Final answer:
Irish monks determined penance for sins through confession, in which priests would grant absolution and assign acts of atonement. The severity of the sin influenced the penance, with the belief that every sin required reconciliation. This practice evolved over time and was later challenged during the Reformation.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Irish monks in history determined the appropriate penance for confessed sins using a variety of processes that reflected their deep spiritual connotations to events and actions. Ailments such as sickness, or community issues like crop failure, were often viewed as signs of personal or communal sin. Confession and the assignment of penance were seen as crucial to atone for these sins and were a means of achieving absolution and redemption.
Priests and monks would listen to the confessions of the penitents, granting them absolution and imposing penances that were seen as necessary to atone for the confessed sins. The determination of these penances was influenced by the severity of the sin, and the understanding that every sin must be accounted for in order to avoid eternal consequences.
The broader context of church history shows us that these practices evolved over time, and at certain points, like during the Reformation, figures like Martin Luther would challenge the authority and the practices of the Church, which included the selling of indulgences and the role of priests in dispensing forgiveness.