The word "penitential" has been flexibly deployed in literature to evoke themes of personal atonement, remorse, and religious ritual. In some texts, it underscores a solemn self-assessment or divine judgment, as when a character's actions are viewed as a penance before God ([1]). In other contexts, the term paints a picture of a melancholic or regretful mood, reflecting the weariness of dashed ambitions or personal sorrow ([2], [3]). Additionally, literary authors have linked penitential practices with religious traditions—ranging from the recitation of psalms to acts as extreme as flagellation—underscoring the ritualistic dimensions of self-punishment ([4], [5]). At times, this depiction is even tinged with irony or humor, as seen in the portrayal of a penitential expression or a self-inflicted poke, thereby highlighting the multifaceted nature of guilt and atonement ([6], [7]). Finally, reflections on penitential sorrows offer a nuanced critique of how inner remorse can be both acknowledged and obscured by vanity ([8]).