Penitence is both sorrow for sins committed and a choice made to amend our way of life. It’s repentance, a change of mind. My challenge is that I sincerely repent but then even as I rise from prayer my mind seizes hold of an impure thought or a criticism of someone else. How frustrating and tiresome! Yet what good news that God never tires of us returning to repent and extending complete forgiveness to us.