Difference between Penance and Repentance

What is the difference between Penance and Repentance?

Penance as a noun is a voluntary self-imposed punishment for a sinful act or wrongdoing. it may be intended to serve as reparation for the act. while Repentance as a noun is the condition of being penitent

Penance

Part of speech: noun

Definition: A voluntary self-imposed punishment for a sinful act or wrongdoing. It may be intended to serve as reparation for the act. A sacrament in some Christian churches.

Example sentence: I grew up Catholic. We went to confession on Saturday, stood in the shortest line, since it led to the priest who gave the easiest penance - usually a few Our Fathers and Hail Marys. We confessed in private, prayed our penance and our souls were clean.

Repentance

Part of speech: noun

Definition: The condition of being penitentA feeling of regret or remorse for doing wrong or sinning

Example sentence: The pattern of the prodigal is: rebellion, ruin, repentance, reconciliation, restoration.

We hope you now know whether to use Penance or Repentance in your sentence.

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