Glossary of abbreviations
In this page you will find a glossary of the Latin abbreviations for the offices of fathers and brothers used in the Province catalogs of the Society of Jesus since 1814.
The historical catalogs of the Society list the names of all the Jesuits in a given Province, community by community, along with their assignments.
The assignments were listed in abbreviated form because each Jesuit could have several duties, both within and outside the community. The use of Latin and references to assignments and historical contexts different from our own make it difficult to interpret some of the abbreviations.
This page contains a glossary, including the full Latin terms and their Italian equivalents, of the abbreviations for positions found in catalogs published after the Reconstitution of the Society of Jesus in 1814. For abbreviations found in the catalogs of the Old Society, please consult the “Jesuit Glossary” by Fr. Wiktor Gramatowsky .
| Abbreviation | Extended Latin | English | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ad domest. | Ad domestica | Housework | |
| Ad dom. | Ad domum | Housework | Often used to refer to elderly Jesuits who have minor apostolates or are no longer able to carry them out. |
| Ad stab. | Ad stabulum | Care the stable and animals | |
| Adhort. NN | Adhortator nostrorum | Animator of Jesuits with speeches, meditations, conferences | |
| Adiut. | Adiutor | Assistant | |
| Admin. bon. conv. | Administrator bonorum convicti | Administrator of boarding school assets | |
| Admon. | Admonitor | Admonitor, corrector | Admonitor to the Superior or Provincial |
| Aedit./ Aedit. in t. | Aedituus | Sacristan | |
| Agit. an. tert. probat. a die | Agit annum tertium probationis a die… | Completes the thirtianship of training, starting on the day… | |
| Amanuensis | Amanuensis | Amanuensis, someone who takes notes to be organized later | |
| An. 2 mag. | Annus 2* magisterii | Second year of regency | Regency is one of the stages in a Jesuit’s formation |
| Assist. Ital. | Assistente del P. Generale per l’Italia | Close collaborator of the Father General, especially in matters concerning Italy | There was one assistant for each major geographical area: Germany, Hungary, France (Gaul) and Spain. |
| Bidel. | Bidellus | Beadle, responsible for maintaining order and supervising students in boarding schools | |
| Capp. /Capel. | Cappellanus | Chaplain (e.g. military chaplain or prison chaplain) | |
| Catech. et conf. puell. estr. urb. | Cathechesis et confessio puellarum extra urbem | Doing Catechism and heard confession for girls outside the city | |
| Catechesis to Jesuit students during the philosophy course and to the domestic staff | Catechesis familiarium | Doing Catechism for the community’s domestic staff, with instructions more suited to their culture | |
| Catech. phil. et fam. | Cathechesis philosoforum et familiarium | Doing Catechism for our Jesuit students during the philosophy course and to the domestic staff | |
| Catech. FF. Coad. | Catechesis fratribus coadiutoribus | Doing Catechism for the Jesuit brothers of the community | |
| Cens. libr. | Censor librorum | Censor of books to be displayed in the home or prior to publication | |
| Coad. | Coadiutor | Coadjutor, Jesuit brother who is not a priest | |
| Coll. puncta pro litt. ann. et historia domus | Colligat puncta pro littera annua et historia domus | Who is responsible for gathering information for the littera annua and the historia domus | The littera annua is a report drawn up annually by each residence, whilst the historia domus is produced every three years and is more concise. The littera annua, which in turn was based on the house diary, enabled the historia domus to be compiled. |
| Conc in plat. | Concionator in platea | Preacher in the square, a custom widely practiced in the past | |
| Conc. b. mort. | Concionator bonae mortis | Preacher in the Congregation of the Good Death | |
