Obiits were an annual
endowed service commemorating the dead. Feast days for patron saints were often reserved for endowed masses associated with the ''obiit'', sometimes in a
chantry
A chantry is an ecclesiastical term that may have either of two related meanings:
# a chantry service, a set of Christian liturgical celebrations for the dead (made up of the Requiem Mass and the Office of the Dead), or
# a chantry chapel, a b ...
.
Background
The practice has its origin in the recitation of the names of living and dead Christians (part of the
intercessory prayers of the
Canon of the Mass
The Canon of the Mass (), also known as the Canon of the Roman Mass and in the Mass of Paul VI as the Roman Canon or Eucharistic Prayer I, is the oldest Anaphora (liturgy), anaphora used in the Roman Rite of Mass (liturgy), Mass. The name ''Canon ...
). As these lists grew in length separate ceremonies became necessary.
Though many ''obiit'' vigils were of the endowed sort, more modest collective ''obiit'' was available for parishioners who could not afford an endowment.
[
]
Liturgy
The liturgy
Liturgy is the customary public ritual of worship performed by a religious group. As a religious phenomenon, liturgy represents a communal response to and participation in the sacred through activities reflecting praise, thanksgiving, remembra ...
used for ''obiit'' ceremonies with the Office and Mass for the Dead. It began with Vespers
Vespers /ˈvɛspərz/ () is a Christian liturgy, liturgy of evening prayer, one of the canonical hours in Catholic (both Latin liturgical rites, Latin and Eastern Catholic liturgy, Eastern Catholic liturgical rites), Eastern Orthodox, Oriental O ...
and Matins followed by Commendations. At dawn a series of psalms
The Book of Psalms ( , ; ; ; ; , in Islam also called Zabur, ), also known as the Psalter, is the first book of the third section of the Tanakh (Hebrew Bible) called ('Writings'), and a book of the Old Testament.
The book is an anthology of B ...
and prayers were read, then before the final Requiem Mass service, there might be a procession
A procession is an organized body of people walking in a formal or ceremonial manner.
History
Processions have in all peoples and at all times been a natural form of public celebration, as forming an orderly and impressive ceremony. Religious ...
to the grave of the deceased.[
]
Food and drink
Like most medieval social and community gatherings, shared food and drink were a feature of many ''obiit'' vigils. Guilds
A guild ( ) is an association of artisans and merchants who oversee the practice of their craft/trade in a particular territory. The earliest types of guild formed as organizations of tradespeople belonging to a professional association. They so ...
gathered for the ''obiit'' vigils of their members and benefactors, and shared food and drink were common place at these gatherings. Bread, cheese and ale were given out in the guild chapel at an ''obiit'' held in 1442 for the parker of Fulbrook (meaning park-keeper in Middle English
Middle English (abbreviated to ME) is a form of the English language that was spoken after the Norman Conquest of 1066, until the late 15th century. The English language underwent distinct variations and developments following the Old English pe ...
) at the guild of the Holy Cross at Stratford-upon-Avon
Stratford-upon-Avon ( ), commonly known as Stratford, is a market town and civil parish in the Stratford-on-Avon (district), Stratford-on-Avon district, in the county of Warwickshire, in the West Midlands (region), West Midlands region of Engl ...
. In 1533 cakes, comfits, wine, ale and cheese were distributed at The Trinity Guild of Coventry
Coventry ( or rarely ) is a City status in the United Kingdom, cathedral city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands (county), West Midlands county, in England, on the River Sherbourne. Coventry had been a large settlement for centurie ...
for the ''obiit'' of alderman
An alderman is a member of a Municipal government, municipal assembly or council in many jurisdictions founded upon English law with similar officials existing in the Netherlands (wethouder) and Belgium (schepen). The term may be titular, denotin ...
Nicholas Burwey.
References
{{reflist
Society in medieval England