THE CHURCH SERVICES 323
at first inclined to attribute to it, for medieval religion centred
mainly in the building itself. No doubt a limited amount of
simple instruction was given by parents in answer to childish
questions. The crossing at prayers or thanksgiving; the holy
wells and the use of holy water; the sight of the priest carrying
the sacred oils to the house of the sick—these and many other
daily events necessarily provoked enquiry, but it was mainly, if
not solely, in the church itself that instruction was given. "What
mean ye by this service?" would have been a hard question for
the peasant to answer, and he would rightly have said that it was
a matter for the priest and not for him. Indeed, his knowledge
and understanding of what went on in church was not very pro-
found. He was ignorant, unlettered, without other means of
instruction than that which could be imparted to him by his
village clergy, or by a passing friar. More he only got by his
attention to the details of the sendee, and to the ideas and stories
embodied in sculpture and painting within and without the
church. These could do something to help educate the peasant;
but, for most of them, their religion was less a matter of thought
than a matter of habit. In common with all their neighbours
they held certain beliefs, did certain things and made certain
donations because, as far as they knew, people had always thus
behaved. The services, themselves, were mysterious to them for
the most part, since the vast majority of medieval congregations
were unable to follow one word of the Latin in which they were
said. The priest rehearsed the words and performed various
actions, while they repeated such prayers and devotions as they
knew. Not that these were many: the Pater Noster and the Ave
were generally known, but even this minimum could not be
assumed; and, although the Apostles' Creed was looked on as
the layman's creed, many were ignorant of this. The most that
could be expected from the earnest peasant was the Creed, Pater
and Ave, with, perhaps, the Commandments, and the devout
recital of these was expected to occupy him during the saying of
the Mass. He was thus thrown on his own spiritual resources to
a considerable extent, but this was no real solution and for the
majority some more practical help was necessary.
To meet this need the Church had strained every resource.
Music, painting, miming, imagery—all played their part. The