Religiously, it's a punishment undergone in token of sorrow for sin
When he had the penance finished the old friar came and said, "It's time for you to 
be ... late 13c., "religious discipline or self-mortification as a token of repentance 
and... [DOC] [TLE] Jeopary Questions page 1071 - GEOMETRY - TriviaBistro.com [PAR] FAMILIAR PHRASES: Financially, it's the colorful opposite of "in the red" ...