Penitente

[ pen-i-ten-tey, -tee ]

noun

1. a member of a confraternity, chiefly in Spanish American communities in New Mexico, known for their practice of self-flagellation, especially during Holy Week.

Word History and Origins

Origin of Penitente¹

First recorded in 1830–40; Americanism; from Spanish, literally, “penitent,” singular of Penitentes, short for Los Hermanos Penitentes “the penitent brothers”

Example Sentences

Lacking enough priests to serve the far-flung outposts, the Penitente Brothers helped fill the gap.

From Los Angeles Times

On Thursday, Penitente Brothers from the nearby village of Cordova knelt near the altar and recited the rosary for an hour in Spanish.

From Los Angeles Times

The Santuario was built by Don Bernardo Abeyta, a member of the Penitente Brothers, a Catholic lay order once known for extreme acts of penance including self-flagellation.

From Los Angeles Times

A devout Catholic, he’s also a Penitente.

From Washington Times

And so I found that the mafia penitente, and that’s the term the Italians used, penitent, almost to have a religious type conversion and they’ll do what needs to be done in pursuit of the new goal.

From MSNBC