| Conc. miss. | Concionator missionis | Preacher of missions and in popular missions | |
| Conf. in ian. | Confessor in ianua | Confessor in the waiting room, near the entrance to the residence | |
| Conf. in Cathedr. | Confessor in Cathedrale | Confessor in the cathedral | |
| Conf. in sem. | Confessor in seminario | Confessor in the Seminary | |
| Conf. in t. | Confessor in templo | Confessor in church | |
| Conf. in xenod. | Confessor in xenodocheum | Confessor in the guesthouse | |
| Conf. Dom. | Confessor domus | Confessor (designated) of the house | |
| Conf. ad nosoc. et carc., ad trirem. | Confessor ad nosocomium et carcerem ad triremes | Confessor in hospitals, prisons, and on board ships | |
| Conf. per pagos | Confessor per pagos | Confessor in the towns and villages of the islands | E.g. apostolate of some Jesuits from Syro and Tinos in the Province of Sicily. |
| Conf. schol., in t., nosoc. et carc. | Confessor scholasticorum, in templo, nosocom. et carcere | Confessor of boarding school students, churchgoers, hospital patients, and prison inmates. | |
| Conf. Schol. | Confessor scholasticorum | Confess the students of the college | |
| Cons. an. 7 | Consultor annus 7 | (House) Consultant for 7 years | Often, as in this case, it is stated how many years the person has held this role |
| Coq. | Coquus | Cook | |
| Cur. valet. | Curat valetudinem | He looks after his health | |
| Curat. Cel. Vin. Et ad dom. | Curat. cellae vinariae | Cellar keeper | |
| Cust. Sac. B.M.V | Custos Sacelli Beatea Mariae Verginae | Custodian of the Chapel of the Blessed Virgin Mary | Change the flowers, keep the chapel clean, and remove burnt-out candles. |
| Cust. Sac. dom. | Custos sacellorum domi | Keeper of the community chapels | Change the flowers, keep the chapel clean, and remove burnt-out candles. |
| Cust. biblioth. et ad domest. | Custos bibliothecae et ad domestica | Librarian and housekeeper | |
| Cust. hort. | Custos horti | Gardener | |
| Cust. mach. litogr. | Custos machinae lithographicae | Lithographic printing machine custodian | |
| Cust. mus. phys. | Custos musei physicae | Physics lab custodian | It can be found in some schools |
| Cust. vest. et lin. | Custos vestis et lini | Custodian of the wardrobe and linen | On the community and the college |
| Cust virid. | Custos viridis | Garden keeper | |
| Cust. tricl. | Custos triclini | Refectory custodian | |
| Cust. stab. | Costos stabulum | Keeper of the stable and animals | |
| Cust. pen. | Custos penus | Keeper of the pantry | |
| Cust. cell vin et olear. | Custos celliae vinariae et olearius | Cellar keeper (wine and oil) | |
| Dir. Congr. Mar. | Director Congregationis Marianae | Director of the Marian Congregation | |
| Dir. dioc. Apost. orat. | Director diocesanus Apostolatus Orationis | Diocesan Director of the Apostleship of Prayer | |
| Dir. gymn. schol. tecn. et elem. | Director gymnasium, scholae tecnicae et elementarii | Headmaster of the secondary school, technical school and primary school | |
| Dir. observ. meteor. | Director observatorii meteorologici | Director of the meteorological observatory | |
| Dir. op. […] | Director operis […] | Director of work […] | |
| Dir. op. Apost. Orat. | Director operis Apostolatus Orationis | Director of the Apostleship of Prayer | |
| Disp ient. | Disponit ientationis | Breakfast preparation assistant | |
| Direct. exerc. | Director exercitiorum | Director of spiritual exercises | |
| Direct. spec. astron. | Director speculae astronomiae | Director of the Astronomy Observatory | |
| Distrib. eleem. | Distribuit eleemosynam | Responsible for distributing alms | |
| Doc. | Docet | Teacher of [subject] | |
| Doc. gram. 1 et 2 cl. | Docet grammaticae 1 et 2 classis | Grammar teacher in the first and second class | |
| Empt. | Emptor | Purchasing manager | |
| Exam. cand. | Examinator candidatos | Examiner of candidates for novitiate in the Society | |
