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]