So I'm a bit confused. What's the difference between penance and penitence? Are they essentially the same thing? Thank you everyone.
From Dictionary.com
pen ance
–noun
1. a punishment undergone in token of penitence for sin.
pen i tence
–noun
the state of being penitent; regret for one's wrongdoing or sinning; contrition; repentance.
As you can see, a penance is a punishment; penitence is a feeling of guilt or being sorry.