To a degree never seen before or since, religion dominated everyday life in the Middle Ages. Medieval Christians viewed the doctrine of final things—eternal salvation or damnation—with a combination of awe and foreboding. They profoundly believed that admission into heaven after death depended entirely on how well a person conducted his or her journey through life. They further held that the Christian church was the only vehicle available to guide the faithful through life's inevitable spiritual obstacles. The church clearly enjoyed a monopoly on salvation. Christians were brought into the community of the faithful when a priest baptized them. They were spiritually maintained during their lives by the sacraments, which were regularly offered to them by the ministers of the church. And after receiving their final rites, also at the hands of a priest, they would hopefully be ushered into...