there is clear evidence that the granting of a benefice "in commendam" was practiced in the fourth century. in a letter written around 379, ambrose mentions a church which he gave "in commendam", while he was bishop of milan: ""commendo tibi, fili, ecclesiam quae est ad forum cornelii ... donec ei ordinetur episcopus"" ("i entrust unto thee, my son, the church which is at the cornelian forum ... while [the bishop is allotted to it]").