licentee (Latin licentia, license)

They were secular men in the 16-17th centuries, who led Catholic parishes (with the bishop's permission) because of the lack of priests. They performed ecclesiastical activities, which did not require an order (reading the gospel, participating in funerals, weddings). Licensees played an important role in supporting Hungarian Catholics mentally and spiritually in the occupied regions. This institution disappeared at the beginning of the 18th century.

MA