Discover the Beauty of the Music of Lent

Did you know that Lent has its own music?

I didn’t, at least not until I began paying closer attention to the rhythms of the liturgical calendar. Just as Advent carries its own sound and mood, Lent is marked by distinct themes: repentance, mercy, sacrifice, and a deep longing for redemption.

But unlike Advent, which holds a quiet expectancy, Lenten music feels heavier. More restrained. These hymns slow us down. They invite reflection. They lead us carefully toward the cross.

Why Lenten Music Matters

The hymns of Lent sound very different from the triumphant joy of Easter morning.

They guide us into the wilderness with Christ. They help us sit with our sin, acknowledge our frailty, and remember our desperate need for mercy. Lenten music teaches our hearts to linger, not rush, through this sacred season of self-examination and renewal.'

These songs remind us that the road to resurrection first passes through suffering.

One of the most beloved Lenten hymns is O Sacred Head, Now Wounded. Its haunting melody and poetic imagery draw us into Christ’s passion and fix our eyes on His sacrifice:

O sacred Head, now wounded,

With grief and shame weighed down,

Now scornfully surrounded

With thorns, Thine only crown;

How pale Thou art with anguish,

With sore abuse and scorn!

How does that visage languish,

Which once was bright as morn!

This hymn carries us to the foot of the cross. It asks us not to look away. The sorrow of Lent is real, but so is the love that shines through it.

Another powerful hymn for this season is When I Survey the Wondrous Cross. Where the first hymn draws us into Christ’s suffering, this one turns our gaze inward, calling us to humility and gratitude:

When I survey the wondrous cross,

On which the Prince of Glory died,

My richest gain I count but loss,

And pour contempt on all my pride.

Lent is not about remaining in sorrow. It is about being transformed by love. These hymns prepare us for Easter not by rushing to joy, but by deepening our understanding of what Christ has done.

Resisting the Rush to Easter

Just as the world often skips from Advent straight to Christmas, it is tempting to hurry past Lent and move quickly to Easter celebration.

But something beautiful happens when we allow ourselves to dwell in Lenten music, to sit in the tension, to sing words of repentance, to meditate on Christ’s suffering.

In our home, we are intentional about this. We save Jesus Christ Is Risen Today and Christ the Lord Is Risen Today for Easter morning. We resist singing them too early.

And when Easter finally arrives, and those triumphant hymns fill the room, they feel fuller. Brighter. Hard-earned in the best possible way.

Joy is always richer when it follows repentance.

Lenten Playlists to Enrich Your Season

If you would like to immerse your home in the sound of Lent, I’ve created a Lenten playlist to guide you.

Whether you are praying, reading Scripture, preparing dinner, or driving your children to activities, these hymns can gently shape the atmosphere of your days.

Traditional Lenten Playlist

These hymns have carried the Church through centuries of Lenten observance. They center us on Christ’s sacrifice, our need for grace, and the mercy that meets us at the cross.

Let the music of Lent slow you down.

Let it prepare your heart.

And when Easter morning comes, may your Alleluias ring all the sweeter because you have first walked through the wilderness.