It became customary to commute penances to less demanding works, such as prayers, alms, fasts and even the payment of fixed sums of money depending on the various kinds of offenses (tariff penances). By the 10th century some penances were not replaced by other penances but were simply reduced in connection with pious donations, pilgrimages and similar meritorious works.
Penances began to be exchanged for less strenuous activities such as prayers, alms, fasting, or fixed monetary contributions based on the nature of the offense (tariff penances). By the 10th century, some penances were not replaced by other penances but were instead reduced in relation to pious donations, pilgrimages, and similar meritorious works.