1. penance - Noun
2. penance - Verb
Repentance.
Pain; sorrow; suffering.
A means of repairing a sin committed, and obtaining pardon for it, consisting partly in the performance of expiatory rites, partly in voluntary submission to a punishment corresponding to the transgression. Penance is the fourth of seven sacraments in the Roman Catholic Church.
To impose penance; to punish.
Source: Webster's dictionaryAccording to this, she did not die immediately after her exposure, but was confined and deposed, after which she did many years of penance. Source: Internet
After performing severe penance for ten thousand years he received a boon from the creator-god Brahma : he could henceforth not be killed by gods, demons,or spirits. Source: Internet
As he had foreseen, God had chosen Florence, "the navel of Italy", as his favorite and he repeated: if the city continued to do penance and began the work of renewal it would have riches, glory and power. Source: Internet
As he studied these portions of the Bible, he came to view the use of terms such as penance and righteousness by the Roman Catholic Church in new ways. Source: Internet
Ambrose told Theodosius to imitate David in his repentance as he had imitated him in guilt — Ambrose readmitted the emperor to the Eucharist only after several months of penance. Source: Internet
A woman who is of illegitimate birth, is not a virgin, has undergone non-salutory public penance, is a widow, or is blind or deaf, is typically disqualified for the position, saving by permission of the Holy See. Source: Internet