When it comes to matters of faith, many people stand behind the idea that penance is a valuable practice. Catholics believe that taking penance, or semiannual confession, helps us to confess our sins and receive absolution; Protestants believe that penance is an act of contrition that helps us to forgive ourselves and others. Of course, there are many different interpretations of penance, but the general idea is that it's a way of working towards reconciliation with God. For some, penance can be a physical act, like fasting, abstaining from specific foods or activities, or foregoing a particular pleasure.