Ecclesiastical & Latin Abbreviations

Books & Documents

AAS – Acta Apostolicæ Sedis – Acts of the Holy See
CIC/1917 – Codex Iuris Canonici (1917) – Code of Canon Law (1917)
CIC/1983 – Codex Iuris Canonici (1983) – Code of Canon Law (1983)
NT – Novum Testamentum – New Testament
OVS – Orinationes ad Apostolicam Constitutionem Veterum Sapientia by the by the Sacred Congregation for Seminaries and Universities (links to the Latin text and several translations can be found here)
PG – Patrologia Græca – Greek Patrology (a collection of the writings of the Greek Church Fathers)
PL – Patrologia Latina – Latin Patrology (a collection of the writings of the Latin Church Fathers)
PPF – Program for Priestly Formation – by the USCCB 5th ed (2006)
SmTh – Summa Theologiæ by Saint Thomas Aquinas (sometimes written Summa Theologica; also abbreviated “ST“)
ST – Summa Theologiæ by Saint Thomas Aquinas (sometimes written Summa Theologica; also abbreviated “SmTh“)
VS – Veterum Sapientia, Apostolic Constitution promulgated by Pope John XXIII in 1962 (links to the Latin text and several translations can be found here)
VT – Vetus Testamentum – Old Testament

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Congregations, Orders, etc.

CPM – Congregatio Presbyterorum a Misericordia – Congregation of the Priests of Mercy (Fathers of Mercy)
FSSP – Fraternitas Sacerdotalis Sancti Petri – Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter
FSSR – Filii Sanctissimi Redemptoris – Congregation of the Sons of the Most Holy Redeemer (Transalpine Redemptorists)
FSSPX – Fraternitas Sacerdotalis Sancti Pii X – Priestly Fraternity of Saint Pius X
ICRSS – Institutum Christi Regis Summi Sacerdotis – Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest
MSJB – Missionarii Sancti Joannis Baptistæ – Missionaries of Saint John the Baptist
OCD – Ordo Carmelitarum Discalceatorum – Order of Discalced Carmelites
OFM – Ordo Fratrum Minorum – Order Friars Minor (Franciscans)
OP – Ordo Prædicatorum – Order of Preachers (Dominicans)
O. Prem. – Ordo Praemonstratensium – Premonstratensian Order (Norbertines)
OSB – Ordo Sancti Benedicti – Order of Saint Benedict (Benedictines)
SJ – Societas Jesu – Society of Jesus (Jesuits)
SJC – Canons Regular of Saint John Cantius

Dates & Times

AC – ante Christum – before Christ
ACN – ante Christum natum – before Christ (was) born (commonly “a.C.n.”)
AD – anno Domini – in the year of Our Lord
a.d. – ante diem the day before
a.m. – ante meridiem – before midday
An. – annus – year
Ann. – anni – years
d. – dies – day
Fer. – feria – weekday
Is. – Idus – Ides
Kal. – Kalendæ – Calends
p.m. – post meridiem – after midday
s.d. – sine data – undated
Temp. – tempus – time (or tempore – in x time)

Other Latin Abbreviations

cf. – confer – compare (also “cfr.”)
cfr. – confer – compare (also “cf.”)

Persons & Titles

Ab. – Abbas – Abbot
B. – Beatus – Blessed
BB. – Beati – Blesseds
BVM – Beata Virgo Maria – Blessed Virgin Mary (also (“BMV”)
BMV – Beata Maria Virgo – Blessed Virgin Mary (also (“BVM”)
Can. – Canonicus – Canon
Conf. – Confessor – Confessor
Conf. Doct. – Confessor et Doctor – Confessor and Doctor
Conf. Pont. – Confessor Pontifex – Confessor and Bishop
DNJC – Dominus Noster Jesus Christus – Our Lord Jesus Christ
Fr. – Frater – Brother
IHS – Iesus Hominum Salvator – Jesus Savior of Men
JC – Jesus Christus – Jesus Christ
JMJ – Jesus, Maria, Joseph – Jesus, Maria, Joseph
M. – Maria – Mary
Pont. Max. – Pontifex Maximus – Supreme Pontiff (the Pope)
PP. – Papa – Pope
RP – Reverendus Pater – Reverend Father
SSDN – Sanctissimus Dominus Noster – Our Most Holy Lord (also “Ss.D.N.”)
Sr. – Soror – Sister
S. – Santus – Saint
SS. – Santi – Saints
Ux. – Uxor – Wife
Vid. – Vidua – Widow
Virg. – Virgo – Virgin

Roman Curia, etc.

CDF – Congregatio pro Doctrina Fidei – Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith
FLCC – Facultas litterarum christianarum et classicarum – Faculty of Christian and Classical Letters (Facoltà di lettere cristiane e classiche in Italian; another name for PIAL)
PIAL – Pontificum Institutum Altioris Latinitatis – Pontifical Institute of Higher Latin
SRE – Sancta Romana Ecclesia – Holy Roman Church
USCCB – United States Conference of Catholic Bishops

Nota Bene:

The stylization of the above abbreviations generally follows the norms of the Chicago Manual of Style, 17th ed.