Lenten hymns and songs may not be as well-known as Christmas classics (who doesn’t love “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing”?) or even Easter songs (“Jesus Christ Is Risen Today”), but the church’s collection of Lenten music is incredibly vast. And a deeper, more deliberate listen to some of these songs might just be a great way to deepen your spiritual life this season.

Although Lent isn’t known for being upbeat, the season’s songs are far from funeral dirges or depressing tunes. Lenten music and hymnody aim to lift us up and call us back to the two primary themes of this season of preparation for Easter. First, this music moves us toward interior reflection on our daily life with God in expectation of the renewal of baptismal vows on Easter. Second, it calls us to ponder the paschal mystery: Christ’s suffering, death and ultimate resurrection, in which we are invited to participate.

Though there is a wide expanse of Lenten hymns and songs, I’ll offer only a few of my favorites here.

“From Ashes to the Living Font”

Lent commences with Ash Wednesday, and the hymn “From Ashes to the Living Font” reminds us of our origins from the earth, that “and to dust you will return” (Gen 3:19). At the outset of our Lenten journey, this song reminds us of our spiritual birth in the waters of baptism.

From ashes to the living font your church must journey, Lord, baptized in grace, in grace

renewed by your most holy word. Through fasting, prayer and charity your voice speaks

deep within, returning us to ways of truth and turning us from sin.

In this one song, the whole Lenten journey is laid before us. We begin our journey humbled and reminded of our origins but knowing from day one that our “return to dust” is not the final word. I find myself comforted that God is constantly with us. Though I may struggle to keep up with my Lenten practices, these lyrics provide hope that God is always strengthening me by God’s grace and God’s word.

“The God of Abraham Praise”

Although words like prayer and penitence might be words more commonly associated with the Lenten season, another important one is covenant or promise. The Sunday Scripture readings for Lent, especially the Transfiguration of Jesus onthe Second Sunday of Lent, recall both the covenant God makes with us in baptism and the covenant made with the matriarchs and patriarchs of the Hebrew Bible. “The God of Abraham Praise” is a traditional but lesser known hymn sung during Lent to call to mind the covenant God made with our ancestors and points to the heavenly homeland that it promises us.

The God of Abraham praise, who reigns enthroned above; Ancient of Everlasting Days, and God of Love; Jehovah, great I AM! by earth and heaven confessed; I bow and bless the sacred name forever blest.

This hymn uses names of God seen throughout the Hebrew Bible: “The God of Abraham,” the “Ancient of Everlasting Day” and “I AM.” These are all titles that Moses and Elijah, symbols of the covenant and present at Jesus’ Transfiguration, would have been familiar with and used to call to God. In a time in which I find myself calling out to God amid great division and despair, remembering that God does not fail on God’s promises provides me with a glimpse of hope this season.

“Lord I Need You”

A song that was popular during my time at youth group in my parish, especially during the Lenten parish penance services, was Matt Maher’s, “Lord I Need You.” This song is a call to interior reflection and reminds us of the Lenten call to walk closer with God. The repetition of the phrase, “Lord, I need You, oh, I need You,” makes this song particularly helpful in preparing for confession, as I call to mind those moments where I have relied on my own strength and not on God’s.

And in moments where I am particularly aware of my lowliness, the second verse brings me comfort:

Where sin runs deep, Your grace is more. Where grace is found is where You are. And where You are, Lord, I am free. Holiness is Christ in me.

“Lord, I need You” reminds us not only that we are greatly in need of God’s mercy, but that God is always merciful to us, even in those times when we cannot possibly understand why. It is in that encounter with grace and mercy that, as Maher references, true holiness, “freedom” is found.

“When I Survey the Wondrous Cross”

At the end of six long weeks, our journey through the desert of Lent finds us in Holy Week and at the foot of the cross on Good Friday. Though many hymns for this day could be featured at a funeral (which is fitting), they don’t leave us in despair. These songs point toward Easter Sunday, but they allow us to dwell first in the cross, which is a great sign of love.

“When I Survey the Wondrous Cross” is a favorite of mine, particularly the final verse:

Were the whole realm of nature mine, That were a present far too small; Love so amazing, so divine, Demands my soul, my life, my all.

The hymn moves rather delicately through the complexity of emotions felt when looking at Jesus on the cross: love and sorrow, hope and sadness. Yet as we come to this triumphant final verse, we recognize that in the shadow of such love, “even death on a cross” (Phil 2:8), there is no greater response than to give of our own lives, our souls, our all.

It’s tempting for me to look around and see only the shadow of the cross in this world and just want to run away. Yet I find comfort during Lent by turning to songs like these to be reminded that Love, on the cross and from the empty tomb, has the final word. After all, this is the beauty of this whole Christian life: though we will enter a death like Christ’s, we know that we will one-day rise with him in his resurrection. While on our earthly pilgrimage, we are called to be mirrors of this love on the cross and in our lives, walking closer with God each day and bearing this love to the world.

John Consolie is the assistant director of Outreach.