| Excit. | Excitat | Responsible for waking up his fellow brothers | |
| Exhort. | Exhortat | Spiritual leader of the community | |
| Expect. destin. | Expectat destinationem | Gesuita in attesa di ricevere la destinazione dal Provinciale | |
| Expl. med. ff. coad. | Explicat mediastinis et fratribus coadiutoribus | Who explain (the Gospel or other matters) to the servants and Jesuit brothers | |
| Exstra dom. | Fuori casa | Away from home (absent) | |
| F. | Frater | Brother | |
| Fab. lapid. | Faber lapidis | Carpenter/bricklayer/stonemason | |
| Fab. lign. | Faber ligni | Carpenter | |
| Fab. mur. | Faber muralis | Carpenter/bricklayer | |
| Ianit. | Ianitor | Doorman | |
| Infirmarum | Infirmarum | Nurse, infirmary attendant | |
| Infirm. | Infirmus | Sick man | A Jesuit who is ill and no longer able to carry out his duties. The equivalent of today’s expression “Pray for the Church and the Society of Jesus”. |
| Inv. constr. et repar. | Invenit, construit et reparat | A jack-of-all-trades who performs various tasks, inventing, manufacturing, repairing | |
| Lect. ad mens. | Lector ad mensam | Reading at table during community meals | |
| Lect. philos. | Lector philosophiae | Ripetitor for Jesuit students during their philosophy course | Positions held by lecturers at colleges, universities and pontifical faculties |
| Lect. theol. | Lector theologiae | Repetitor for Jesuit students during their theology course | Positions held by lecturers at colleges, universities and pontifical faculties |
| Ludimag. | Ludimagister | Assistant to students (Jesuits or children) or to children during leisure time | |
| Mag. sacr. caerem. et cant. Greg. | Magister sacrae caeremoniae et cantus Gregoriani | Master of sacred ceremonies and Gregorian chant | |
| Manud. cand. | Manuductor candidatorum | Prefect of the novitiate candidates (coordinator of the candidates) | It may also refer to lay staff or Jesuit brothers |
| Min. | Minister | Minister of community, home care and general organisation | |
| Miss. inter paganos | Missionarius inter paganos | Missionary serving the unbaptised | |
| Mission. excurr. | Missionarius excurrens | Jesuit engaged in various missions among Christians | |
| Moder. | Moderator | Director | |
| Oecon. | Oeconomus | Treasurer | |
| Oper. | Operarius | Entrusted with various apostolic duties | |
| P. | Pater | Father (Jesuit priest) | |
| Par. exam. | Parat examina | Prepara gli esami | |
| Par. ient. | Parat ientationem | Responsible for preparing breakfast | |
| Paroch | Parochus | Parish priest | |
| Pistor | Pistor | Baket | |
| Plaustr. | Plaustrarius | Carters | |
| Postulat. gen. causar. NN. Ven. et Beat. | Postulator generalis causarum Nostrorum Venerab. et Beat. | General Postulator for the causes of canonisation of our Jesuits, venerables and blessed. | |
| Praef. alumn. extern. | Praefectus alumnorum externorum | Head of external pupils | Day pupils are those who do not sleep in the boarding school but only attend lessons and then return home. |
| Praef. archiv. | Praefectus archivi | Archivist | |
| Praef. atrii | Praefectus atrii | Care of the atrium, entrance hall of the college | |
| Praef Biblioth. | Praefectus bibliothecae | Librarian | Referring to the community library or college library |
| Praef. II. contub. | Praefectus II contubernii | Prefect of the second dormitory | |
| Praef. contub. extern. | Praefectus contubernii externorum | Prefect of the day room for external students | |
| Praef. conturb. semiconv. | Praefectus contubernii semiconvictus | Prefect of the day school dormitory | |
| Praef. eccl. | Praefectus ecclesiae | Rector of the church | |
| Praef. discip. | Praefectus disciplinae | Prefect in charge of discipline at boarding school, etc. | |
| Praef. famul. | Praefectus famulorum | Prefect of employees | |
| Praef. lud. | Praefectus ludi | Prefect for leisure activities | |
| Praef. mor. | Praefectus moris | Prefect of discipline | |
