ("Black" – Breviary)
• No. – Nobis ("to us", "for us")
• Nob. – Nobilis, Nobiles ("Noble", "Nobles")
• Noct. – Nocturnum ("Nocturn")
• Non. – Nonae ("Nones")
• Nostr. – Noster, nostri ("Our", "of our")
• Not. – Notitia ("Knowledge")
• N.S. – Notre Seigneur, Nostro Signore ("Our Lord")
• N.S. – New Style
• N.T. – Novum Testamentum ("New Testament")
• Ntri. – Nostri ("Of our")
• Nup. – Nuptiae ("Nuptials")
• Ob. – Obiit ("Died")
• Oct. – Octava ("Octave" – Breviary)
• Omn. – Omnes, Omnibus ("All", "to all")
• Op. Cit. – Opere Citato ("In the work cited")
• Or. – Oratio ("Prayer" – Breviary)
• Ord. – Ordo, Ordinatio, Ordinarius ("Order", "Ordination", "Ordinary")
• Or. Orat. – Orator ("Petitioner"), Oratorium ("Oratory")
• O.S. – Old Style
• O.T. – Old Testament
• Oxon. – Oxonium, Oxonienses ("Oxford", "Theologians or Scholars of Oxford")
• P. – Pater, Pere ("Father")
• Pa. – Papa ("Pope"); Pater ("Father")
• Pact. – Pactum ("Agreement")
• Pasch. – Pascha ("Easter" – Breviary)
• Patr. – Patriarcha ("Patriarch")
• Pent. – Pentecostes ("Pentecost" – Breviary)
• Ph. B. – Philosophiae Baccalaureus ("Bachelor of Philosophy")
• Ph.D. – Philosophiae Doctor ("Doctor of Philosophy")
• Phil. – Philosophia ("Philosophy")
• Ph. M. – Philosophiae Magister ("Master of Philosophy")
• P.K. – Pridie Kalendas ("The day before the Calends")
• Poenit. – Poenitentia ("Penance")
• Poenit. Ap. – Poenitentiaria Apostolica ("Office of the Apostolic Penitentiary")
• Pont. – Pontifex ("Pontiff", i.e. Bishop—Breviary)
• Pont. – Pontificatus ("Pontificate")
• Pont. Max. – Pontifex Maximus ("Supreme Pontiff")
• Poss. – Possessor, Possessio ("Possessor", "Possession")
• PP. – Papa ("Pope"); Pontificum ("Of the popes")
• P.P. – Parochus ("Parish Priest" – used mostly in Ireland)
• PP. AA. – Patres Amplissimi ("Cardinals")
• P.P.P. – Propria Pecunia Posuit ("Erected at his own expense")
• P.R. – Permanens Rector ("Permanent Rector")
• Praef. – Praefatio ("Preface" of the Mass—Breviary)
• Presbit. – Presbyter, Priest
• Prof. – Professus, Professio, Professor ("Professed", "Profession", "Professor")
• Prop. Fid. – Propaganda Fide (Congregation of the Propaganda, Rome)
• Propr. – Proprium ("Proper" – Breviary)
• Prov. – Provisio, Provisum ("Provision", "Provided")
• Ps. – Psalmus ("Psalm")
• Pub., Publ. – Publicus, Publice ("Public", "Publicly")
• Purg. Can. – Purgatio Canonica ("Canonical Disculpation")
• Quadrag. – Quadragesima ("Lent", also the "Fortieth day" before Easter—Breviary)
• Quinquag. – Quinquagesima (The "Fiftieth day" before Easter—Breviary)
• R. – Responsorium ("Responsory" – Breviary)
• R. – Roma (Rome)
• Rescr. – Rescriptum ("Rescript")
• R.D. – Rural Dean
• Req. – Requiescat ("May he rest", i.e. in peace)
• Resp. – Responsum ("Reply")
• R.I.P. – Requiescat In Pace ("May he or she rest in peace")
• Rit. – Ritus ("Rite", "Rites")
• Rom. – Romanus, Romana ("Roman")
• R.P. – Reverendus Pater, Reverend Pere ("Reverend Father")
• RR. – Rerum ("Of Things, Subjects" – e.g. SS. RR. Ital., Writers on Italian subjects); Regesta
• Rt. Rev. – Right Reverend
• Rub. – Ruber ("Red" – Breviary)
• Rubr. – Rubrica ("Rubric")
• S., Sacr. – Sacrum ("Sacred")
• Sab., Sabb. – Sabbatum ("Sabbath", Saturday)
• Saec. – Saeculum (Century)
• Sal. – Salus, Salutis ("Salvation", "of Salvation")
• Salmant. – Salmanticenses (Theologians of Salamanca)
• S.C. – Sacra Congregatio ("Sacred Congregation")
