Monsignor Pope has a blog post on what the Pope said about Monsignors ...

I think his website must have crashed, because I keep getting: The page cannot be displayed.

I wonder if his site has crashed due to all the traffic from priests and seminarians?

Or maybe it's just the cold weather?

The title of monsignor is simply honorary, isn't it?  Perhaps it really is more fitting for a priest 65 and older?

Locally, we do not have many monsignors, evidently the title is more widely used on the East Coast and elsewhere.

Although, while searching online, I came across an Old Catholic site and it appears most of their local priests have the title of monsignor - not that it means anything.

I know two of the Old Catholic monsignors.  One was a permanent deacon in the Catholic Archdiocese of St. Paul/Minnesota.  I've known him since childhood.  His 'rectory' and 'church' is an apartment in Downtown St. Paul.  The sad thing about these monsignors is that Roman Catholics think there is no difference between these guys and validly/licitly ordained Roman Catholic priests.  My Italian in-laws hire the Old Catholic monsignor to say Mass and lead Italian style processions at their annual festival.  They don't know the difference.  But I digress.

Clearly, the title of monsignor is very often seen as a reward for service.  It's an honorary title.  Sort of like a cappa magna - which is always removed before Mass begins.  Traditions with a small 't'.

 Editor's note:  I finally got through to Monsignor's post - it is well worth the read.  Go here.