In medieval Christianity, a confession made to a priest by candlelight, or the practice of hearing confessions during evening hours.
Compound of 'candle' and 'shrift' (from Old English 'scrift,' meaning confession or absolution). This referred to evening confessions when artificial light was necessary.
Candleshrift is a window into medieval religious life—the term shows how technology (candlelight) literally determined when certain religious practices could happen!
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