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Definition: penance from Philip's Encyclopedia

Carrying out of a specified act as a mark of sincere regret following the commission of a sin or sins. The most common penance, prescribed by a priest after absolution, is to say a prayer at a special time.


penance

From The Columbia Encyclopedia
(pĕn'Әns), sacrament of the Roman Catholic and Orthodox Eastern churches. By it the penitent (the person receiving the sacrament) is absolved of his or her sins by a confessor (the person hearing the confession and conferring the sacrament). Every Catholic is required to confess all his or her mortal (serious) sins before receiving communion and at least once a year. A penitent need confess only sins committed since baptism or since his or her last confession. To make the sacrament valid the confessor must be a priest and the penitent must be contrite and possess a firm purpose of amendment. Sins inadvertently forgotten after a careful examination of conscience are included in the absolution. Before granting absolution, the confessor, acting as an instrument of both God and the Church, may admonish the sinner, and he imposes a penance (a punishment, usually consisting of prayers). The penitent is required to make restitution for injuries to others. According to a canon of the Council…
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Full text Article Penance

From Cambridge Dictionary of Christian Theology
Penance and repentance have been related terms in the history of Christian theology and practice. Rooted in the Bible they have also reflected the differences among Christian confessions, most especially with regard to the Protestant Reformation in the western Church and its consequences for the…
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Full text Article penance

From Encyclopedia of World Religions: Encyclopedia of Catholicism
A Christian understanding of life assumes that each person is a sinner in need of God's forgiveness. In order to receive forgiveness people must confess their sins, feel sorrow for having committed them, and intend to amend their lives so as to eradicate that sin. In the Catholic Church, the process…
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Full text Article PENANCE

From Encyclopedia of Ancient Christianity
I. Penance and reconciliation - II. Iconography and epigraphy - III. Penitentials. Reconciliation was first procured by * baptism , through which one obtained the remission of the sins committed during one's life before receiving the sacrament of Christian initiation. After baptism, a Christian was…
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Full text Article penance

From The Columbia Encyclopedia
(pĕn'Әns), sacrament of the Roman Catholic and Orthodox Eastern churches. By it the penitent (the person receiving the sacrament) is absolved of his or her sins by a confessor (the person hearing the confession and conferring the sacrament). Every Catholic is required to confess all his or her…
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Full text Article Dr. Johnson's Penance, 1880 (oil on canvas)

From Bridgeman Images: Christies Collection
Dr. Johnson's Penance, 1880 (oil on canvas)
Artist: Stokes, Adrian Scott (1854-1935) Location: Private Collection Credit: Dr. Johnson's Penance, 1880 (oil on canvas), Stokes, Adrian Scott (1854-1935) / Private Collection / Photo © Christie's Images / The Bridgeman Art Library Dimensions: 118.5x184 Date: 1880 Medium: oil on canvas Description: …
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The Penance of the Duchess of Gloucester, 1902 ()
Artist: Davis, Frederick William (1862-1919) Location: Private Collection Credit: The Penance of the Duchess of Gloucester, 1902 (), Davis, Frederick William (1862-1919) / Private Collection / Photo © Christie's Images / The Bridgeman Art Library Dimensions: 84.4x158.2 Date: 1902 Description: The…
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Full text Article penance

From The Macquarie Dictionary
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Full text Article penance

From The American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language
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Full text Article penance

From The Hutchinson Unabridged Encyclopedia with Atlas and Weather Guide
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Full text Article penance

From Philip's Encyclopedia
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