# Penitent / Penitential ## Catechism of the Catholic Church The sinner who repents of sin and seeks forgiveness ([[2.2.2.4.p4d#^ccc-1451|1451]]). In the early Church, public sinners belonged to an "order of penitents," who did public penance for their sins, often for years ([[2.2.2.4.p4c#^ccc-1447|1447]]). Penitential acts or practices refer to those which dispose one for or flows from interior penance or conversion; such acts lead to and follow upon the celebration of the Sacrament of Penance ([[2.2.2.4.p4b#^ccc-1434|1434]]). _See_ Satisfaction (for sin).