Confessing in Old English: The Life of Saint Mary of Egypt and the problem with penance

Abstract

This essay theorizes early medieval confessional practices by exploring some of their risks, with particular attention to the Old English Life of Saint Mary of Egypt and the instructional note for a confessor, which begins 'Man mot hine gebiddan swa swa he maeg ond can' ['One may pray just as he is able and knows how to'].