Continuing Carolingian Reform in the late Ninth Century: The Paenitentiale Trecense
Rob Meens|Lenneke van Raaij|Carine van Rhijn
Continuing Carolingian Reform in the late Ninth Century:The Paenitentiale Trecense Rob Meens, Lenneke van Raaij, and Carine Rhijn In kingdoms penance was an important aspect of life.1 Penitential principals procedures were heavily debated ecclesiastical councils penitential rituals functioned as a focus for political discussions actions on highest level, two cases which Louis Pious did public clearly demonstrate. The importance theme such that historians refer to Louis's reign 'the state'.2 era also saw bustling activity composition handbooks meant instruct confessors how deal with sinners new way. These creations far from homogeneous, but they all display clear interest authorities providing legitimization rulings offer confessor his confessing subjects. year 813 council Chalonsur-Saône ruled that: 'we should repudiate eliminate totally those booklets call penitentials, errors are certain authors uncertain'.3 This canon can be seen token authority matter great concern, although Chalon-sur-Saône represented only one voice choir polyphone singers, other adopted different positions this matter.4 As result these concerns [End Page 17] influential scholars Halitgar Cambrai Hrabanus Maurus composed clergy, live up expectations expressed reforming circles. Canonical collections Collectio Dacheriana (ca. 800) provided range proved valuable tool judging penitents.5 At Tours bishops decided remedy situation variety decisions hampered proper judgments, episcopal assembly meet at sacred palace decide what would right book used empire. proposition not come fruition. No decision ever pronounced prescribed throughout A number penitentials composed, however, responded criticism bishops. Yet, came conclusions. Although grounded authoritative basic texts, still rule. One manuscript, now kept Troyes, Médiathèque de Troyes Champagne Métropole 1979, contains no less than three books their own way tried respond books. codex Cambrai, behest Archbishop Ebo Reims. had invited bishop compose text order 'in judgments penitents confused, diverse contradictory little works our priests use founded anyone's authority'.6 subscribed criticisms formulated regarding regarded sayings fathers canons foundation judgments. Furthermore, manuscript so-called Pseudo-Theodore. text, north-eastern regions Frankish empire, possibly 18] somewhere area between Reims Mainz second quarter ninth century, dates region period well-known. It has therefore sometimes been included among group inspired by thinking about penance, is so evident its or choices source material.7 third already observed Raymund Kottje when he studied tradition Halitgar's penitential, it hitherto never edited analysed.8 contribution we will analysis...
Bulletin of medieval canon law|Utrecht University Repository (Utrecht University)