“As she gazed at her new domicile, Virginia did not feel at home, but rather as if she was being sent into a penitentiary.”

“As penance for their sins, they were themselves proceeding on foot for the salvation of their souls.”

“The penitent sought solace in prayer, pleading for forgiveness for their past transgressions.”

“Such is his infinite penitence and regret that he looks out on the world and the bereaved family through a window of tears.”

“Even Fischer, who has faced most criticism, has meekly put on sackcloth and ashes and done penitence.”

“This Ash Wednesday text by Brian Wren invokes the Holy Spirit to help us through this time of penitence and self-examination.”

“According to the report, 2.1 million Americans spent 2002 in local jails, state and federal penitentiaries and juvenile detention facilities.”

“When she walked through the mines and penitentiaries the prisoners there often appeared surprised at her hopelessness.”

“Since then, I have been doing this work with 96 state prisons and federal penitentiaries across the United States.”

“In the first sense, the penitentials prescribed permanent or temporary peregrinatio as penance for certain infractions.”

“She provides a brilliant instance of this elusiveness by interpreting their rigorous penitentials as hope-filled guides to spirituality.”

“On the present festive occasion he emerged from his room, when the blithe bells were going, the picture of misery, in a full suit of Sunday penitentials.”

“Father Gregory was used to the awkward silence of penitents, especially those who had not confessed in years.”

“On this Tamil festival, penitents pierce their bodies, tongues, and cheeks while some march on shoes of nails.”

“It would entail suspension from Eucharistic communion and taking one's seat in a special part of the church building reserved for penitents.”

“Neighboring monks became upset with him over a theological dispute, and his health deteriorated under the rigors of his fasting and penances.”

“In the bitter cold of winter, the yogi undertook various penances which, it was said, gave him great powers.”

“His earlier life of self-indulgence had been unsatisfying, as was his six-year experiment with ascetic penances.”