PRELATE, ecclesiastical dignitary of high rank. In the early middle ages the title prelate was applied to secular persons in high positions and thence it passed to persons having ecclesiastical authority. The De prelatis of Valerian is concerned with secular princes, and even as late as the 14th century the title was occa sionally applied to secular magistrates. In mediaeval ecclesiastical usage the term might be applied to almost any person having ecclesiastical authority. The term occurs very frequently in the Rule of St. Benedict and other early monastic rules.
In more modern usage in the Roman Catholic Church prelates, properly so-called, are those who have jurisdiction in foro externo, but a liberal interpretation has given the title a more general significance. Prelacy is defined by the canonists as "pre-eminence with jurisdiction" and the idea supposes an episcopal or quasi episcopal jurisdiction. But gradually the title was extended to ecclesiastical persons having a prominent office even without jurisdiction, and later still it has come to be applied to ecclesias tical persons marked by some special honour though without any definite office or jurisdiction.
We may therefore distinguish "true" from "titular" prelates. The true prelacy is composed of the persons who constitute the ecclesiastical hierarchy ; jurisdiction is inherent in their office and gives pre-eminence, as with patriarchs, archbishops and bishops. The true, no less than the titular, prelates have their various ranks, differing as regards title, precedence, clothing and other insignia. The distinguishing colour of a prelate's clothing
is violet ; the form, like the greater or less use of violet, depends on the rank of the prelate. Four classes may be distinguished: (I) Great prelates, e.g., cardinals, archbishops and bishops. (2) Exempt prelates, i.e., abbots and religious superiors, who are withdrawn from the ordinary diocesan jurisdiction and them selves possess episcopal jurisdiction. (3) Roman prelates, (a) active and (b) honorary. The title is applied to numerous ecclesiastics attached by some dignity, active or honorary, to the Roman court (see CURIA ROMANA).
In the Reformed churches the title was retained in England, Sweden, Denmark and Germany. The cathedral chapter of Brandenburg consists of two prelates, the dean and the senior, besides eight other members. The chapter of Merseburg contains five prelates, viz., the dean, senior, provost, custos and scholas ticus. In Baden the general synod is presided over by the prelate (prelat), i.e., the principal "superintendent." In the Church of England the term prelate has been since the Reformation applied only to archbishops and bishops.