commende

Commende refers to a historical ecclesiastical benefice in the Roman Catholic Church that was granted to a cleric or a layman, often for life. This practice became particularly prevalent from the 11th century onwards. The holder of a commende, known as a commendatary abbot or bishop, typically received the revenues and temporal possessions of the benefice without necessarily being responsible for its spiritual duties. These duties would often be delegated to a subordinate cleric who performed the actual pastoral or monastic work.

The commende system arose for various reasons, including the need to reward loyal supporters of the crown or the papacy, and to provide financial support to individuals. It was also sometimes used to address shortages of qualified clergy or to manage church property during times of instability. However, the practice was frequently criticized for leading to absenteeism, simony (the buying or selling of church offices), and a decline in the spiritual life of the benefices.

While intended to be a temporary measure, commendes often became hereditary or were granted for extended periods. The Council of Trent, in the 16th century, attempted to reform the system by limiting the duration of commendes and emphasizing the need for the commendatary to ensure the spiritual well-being of the benefice. The practice gradually declined in significance over centuries, with many aspects of it being suppressed or absorbed into other forms of ecclesiastical administration.