Penance (from the Latin Poenitentia, the same root as penitence, which is English means repentence, the desire to be forgiven, see contrition; in many languages only one single word is derived) is the actual name of the Catholic Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation (formerly called Confession). Contrition is sincere and complete remorse for sins one has committed. ... A sacrament is a Christian rite that mediates divine grace. ... In criminal proceedings, a confession is a document in which a suspect admits having committed a crime. ...

In this Sacrament, the penitent (repentent sinner, known as confessant) accuses himself of his sins to an ordained priest (known as confessor). The priest may then offer advice and imposes a particular penance to be performed. The penitent then prays an Act of Contrition, the priest administers absolution, thus formally forgiving the penitent of his sins, and finally sends him out with words of dismissal. Roman Catholic priest LCDR Allen R. Kuss (USN) aboard USS Enterprise A priest or priestess is a holy man or woman who takes an officiating role in worship of any religion, with the distinguishing characteristic of offering sacrifices. ... The Act of Contrition is a prayer recited by the penitent during the Latin Rite Roman Catholic sacrament of Confession. ... Absolution in a liturgical church refers to the pronouncement of Gods forgiveness of sins. ...

Penance, as imposed during the Sacrament, may consist in prayers, fasting, or the giving of alms. The most common penances are prayers, such as the Our Father and Hail Mary, while corporal punishments such as the wearing of a cilice and public humiliations have become rare, even in monastic practice. Hail Mary or in Latin Ave Maria is a traditional Catholic prayer to Mary, the mother of Jesus, developed in the second millennium, with its roots in the Bible. ... The term cilice traditionally refers to the hairshirt, a garment or undergarment made of coarse cloth or animal hair. ... Public humiliation was often used by local communities to punish minor and petty criminals before the age of large, modern prisons (imprisonment was long unusual as a punishment, rather a method of coercion). ...

Penance also may be self-imposed, especially during the Lenten fast (mainly the Passion week, inspired by Christ's suffering; hence also flagellantism or even voluntary crucifixion) and Advent. Self-imposed penance, also called mortification of the flesh (beacuse its natural weakness endangers the salvation of the soul unless duely controled by the devout spirit), serves to detach the penitent of his worldly passions, as to draw him into closer union with God. ... Crucifixion is an ancient method of execution, in which the victim was tied or nailed to a large wooden cross (Latin: crux) and left to hang there until dead. ... Flagellants mortifying the flesh, at the time of the Black Death Mortification of the flesh literally means putting the flesh to death. The term is primarily used in religious contexts, and is practiced in a variety of ways. ...

• In eastern religions (Hinduism, etc.), acts of hardship committed on oneself (fasting, lying on rocks heated by the Sun, etc.), especialy as part of an ascetic way of life (as monk or 'wise man') in order to attain a higher form of mental awareness (trough detachment from the earthly, not punishing guilt) or favours from (the) God(s).

Hinduism (सनातन धर्म; also known as Sanātana Dharma, and Vaidika-Dharma) is a worldwide religious tradition that is based on the bedrock of the Veda scriptures. ...

Penance in fiction

• Colin Kapp. 1972, 1973. Patterns of Chaos. New York: Award Books. No ISBN. Pp. 31-36.
• in movies : [[1]]