• S.C.C. – Sacra Congregatio Concilii ("Sacred Congregation of the Council", i.e. of Trent)
• S.C.EE.RR. – Sacra Congregatio Episcoporum et Regularium ("Sacred Congregation of Bishops and Regulars")
• S.C.I. – Sacra Congregatio Indicis ("Sacred Congregation of the Index")
• S.C.P.F. – Sacra Congregatio de Propaganda Fide ("Sacred Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith")
• SCS – Sanctus ("Saint")
• s.d. – sine data (undated book)
• S.D. – Servus Dei (Servant of God)
• Semid. – Semiduplex ("Semi" double feast—Breviary)
• Septuag – Septuagesima ("Seventieth day" before Easter; always a Sunday—Breviary)
• Sexag. – Sexagesima ("Sixtieth day" before Easter—Breviary)
• Sig. – Sigillum ("Seal")
• Simpl. – Simplex ("Simple" feast—Breviary)
• Sine Com. – Sine Commemoratione ("Without commemoration" of other feast, or feasts—Breviary)
• s.l. – sine loco ("without indication" of place of printing)
• s.l.n.d. – sine loco nec data ("without indication of place" or "without date of printing")
• S.M. – Sanctae Memoriae ("Of Holy Memory")
• Soc. – Socius, Socii ("Companion", "Companions" – Breviary)
• S. Off. – Sanctum Officium (Congregation of the Holy Office, Inquisition)
• S.P. – Sanctissime Pater ("Most Holy Father")
• S.P., S. Petr. – Sanctus Petrus ("St. Peter")
• S.P. – Summus Pontifex ("Supreme Pontiff", Pope)
• S.P.A. – Sacrum Palatium Apostolicum ("Sacred Apostolic Palace", Vatican, Quirinal)
• Sr. – Sister
• S.R.C. – Sacra Rituum Congregatio ("Sacred Congregation of Rites")
• S.R.E. – Sancta Romana Ecclesia, Sanctae Romanae Ecclesia ("Most Holy Roman Church"; or, "of the Most Holy Roman Church")
• SS. – Scriptores ("Writers")
• SS.D.N. – Sanctissimus Dominus Noster ("Our Most Holy Lord ", also a title of the Pope)
• S., SS. – Sanctus, Sancti ("Saint", "Saints")
• S.T.B. – Sacrae Theologiae Baccalaureus ("Bachelor of Sacred Theology")
• S.T.D. – Sacrae Theologiae Doctor ("Doctor of Sacred Theology")
• S.T.L. – Sacrae Theologiae Licentiatus ("Licentiate of Sacred Theology")
• S.T.P. – Sanctae Theologiae Professor ("Professor of Sacred Theology")
• Suffr. – Suffragia ("Suffrages" – i.e. prayers of the saints; Breviary)
• S.V. – Sanctitas Vestra ("Your Holiness")
• Syn. – Synodus ("Synod")
• Temp. – Tempus, Tempore ("Time", "in time")
• Test. – Testes, Testimonium ("Witnesses", "Testimony")
• Theol. – Theologia ("Theology")
• Tit. – Titulus, Tituli ("Title", "Titles")
• T.R.P. – Très Révérend Père ("Very Reverend Father")
• Ult. – Ultimo ("Last" – day, month, year)
• Usq. – Usque ("As far as")
• Ux. – Uxor ("Wife")
• V., Ven., VV. – Venerabilis, Venerabiles ("Venerable")
• V., Vest. – Vester ("Your")
• Vac. – Vacat, Vacans ("Vacant")
• Val. – Valor ("Value")
• Vat. – Vaticanus ("Vatican")
• Vba. – Verba ("Words")
• Vers. – Versiculus ("Versicle" – Breviary)
• Vesp. – Vesperae ("Vespers" – Breviary)
• V.F., Vic. For. – Vicarius Foraneus ("Vicar-Forane")
• V.G. – Vicarius Generalis ("Vicar-General")
• Vid. – Vidua ("Widow" – Breviary)
• Vid., Videl. – Videlicet ("Namely")
• Vig. – Vigilia ("Vigil" of a feast—Breviary)
• Viol. – Violaceus ("Violet" – Breviary)
• Virg. – Virgo ("Virgin" – Breviary)
• Virid. – Viridis ("Green" – Breviary)
• V.M. – Vir Magnificus ("Great Man")
• V. Rev. – Very Reverend
• V.T. – Vetus Testamentum
• XC., XCS. – Christus ("Christ" – first, middle, and last letters of the Greek name)