A papal decretal of Gregory IX urged the faithful to seek their salvation by bequeathing part of their wealth to the support of pious causes: ‘the day of harvest’ should be anticipated ‘with works of great mercy, and, for the sake of things eternal, to sow on earth what we should gather in Heaven, the Lord returning it with increased fruit.’ The impious testator, who refused to observe this exhortation, might be denied the Eucharist and interred in unconsecrated ground. A similar fate might befall the person who died intestate, for he too had failed to make provision for works of great mercy before death, but to ensure his salvation the Church obtained the right to administer his estate and to distribute a portion of it ad pias causas.

Pious causes were causes which honoured God and his Church. Such were gifts for the saying of masses, for obits, for the foundation of chantries, for vestments, for candles and incense, for the repair of churches and for the upkeep of religious houses. But the canonical conception of piety also embraced gifts for the relief of distress and suffering on earth; so, in the medieval will are to be found bequests for the poor, the maimed and suffering, and the upkeep and repair of hospitals, bridges, roads and dykes.