| Praef. musaei | Praefectus musaei | Museum director | |
| Praef. odei | Praefectus odei | Theatre prefect | |
| Praef. Orat. S. Franc. Xav. | Praefectus Oratorius S. Francisci Saverii | Prefect of the Oratory of St. Francis Xavier | |
| Praet. sac. dom. | Fraefectus sacelli domestici | Prefect of the community chapel | |
| Praef. sanit. | Praefectus sanitatis | Responsible for the health of the brothers | |
| Praes. sod. S. Vinc. a Paul. | Praeses sodalitatem S. Vincentii a Pauli | Director of the Congregation of St. Vincent de Pauli | |
| Praef. spir. | Praefectus spiritualis | Spiritual father (of pupils, of the community, of certain congregations) | |
| Praef. spir. NN. | Praefectus spiritualis Nostrorum | Spiritual Prefect of Jesuits | |
| Praef. spir. et sac. alumn. | Praefectus spiritualis et sacelli alumnorum | Spiritual prefect of the students’ chapel | |
| Praef. stud. | Praefectus studiorum | Prefect of Studies | |
| Praef. valet. | Praefectus valetudinis | Prefect of Health (of the Jesuits) | |
| Praef. valet. alumn. | Praefectus valetudinis alumnorum | Prefect of boarding school health | |
| Praes. coll. cas. | Praeses collectionem cassae | Responsible for the collection of alms | |
| Praes cong. opif. | Praeses congretionis opificiorum | President of the Artisans’ Association | |
| Praes. lyc. | Praeses lycei | Headmaster of the secondary school | |
| Praes. sod. S. Aloys. | Praeses sodalitatis S. Aloysi | He presides over the congregation of St. Louis | |
| Praes. sod. Nob. | Praeses sodalitatis Nobilium | Dean of the Congregation of Nobles | |
| Proc. Gen. | Procurator Generalis | General Procurator | |
| Proc. Prov. | Procurator Provinciae | Provincial Procurator | |
| Prof. | Professor | Professor | |
| Prom. Apost. Orat. | Promotor Apostolatus Orationis | Promoter of the Apostleship of Prayer | |
| Prov. | Provincialis Provinciae | Provincial of a Province | |
| Rect. | Rector | Rector | |
| Redig. calend. | Redigit calendarium | Editor of the liturgical calendar | |
| Red. ephem. […] | Redigit ephemeridem […] | He edits the magazine […] | |
| Redig. eph. Apost. or. | Redigit ephemeridem Apostolatum orationis | Editor of the magazine of the Apostleship of Prayer | |
| Repet. Math., phis. et astron. | Repetitor mathematicorum, astronomiae, | Mathematics, physics and astronomy tutor | |
| Sart. | Sartus | Tailor | |
| Script. | Scriptor | Writer | |
| Script. Historiae dom. | Scriptor historiae domus | Writer the historia domus of the community | |
| Secret. Societ. | Secretarius Societatis | Secretary of Society of Jesus | |
| Senex | Senex | Elderly man | |
| Soc. | Socius | Fr. Socius of Provincial | Assistant, principal collaborator to the Provincial |
| Soc. Conc. b. mort. | Socius concionatoris bonae mortis | Socius and Preacher of the Good Death Congregation | |
| Soc. P. Mag. Novit. | Socius Patris Magistri Novitiorum | Socius of novice master | |
| Submin. | Subminister | Deputy Minister | Collaborates with or replaces the Minister of the community |
| Subpraef. | Subprefect | Deputy praefect | |
| Subst. | Substitutus | Substitute (in a role or position) of the community | |
| Super. | Superior | Superior | |
| Suppl. | Supplet pro magistris | Substitute teacher for the teacher during lessons | |
| Sut. | Sutor | Shoemaker | |
| Typogr. | Typographus | Printer | |
| Tons. | Tonsor | Comnunity barber | |
| Trad exerc. | Tradit exercitia | Who is leading the spiritual exercises. | |
| Vic. paroch. | Vicarius Paroci | Vice parish priest | |
| Villic. | Villicus | Farmer | Person in charge of the Company’s properties or villas |
| Visit. Noct. | Visitator nocturnus | Visitor in the night | Jesuit who go around at night time to see you were saying prayers |
| Visit. orat. et exam. | Visitator orationis et examinis | Visitor of prayer and examen | Responsible for checking whether the Jesuits practise meditation and examine their consciences |
| Abbreviation | Extended Latin | English | Notes |
