A mense (from Latin mensa 'table') is the name of a form of ecclesiastical income in the Catholic Church. Historically, the mense was a land tax whose income was used as income for its holder (i.e. bishop, abbot, canons or monks, pastor, etc.). In an abbey this support was called the In commendam and was divided into three lots, one for the commendatory abbot, one for the religious community and another devoted to the payment of expenses. [1]
In the early church, all the property of a diocese was held by the cathedral church, and was administered by the local bishop. The bishop administered the resources himself, through his œconomus , or his deacons. Local clergy received a portion of the revenues by a formula dictated locally, or at the discretion of the bishop. [2] As the church grew, parishes outside of the episcopal city began to administer their own wealth and property. After the 5th century bishops began granting church property to local clerics by way of "precarium" (i.e. a revocable land grant) that they could use for their own support. Over time, these land grants were abused, and in response arose the mense during the rule of the Carolingian dynasty. [2]
The mense is that portion of the property of a church which is designated to covering the expenses either of the prelate, or the religious community, serving the church and administered at their discretion. [2] In a cathedral, to which both the bishop and a chapter sit, the bishop's "episcopal mensa" is distinct from that of the chapter. [2]
The episcopal mense (Latin: mensa episcopalis) is the material support from a Catholic diocese for the support and maintenance of the local bishop, or to the abbot, his residence, and the diocesan curia. [3] Though it is governed by canon law,. [4] in countries like France and Italy, it is also regulated by public law. [5]
The capitular mense (Latin: mensa capitularis), is the share of ecclesiastical revenue designated to the maintenance and support of the canons or monks. The division of the capitular mense between each canon is called the prebend. After the Investiture Controversy in the 12th century, these revenues became insufficient and were supplemented by the addition of parish benefits, and chaplaincies to the canonical prebends. [3]
The curial mense (Latin: mensa curialis) is support given to the parish priest or minister. It is administered by the parish priest, under the supervision of the bishop and the parish council. [2]
The First Council of the Lateran was the 9th ecumenical council recognised by the Catholic Church. It was convoked by Pope Callixtus II in December 1122, immediately after the Concordat of Worms. The council sought to bring an end to the practice of the conferring of ecclesiastical benefices by people who were laymen, free the election of bishops and abbots from secular influence, clarify the separation of spiritual and temporal affairs, re-establish the principle that spiritual authority resides solely in the Church and abolish the claim of the Holy Roman Emperor to influence papal elections.
A parish is a territorial entity in many Christian denominations, constituting a division within a diocese. A parish is under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of a priest, often termed a parish priest, who might be assisted by one or more curates, and who operates from a parish church. Historically, a parish often covered the same geographical area as a manor. Its association with the parish church remains paramount.
In church governance, a diocese or bishopric is the ecclesiastical district under the jurisdiction of a bishop.
Maximilian Kaller was Roman Catholic Bishop of Ermland in East Prussia from 1930 to 1947. However, de facto expelled from mid-August 1945, he was a special bishop for the homeland-expellees until his death.
A vicar is a representative, deputy or substitute; anyone acting "in the person of" or agent for a superior. Linguistically, vicar is cognate with the English prefix "vice", similarly meaning "deputy". It also refers to a senior priest in the Church of England. The title appears in a number of Christian ecclesiastical contexts, but also as an administrative title, or title modifier, in the Roman Empire. In addition, in the Holy Roman Empire, a local representative of the emperor, such as an archduke, could be styled "vicar".
Canon is a Christian title usually used to refer to a member of certain bodies in subject to an ecclesiastical rule.
An ordinary is an officer of a church or civic authority who by reason of office has ordinary power to execute laws.
The hierarchy of the Catholic Church consists of its bishops, priests, and deacons. In the ecclesiological sense of the term, "hierarchy" strictly means the "holy ordering" of the church, the Body of Christ, so to respect the diversity of gifts and ministries necessary for genuine unity.
A Diocesan administrator is a provisional ordinary of a Catholic particular church.
In canon law, commenda was a form of transferring an ecclesiastical benefice in trust to the custody of a patron. The phrase in commendam was originally applied to the provisional occupation of an ecclesiastical benefice, which was temporarily without an actual occupant, in contrast to the conferral of a title, in titulum, which was applied to the regular and unconditional occupation of a benefice.
A provost is a senior official in a number of Christian churches.
Cathedraticum is a specified sum of money to be paid annually toward a bishop. It is a mark of honour and a sign of subjection to the cathedral church, from which its name is derived.
In the Catholic Church, fabrica ecclesiæ is a term meaning, etymologically, the construction of a church, but in a broader sense the funds necessary for such construction.
The Archdiocese of Dublin is a Latin Church ecclesiastical territory or archdiocese of the Catholic Church located in the eastern part of Ireland. Its archepiscopal see includes the republic's capital city – Dublin. The cathedral church of the archdiocese is St Mary's Pro-Cathedral. Dublin was formally recognised as a metropolitan province in 1152 by the Synod of Kells. Its second archbishop, Lorcán Ua Tuathail, is also its patron saint.
In the Catholic Church, a bishop is an ordained minister who holds the fullness of the sacrament of holy orders and is responsible for teaching doctrine, governing Catholics in his jurisdiction, sanctifying the world and representing the Church. Catholics trace the origins of the office of bishop to the apostles, who it is believed were endowed with a special charism and office by the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. Catholics believe this special charism and office has been transmitted through an unbroken succession of bishops by the laying on of hands in the sacrament of holy orders.
In the Catholic Church, an exemption is the full or partial release of an ecclesiastical person, corporation, or institution from the authority of the ecclesiastical superior next higher in rank. For example, the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Strasbourg, and the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem are exempt, being directly subject to the Holy See.
The Diocese of Moray was one of the most important of the medieval dioceses of the Roman Catholic Church in Scotland. Its territory was in central northern Scotland.
The former French diocese of Thérouanne controlled a large part of the left bank of the river Scheldt during the Middle Ages. Territorially it was part of the county of Artois which belonged to the county of Flanders.
Precedence signifies the right to enjoy a prerogative of honor before other persons; for example, to have the most distinguished place in a procession, a ceremony, or an assembly, to have the right to express an opinion, cast a vote, or append a signature before others, to perform the most honorable offices.
A rector is, in an ecclesiastical sense, a cleric who functions as an administrative leader in some Christian denominations. In contrast, a vicar is also a cleric but functions as an assistant and representative of an administrative leader.
Con il decreto di erezione di ciascun Istituto sono contestualmente estinti la mensa vescovile, i benefici capitolari, parrocchiali, vicariali curati o comunque denominati, esistenti nella diocesi
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This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain : Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "Mensa, Mensal Revenue". Catholic Encyclopedia . New York: Robert Appleton Company.