# Obiit

> Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Obiit
> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Obiit.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obiit
> Source revision: 1326713118
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

In [medieval Christianity](/source/Christianity_in_the_Middle_Ages), an **obiit** was an annual [endowed](/source/Endowed) service commemorating the dead. Feast days for patron saints were often reserved for endowed masses associated with the *obiit*, sometimes in a [chantry](/source/Chantry).

## Background

The practice has its origin in the recitation of the names of living and dead Christians (part of the [intercessory](/source/Intercession) prayers of the [Canon of the Mass](/source/Canon_of_the_Mass)). As these lists grew in length separate ceremonies became necessary.[1]

Though many *obiit* vigils were of the endowed sort, more modest collective *obiit* was available for parishioners who could not afford an endowment.[1]

## Liturgy

The [liturgy](/source/Liturgy) used for *obiit* ceremonies with the [Office and Mass for the Dead](/source/Office_of_the_Dead). It began with [Vespers](/source/Vespers) and [Matins](/source/Matins) followed by [Commendations](/source/Commendations). At dawn a series of [psalms](/source/Psalms) and prayers were read, then before the final [Requiem Mass](/source/Requiem_Mass) service, there might be a [procession](/source/Procession) to the grave of the deceased.[1]

## Food and drink

Like most medieval social and community gatherings, shared food and drink were a feature of many *obiit* vigils. [Guilds](/source/Guilds) 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](/source/Fulbrook%2C_Oxfordshire) (meaning park-keeper in [Middle English](/source/Middle_English)) at the guild of the Holy Cross at [Stratford-upon-Avon](/source/Stratford-upon-Avon). In 1533 cakes, [comfits](/source/Comfit), wine, ale and cheese were distributed at The Trinity Guild of [Coventry](/source/Coventry) for the *obiit* of [alderman](/source/Alderman) Nicholas Burwey.[2][3]

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-history_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-history_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-history_1-2) [*Companion to Medieval and Renaissance Music*](https://books.google.com/books?id=_UmMn1EgB7IC). University of California Press. 1997. p. 62. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-520-21081-3](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-520-21081-3).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** Phythian-Adams, Charles (2002). [*Desolation of a City: Coventry and the Urban Crisis of the Late Middle Ages*](https://books.google.com/books?id=rJvNn7uulfYC&dq=Nicholas+Burwey+middle+ages&pg=PA148). Cambridge University Press. p. 148. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-521-52500-8](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-521-52500-8).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** Woolgar, C.M. (2016). *The Culture of Food in England, 1200-1500*. Yale University Press. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9780300181913](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9780300181913).

---
Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Obiit](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obiit) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obiit?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.