In my previous post on Lent and the accompanying video, I focused on fasting and abstinence (“giving something up for Lent”) as central elements of the historical practices of the season. Another traditional practice is the use of the Seven Penitential Psalms in personal and corporate devotions.

The History of the Psalms

The Seven Penitential Psalms (Psalms 6, 32, 38, 51, 102, 130, and 143) were first identified as an informal group by the Roman statesman, scholar, and monastic founder Cassiodorus in the sixth century. They were recognized formally by the western church in the seventh or eighth century and have been used in a variety of liturgical contexts, most often in connection with Lent. In Catholic and some Anglican churches, all seven were recited or sung at one of the services on Fridays in Lent, sometimes with antiphons (short prayers preceding or following a passage of Scripture). This would take between 20 and 30 minutes on average.

Using the Psalms for Lent

Since the goal of Lent is to deepen our awareness of our personal responsibility for Christ’s Passion and death, so that we can better feel the weight of Holy Week and thus can properly celebrate Christ’s victory at the Resurrection, taking time to engage in penitential exercises—that is, to seek true repentance—is crucial. And God has given us these Psalms as a way for us to do just that.

There are a variety of ways the seven Psalms can be used beside reciting them all at once, though that is certainly one option.

Another option is to pray through one of the Psalms a day in rotation through the week, so Psalm 6 on Sundays, Psalm 32 on Mondays, Psalm 38 on Tuesdays, etc., or on any other rotation system you want to use.

Or you could pick one of the Psalms and use it as your focus through the season. Read it throughout the day as you have opportunity until you have it memorized, meditate on it, and pray it at least when you get up and when you go to bed and ideally throughout the day. If or when you get tired of it or it gets stale or rote, move to another of the Psalms.

There are other options as well.

One thing that I think is particularly important is that you pray the Psalm out loud. Don’t just read it or think it. And say it like you mean it. Trust me, it will change the way you connect with the words of the Psalm if you do it that way.

Of course, you do not need to keep strictly to the words of the Psalm. As you pray, you should feel free to unpack the Psalm. In other words, as you pray through the Psalm, speak to God about the ways it expresses your needs and reflects your situation. For example, when any of these Psalms confess the Psalmist’s iniquities, it is always (and intentionally) very general. This is an opportunity to expand on the Psalm by confessing specific sins as well as our sinful tendencies and habits.

Why Use the Psalms through the Season

Holy Week can sneak up on us, so that even Good Friday can come without us really engaging on a deep level with what it cost Jesus to obtain our salvation. The only way I know to prevent that is to spend time in self-examination, reflection, and repentence prior to Holy Week.

This can’t be done quickly. If it’s going to be effective, it’s going to be a process we need to engage in over time. And if it’s going to dig deep, it will likely need more time than the (hopefully) daily self-examination and confession we are already doing. Lent is an ideal time for this, and these Psalms are inspired, God-given tools to help us on that path. I hope you find them as useful as I have.