2004/01/01 by Joan Greatrex
Arts and Humanities · #Early Modern Women Writers #Medieval Literature and History #Reformation and Early Modern Christianity
paper · doi:10.1017/s0424208400015060
openalex publication_date 2004/01/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/05/21
On 15 November 1407, in the monastic infirmary of Christ Church, Canterbury, Thomas Wykyng breathed his last with a prayer for the intercession of the Virgin Mary on his lips. The brethren in attendance, so the memoir continues, were convinced that at the moment of his departure the Blessed Virgin summoned him to herself (‘ad se evocavit’) because next to his trust in God he had always placed supreme confidence in her. He was remembered as a model monk who had served his turn in many offices including those of cellarer, sacrist, novice master, and warden of Canterbury College, Oxford. To the many young monks who owed their instruction in the celebration of mass to him he strongly recommended that this same prayer be included as part of their personal devotions as they stood at the altar.