| Recall that Latin cases vary with grammatical function, and adjustments might be needed to the forms offered here. Duplication of the last letter of an abbreviation, especially where such duplication does not appear in the singular spelling of the word, indicates pluralization. A cross (†) before a name indicates that the signatory is a bishop. A cross (†) after a name is usually followed by a date that indicates the year the individual died. Remember that the letters (i) and (j) are often interchangeable. A straight line or a tilda over a letter (e.g., ñ) means that one or more letters have been omitted immediately before or after the marked letter. | | Abbreviation | Latin translation(s) | English rendering(s) & notes | | | | | | a., an. | annus, anni | year(s) | | A. A. S. | Acta Apostolicae Sedis | Do not translate, name of official journal of the Holy See since 1909 | | adv., advv. | advocatus, advocati | advocate(s) or lawyer(s) | | ap. con. | apostolica constitutio | apostolic constitution | | A. S. S. | Acta Sanctae Sedis | Do not translate, name of semi-official and later official journal of the Holy See from 1868 to 1908 | | A.T. | Amplitudini Tuae | Used in closing letters to dicasterial prelates | | B., BB. | Beatus/Beata, Beati | Blessed(s) | | B. V. M. | Beata Virgo Maria | Blessed Virgin Mary | | c., can., cc., cann. | canon, canones | canon(s) | | c. | coram | before the judge | | cal. | | calends | | Card. | Cardinalis | Cardinal | | C. I. C | Codex Iuris Canonici | Code of Canon Law, either 1917 or 1983 | | C. I. C. | Corpus Iuris Canonici | Do not translate, denotes a collection of canonical sources from the 12th to 15th centuries | | Cod. | Codex | Code, either 1983 or 1917 | | Con., Cons., Const. | Constitutio | Constitution | | Cong. | Congregatio | Congregation | | c. j. s. | cum iure successionis | with right of succession | | d. | dies | day | | D., Dñus., DD., | Dominus, Domini | Lord, or general male honorific | | DD. | Doctores | Doctors or otherwise learned persons | | dec., decis. | decisio | decision or sentence | | decr. | decretum | decree | | div. prov. | divina providentia | by divine providence | | "D.r" | Doctor | Doctor | | Ep., Epp. | Episcopus, Episcopi | Bishop(s) | | Et Deus, et c. | Et Deus te diu sospitem servet. | May God long keep you safe. | | F., Fr. | Frater, Fratres | Brother(s) | | f. r., fel. rec. | felicis recordationis | of happy memory (usually regarding popes) | | f. r., fel. reg. | feliciter regnans | happily reigning (usually regarding popes) | | f. s. | ferendae sententiae | by a formal process | | H. S. T. | Huius Sacri Tribunalis | of this holy Tribunal | | h. t. | hoc titulo | in this (same) title | | J. C. D. | Juris Canonici Doctor | Doctor of Canon Law | | J. C. L. | Juris Canonici Licentiatus | License in Canon Law | | l. p. | loco plumbi | in the place of lead [seal] (might appear as "L. + P.") | | l. s. | latae sententiae | automatic, no formal process required | | l. s. | locus sigilli | the place of a seal (often appears "L. + S.") | | m. p. | motu proprio | A papal document issued without a prior request | | n., nn. | nomen, nomines | name(s) | | n., nn. | numerus, numeri | number(s) | | o. p. n. | ora(te) pro nobis | pray for us | | PP. | papa, patres patrium | Pope | | PP. | Patres | Fathers (priests) | | Praef. | Praefectus | Prefect | | Prot. | protonotarius | protonotary | | RR. PP. DD. | Reverendissimi Patres Domini | Most-reverend Father Lords | | S., SS. | Sanctus/Sancta, Sancti | Saint(s) | | S., SS. | Sacer, Sacra, Sacri | Sacred | | sac. | sacerdos | priest | | S. A. S. T. | Supremum Apostolicae Signaturae Tribunal | Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura | | S. C. | Sacra Congregatio | Sacred Congregation | | s. d. | supra dicta | mentioned above | | S. H. C. | Sacro Hoc Concilio | to this sacred Council (or Congregation) | | S. O., S. Off. | Sacrum Officium | Holy Office (now CDF) | | S. R. R. | Sacra Romana Rota | Holy Roman Rota (a judicial court) | | SSmo | Sanctissimo | Most Holy (used regarding the pope) | | S. R. E. | Sacra Romana Ecclesia | Holy Roman Church | | v. d. | vulgo dicatur | called in the vernacular | | ven. mem. | venerabilis memoriae | of venerable memory | | | | | |
