How did the Church extend its authority over daily life in the 13th century?

The Church's authority over daily life in the 13th century was significantly extended through the requirement for individuals to confess to a priest at least once a year. This practice, known as the obligation of annual confession, was formalized in the Fourth Lateran Council of 1215. It emphasized the Church's role in the spiritual lives of the laity, making confession a key sacrament that reinforced the priesthood's power. This annual obligation ensured that parishioners were regularly engaging with the Church, seeking guidance and absolution from their sins, and ultimately reinforcing the Church’s central position in both spiritual and communal life.

This requirement also served to foster a sense of accountability among the congregation, linking their moral behavior and spiritual health directly to their adherence to the Church's teachings. Confession was not just a personal act; it underscored the Church's authority to determine what constituted sin and when forgiveness was granted.

Other choices, while relevant to the Church’s influence, did not establish as pervasive a connection between individual believers and the clergy, nor did they create a structured requirement involving personal and communal accountability in the same way that annual confession did.