Penance is
repentance of
sins as well as the proper name of the
Roman Catholic,
Orthodox Christian, and
Anglican Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation/Confession. It also plays a part in non-sacramental confession among
Lutherans and other
Protestants. The word
penance derives from
Old French and
Latin paenitentia, both of which derive from the same root meaning repentance, the desire to be
forgiven (in English see
contrition). Penance and repentance, similar in their derivation and original sense, have come to symbolize conflicting views of the essence of repentance, arising from the controversy as to the respective merits of
"faith" and "
good works". Word derivations occur in many languages.