"Persistent Prayer and Penance."

The second piece of armour recommended by Our Lady follows from the first one:  "Persistent prayer and penance," that is, prayer together with acts of humble self denial.  St. Paul speaks about "staying awake in prayer" (Ephesians 6:19), keeping vigil in prayer which often demands acts of sacrifice.  Such prayer expresses both utter reliance on God's mercy, and also awareness of one's sinfulness and unworthiness (Cf. the parable of the 'Pharisee and the tax collector,' Luke 18:9-14).

The word 'penance' may refer to acts to be performed by the penitent after confession; or, it may mean 'penitence,' 'repentance,' conversion, change of heart, that penitential attitude of mind and heart which is a sincere response to the basic call of the Gospel:  "Repent, and believe the good news!" (Mark 1:15).  In this message, 'penance' may refer especially to acts of self-denial, renouncement and mortification to expiate and to atone for sins, to appease God's justice, to appeal for divine mercy, and to "undo the work of the devil" (CF. 1 John 3:8).

In Our Lady's teaching prayer is not just words or work of the mind only, but it should involve us totally, mind, body and spirit.  That is why in her message prayer is often linked with other activity:  prayer and penance, prayer and fasting, prayer before the Cross, prayer and sacrifice, prayer and love, etc., that is, "active prayer."  She tells us in this message that young people should be encouraged to learn this form of prayer, to become active in prayer, not just "saying prayers."