The Practice and Literature of Penance
Rob Meens
This chapter discusses the formal and less ways in which Christians first millennium, especially during early Middle Ages, could compensate for transgressing moral rules. Monastic of confessing atoning transgressions were introduced to specific lay audiences. Especially insular world, penitential books composed that provided guidelines this process. Such works closely connected other forms ecclesiastical regulation. In Carolingian penance became an issue central concern, discussed at councils canonical collections. As a consequence, substantial number new texts disseminated widely. inspiration reached audience outside realms: Spain, Italy, England. They also increasingly included The close connection between collections suggests both genres be employed diverse settings. Distinctions public private penance, or jurisdiction (judicial punishment) are not as clear self-evident used thought.
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