VICAR. The ordinary meaning of the word Vicar (Lat. vicarius) is a representative or substitute (qui alterius vices agit). In the Roman Catholic Church the Apostle Peter is described as the Vicar of Christ, because, it is held, he was appointed by Christ his substitute on earth as the head of the Church. The office passed from Peter to the Bishop of Roman, who became both Vicar of St. Peter and Vicar of Christ (Vicarius S. Petri, Vicarius Christi). In the early Catholic Church, how ever, all bishops were Vicars of Christ. The Pope, the one Vicar of Christ, has his own vicars. There are Vicars-Apostolic. These were formerly bishops or arch bishops or even ordinary but specially delegated eccle siastics; but now they are nearly always titular bishops " stationed either in countries where episcopal sees have not yet been established, or In those where the succes sion has been interrupted" (Catholic Dictionary). There are Vicars-general both in the Church of Rome and in the Church of England. In the Roman Catholic Church he is also called " official " (officialis). " In Transalpine countries the name of ' official ' is commonly given to the ecclesiastic administering the contentious jurisdiction of the bishop, and that of ' vicar-general ' to him who exer cises his voluntary jurisdiction " (Oath. Diet.). A bishop
is not obliged to have a vicar-general, but be may have two or more. In the Church of England some of the bishops have a vicar-general. The Archbishop of Canter bury, for instance, has one. The London Diocese Book (1912) explains that for the Province of Canterbury " The Vicar-General's Office grants marriage licences through out the province, transacts the legal business relating to the Consecration of Bishops, and legalises the appoint ment of clergy to churches within the Archbishop of Canterbury's jurisdiction." There are also in some of the cathedrals of the Church of England Vicars-Choral, clergy or laymen, who assist the Dean and Chapter in matters relating to the choir and music. Further, the clergyman who is in permanent charge of an Anglican church is commonly called the Vicar, though he is some times called the Rector (q.v.). The Roman Catholic Church has its Vicars-forane, who resemble the Anglican Rural Deans. " A vicar forane is either a dignitary or at least, if possible, a parish priest, who is appointed by the bishop to exercise a limited jurisdiction in a particular town or district of his diocese" (Oath. Diet.). See Schaff-Herzog: William Benham; the Cath. Diet.