penitential movement

The penitential movement was a religious trend during the medieval period focused on spiritual renewal through repentance and self-discipline. Participants sought to correct moral failings, often through acts like prayer, fasting, and confessing sins. This movement emphasized personal responsibility for moral improvement and aimed to prepare individuals for divine forgiveness and salvation. It also influenced public practices, such as pilgrimages and penance rituals, and contributed to the development of monastic discipline and the broader Christian community’s emphasis on moral accountability.