Principal (Catholic Church)

Principal (Portuguese: Principal, Portuguese pronunciation: [pɾĩsiˈpal]; pl. Principais), or more formally, Principal of the Holy Patriarchal Church of Lisbon (Portuguese: Principal da Santa Igreja Patriarcal de Lisboa), was the honorific title granted to the canons of the chapter of the Patriarchal See of Lisbon by the papal bull Salvatoris nostri Mater, issued by Pope Benedict XIV in 1740.^[1]

The Patriarchal Chapter, comprising twenty-four Principals presided over by the Principal Dean (Principal Deão), was modelled after the College of Cardinals (and was indeed formally styled "College of Principals"^[2]), and was similarly divided into three orders: Principal Primaries (Principais Primários), Principal Priests (Principais Presbíteros), and Principal Deacons (Principais Diáconos). Also evoking the grandeur of the papal court, the Principals dressed in scarlet cassocks in the manner of cardinals.^[3]

The title and extraordinary rights of vesture ceased to be used in 1834, following the Liberal Wars and the establishment of a liberal constitutional monarchy in the country.^[4]^[5]^[6]

References

^ "Bula "Salvatoris nostri Mater" de Benedito XIV pela qual se confirmou e aprovou a união das igrejas de Lisboa em uma só" [Bull "Salvatoris nostri Mater", of Benedict XIV, by which the union of the two churches of Lisbon into a single entity was confirmed and approved] (in Portuguese). Portuguese National Archive. Retrieved 28 August 2021.
^ "Colégio dos Principais da Stª Patriarcal de Lisboa" [College of Principals of the Holy Patriarchal [Church] of Lisbon] (in Portuguese). Portuguese National Archive. Retrieved 28 August 2021.
^ Chadwick, Owen (1980). The Popes and European Revolution. Oxford: Oxford University Press. p. 352. ISBN 0-19-826919-6.
^ "Sé Patriarcal de Lisboa" [Patriarchal See of Lisbon] (in Portuguese). Portuguese National Archive. Retrieved 28 August 2021.
^ "Decreto de 4 de Fevereiro de 1834" [Decree of 4 February 1834]. Legislação Régia (in Portuguese). Assembly of the Republic. Retrieved 28 August 2021.
^ "Decreto de 10 de Janeiro de 1835" [Decree of 10 January 1835]. Legislação Régia (in Portuguese). Assembly of the Republic. Retrieved 28 August 2021.

[ANTT-1] "Bula "Salvatoris nostri Mater" de Benedito XIV pela qual se confirmou e aprovou a união das igrejas de Lisboa em uma só" [Bull "Salvatoris nostri Mater", of Benedict XIV, by which the union of the two churches of Lisbon into a single entity was confirmed and approved] (in Portuguese). Portuguese National Archive. Retrieved 28 August 2021.

[ANTT1-2] "Colégio dos Principais da Stª Patriarcal de Lisboa" [College of Principals of the Holy Patriarchal [Church] of Lisbon] (in Portuguese). Portuguese National Archive. Retrieved 28 August 2021.

[3] Chadwick, Owen (1980). The Popes and European Revolution. Oxford: Oxford University Press. p. 352. ISBN 0-19-826919-6.

[ANTT3-4] "Sé Patriarcal de Lisboa" [Patriarchal See of Lisbon] (in Portuguese). Portuguese National Archive. Retrieved 28 August 2021.

[LegislaçãoRégia1834-5] "Decreto de 4 de Fevereiro de 1834" [Decree of 4 February 1834]. Legislação Régia (in Portuguese). Assembly of the Republic. Retrieved 28 August 2021.

[LegislaçãoRégia1835-6] "Decreto de 10 de Janeiro de 1835" [Decree of 10 January 1835]. Legislação Régia (in Portuguese). Assembly of the Republic. Retrieved 28 August 2021.