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The 'Penitential Psalms' or 'Psalms of Confession' is a name designation dating from the seventh century A.D. given to Psalms 6, 32, 38, 51, 102, 130, and 143 (6, 31, 37, 50, 101, 129, and 142 in the Septuagint numbering),
which are specially expressive of sorrow for sin. These psalms were selected by St. Augustine of Hippo in the early 400s. The name belonged originally to the fifty-first Psalm (''Miserere''), which was recited at the close of daily morning service in the primitive Church.
In music, the most famous setting of all seven is by Orlande de Lassus, with his ''Psalmi Davidis poenitentiales'' of 1584. Individual psalms in this set have long been favorites for composers; in particular, the Miserere has been set hundreds of times (famous settings include those by Gregorio Allegri and Josquin des Prez). The ''De profundis'' (Psalm 130) has been set numerous times as well, most famously in the Renaissance twice by Josquin des Prez.
Translations of the penitential psalms were undertaken by some of the greatest poets in Renaissance England, including Sir Thomas Wyatt, Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey, and Sir Philip Sidney.
Prior to the suppression of the minor orders and tonsure in 1972 by Paul VI, the seven penitential psalms were assigned to new clerics after having been tonsured. ^[1]

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1. Ordinations, Alleluia Press, 1962
See also the Pontificalia Romanum