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'You are the healer of my soul and my heart' Resources for Lent 2026

 

By Andy Drozdziak


Prayers, songs, art and devotional books can help us grow in faith during Lent as we strive to be 'led by the Spirit' (Gal.5:18). Juliet Burnford from Chemin Neuf recommended two books to CHARIS England and Wales. Juliet wrote: “David Ford's Meeting God in John is an invitation to meet God who is revealed in Jesus. Combining  simplicity and depth, and full illuminating spiritual insights, and with questions and discussion prompts, this book will be a valued companion on the journey through Lent."


Juliet’s second recommendation is Malcolm Guite's poetry collection The Word in the Wilderness. She wrote: “Lent is a time to reorient ourselves, clarify our minds and slow down.  Poetry cannot be read quickly but rather savoured.  Malcolm Guite's The Word in the Wilderness takes a poem a day for each day of Lent, selected from Dante, John Donne, George Herbert, Rowan William and others and takes the reader on a journey of delightful exploration and discovery during this season.”


Alex Heath, Adviser for Adult Faith Formation, Catechesis and School in the Diocese of Northampton, recommended The Power of the Cross: Good Friday Sermons from the Papal Preacher by Cardinal Raniero Cantalamessa, saying the book contains “really amazing homilies.” The Power of the Cross can be purchased on Amazon.



Developing a closer, more intimate relationship with Jesus


Alex also told CHARIS England and Wales that Lord I Need You by Matt Maher was a helpful song for Lent. Highlighting the line“where sin runs deep your grace is more",

Alex said: “Lent (i)s not so much a DIY self help fix time, but rather an invitation to discover, in Christ, our weakness and brokenness and, in poverty of spirit, (discover) the mercy of Jesus anew, which transforms us in the power of the Spirit.”


Listen to Lord I Need You below.




Alex’s final recommendation is the “3 Litanies of the heart" which are "designed to help Catholics or anyone to enrich their prayer lives and develop a closer, more intimate relationship with Jesus as well as healthier and more fulfilling relationships with others."


The litanies are entitled the Litany of the Closed Heart, the Litany of the

Fearful Heart and the Litany of the Wounded Heart. Speaking of their impact, Alex said: "They are freely available and simple to pray and add into someone's prayer routine. I've found them really helpful (and challenging!)."


The litanies can be accessed at https://www.soulsandhearts.com/content/lit/


Mercy opens "our hearts to the hope of being loved despite our sinfulness"


Nora Woodward from Wales recommends The Art of Lent by Sister Wendy Beckett and Witnesses Reflect by Sister Marie de Montford from the Susters of Dt Joseph of Annecy. Nora told CHARIS England and Wales: "I have a profound love for Caravaggio's painting and the Prodigal moves me always. The second is a very simple sort of Ignatian walk with imaginative writing, done by a local nun, Sister Marie de Montford from the Sisters of St Joseph of Annecy."


Witnesses Reflect can be bought from the Sisters of St Joseph of Annecy 173 Chepstow Road Newport Gwent NP19 8GH.



A good book to help us with the Sacrament of Reconciliation is Lord Have Mercy by Scott Hahn, which is subtitled The healing power of confession. This can assist us in experiencing the mercy of God, which was described by the late Pope Francis as "the bridge that connects God and man(kind), opening our hearts to the hope of being loved despite our sinfulness."




 
 
 

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