penitents is a form of:

Penitent



ENGLISH MEANING
noun
1.
One who repents of sin; one sorrowful on account of his transgressions.
2.
One under church censure, but admitted to penance; one undergoing penance.
3.
One under the direction of a confessor.
adjective
1.
Feeling pain or sorrow on account of sins or offenses; repentant; contrite; sincerely affected by a sense of guilt, and resolved on amendment of life.
2.
Doing penance.