ABSTRACT
This chapter aims to throw some light on the priests who serviced post-mortem masses. It shows how changing attitudes to Purgatory and practices of intercession affected their function and status. Trent defended holy orders and confirmed the 'separateness' of the priest, whose most important work was the sacraments of the mass and absolution. The term 'chaplain' or ordinary priest covered a wide range of functions and included men of different socio-economic status. Beneath the level of the permanent choir chaplains of colleges and parishes, was a range of clergy. In the Middle Ages, all regional studies of France show were large numbers of clerics living in communities. A central objective of the Catholic and Counter Reform was the increased education of priests. Clerical pluralism was long associated with chantry benefices, it became uncommon at collegiate and parish level. The disciplinary and moral shortcomings of priests and a need for reform was a long-standing criticism in the late medieval Church.
