The legitimacy of Catholic institutions was called into question in the 18th century. This conflict was particularly pronounced in the Habsburg Monarchy: The articles in the volume show how different forms of reform Catholicism and enlightened absolutism clash here. Enlightenment and administrative reforms shaped society and the state in the second half of the 18th century, so that the legitimacy of church structures and actors was increasingly measured by their "usefulness". Against this background, the volume deals with discourses and practices relating to church institutions in the " enlightened absolutism ", with a focus on different parts of the Habsburg monarchy. Here there were tense interactions between the diverse institutions and forms of Catholic life and the statistical reform will of Vienna and its authorities. In addition to articles on this topic, the yearbook also contains several articles that go back to the selection process for the Franz Stephan Prizes 2020. There are also project and conference reports, miscommunication and reviews that provide a comprehensive picture of current research on the 18th century in Austria.