Commendatories

A commendatory is a type of ecclesiastical benefice in the Roman Catholic Church that was often granted to a clergyman or, more commonly, a layman, who was not necessarily in holy orders. The commendatory was appointed to administer the revenues and temporalities of an abbey or priory, or sometimes a bishopric, but did not have the spiritual duties of a monastic superior or bishop. These offices were often held in commendam, meaning "in trust" or "on the recommendation of."

The system of commendatories arose during the Middle Ages and became particularly prevalent in the 15th and 16th centuries. While intended by some to provide a way for the church to manage its assets or to reward deserving individuals, it often led to abuses. Commendatories, particularly lay commendatories, frequently exploited the benefices for personal gain, neglecting the spiritual welfare of the monastic community or diocese they were appointed to oversee. This practice weakened the monastic orders and contributed to criticisms that fueled the Protestant Reformation.

The Council of Trent attempted to reform the practice of commendatories, seeking to limit the number of benefices one person could hold and to ensure that spiritual duties were not neglected. However, the system persisted in various forms for centuries, and its abolition was a gradual process that occurred at different times in different regions. Today, the concept of a commendatory benefice as it existed historically is largely obsolete within the Catholic Church.