ABSTRACT
Charity comprised an indispensable religious duty, but was only one of many religious practices which pervaded everyday life. The sacraments of the Church served as rites of passage: baptism administered soon after birth, confirmation during childhood, marriage or ordination if a boy became a priest, and extreme unction, the anointing just before death. The other two sacraments, penance and Mass, were available throughout life, and confession before receiving communion at Easter was prescribed at the Fourth Lateran Council of 1215.1 The Mass lay at the centre of religious practice, Masses being offered for both the living and the dead. In a society where death often struck suddenly and unexpectedly, Masses and prayers to enable the soul to pass more quickly through purgatory were regarded by most people as essential. As with many of the religious women, devotional attention focused on the Passion and Crucifixion of Christ, with the Virgin Mary and the saints being regarded as intercessors. Religious activity merged with social and political concerns, and social gatherings and celebrations were an integral part of the Church’s activity. As in the case of charity, worship of God was set alongside concern for one’s neighbour.
