Abbé

Abbé (from Latin abbas, in turn from Greek ἀββᾶς, abbas, from Aramaic abba, a title of honour, literally meaning "the father, my father", emphatic state of abh, "father")[1] is the French word for an abbot. It is the title for lower-ranking Catholic clergy in France.[2]

For the name (surname and given name), see Abbe (name).

French abbé of the 18th century

History

A concordat between Pope Leo X and King Francis I of France (1516)[3] gave the kings of France the right to nominate 255 commendatory abbots (abbés commendataires) for almost all French abbeys, who received income from a monastery without needing to render service, creating, in essence, a sinecure.[4]

From the mid-16th century, the title of abbé has been used in France for all young clergy, with or without consecration.[2] Their clothes consisted of black or dark violet robes with a small collar, and they were tonsured.[4]

Since such abbés only rarely commanded an abbey, they often worked in upper-class families as tutors, spiritual directors, etc.;[2] some (such as Gabriel Bonnot de Mably) became writers.[4]

Clerical oblates and seminarians of the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest also have the honorific title of abbé.

See also

Notes
  1. Harper, Douglas. "abbot". Online Etymology Dictionary.
  2. A'Becket 1913.
  3. A'Becket 1913 cites Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "Abbot" . Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company. III under Kinds of Abbot
  4. Rines, George Edwin, ed. (1920). "Abbé" . Encyclopedia Americana.

References
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