The Significance of the Frankish Penitentials
Allen J. Frantzen
It has been argued that the handbooks of penance known as ‘Frankish’ penitentials, though ‘an important and necessary stage in development medieval church society’, were an ‘ephemeral ultimately despised intrusion’ into Frankish Church eighth ninth centuries. The importation these books by Irish Anglo-Saxon missionaries adverse reaction bishops to system private which they introduced is a story too well require rehearsal here; after spreading rapidly century penitentials challenged condemned several synods followed. This had consequences for be sure, but my knowledge it not previously asserted merely transitional or their impact on was either peripheral minimal. On contrary, Fournier, Watkins McNeill Gamer, among others, believe Carolin-gian era have heavily influenced texts and, turn, decisive development.
The Journal of Ecclesiastical History