Толковый словарь английского языка Oxford English Reference - penance

n. & v. --n. 1 an act of self-punishment as reparation for guilt. 2 a (in the RC and Orthodox Church) a sacrament including confession of and absolution for a sin. b a penalty imposed esp. by a priest, or undertaken voluntarily, for a sin. --v.tr. impose a penance on. Phrases and idioms do penance perform a penance. Etymology: ME f. OF f. L paenitentia (as PENITENT)