As we step into the sacred season of Lent, Ash Wednesday serves as a profound call to repentance, humility, and renewal. The ashes placed on our foreheads remind us of our mortality—”Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return”—and invite us to turn our hearts back to God. Throughout Christian history, the saints have left us prayers that echo the themes of contrition, surrender, and transformation. In this post, I share ten powerful prayers from the saints to accompany you on your Lenten journey.
Prayers from the Saints to reflect on this Ash Wednesday 2025
1. St. Augustine of Hippo (354–430) – Prayer for a Clean Heart
“O Lord, the house of my soul is narrow; enlarge it that You may enter in. It is ruinous, O repair it! It displeases Your sight; I confess it, I know. But who shall cleanse it, to whom shall I cry but to You? Lord, cleanse me from my secret faults and spare Your servant from the power of the enemy. Amen.”
2. St. Ambrose (c. 340–397) – Prayer of Repentance
“O Lord, who has mercy upon all, take away from me my sins, and mercifully set me ablaze with the fire of Your Holy Spirit. Take away from me the heart of stone and give me a heart of flesh, a heart to love and adore You, a heart to delight in You, to follow and enjoy You. Amen.”
3. St. Ephrem the Syrian (c. 306–373) – Lenten Prayer
“O Lord and Master of my life, take from me the spirit of laziness, despair, lust of power, and idle talk. But grant rather the spirit of chastity, humility, patience, and love to Your servant. Yes, O Lord and King, grant me to see my own transgressions and not to judge my brother, for You are blessed unto ages of ages. Amen.”
4. St. Ignatius of Loyola (1491–1556) – Prayer for Detachment
“Take, Lord, and receive all my liberty, my memory, my understanding, and my entire will. All that I have and possess, You have given to me; to You, O Lord, I return it. Everything is Yours; dispose of it entirely according to Your will. Give me only Your love and Your grace, for that is sufficient for me. Amen.”
5. St. Thomas Aquinas (1225–1274) – Prayer for Purity of Heart
“Grant me, O Lord my God, a mind to know You, a heart to seek You, wisdom to find You, conduct pleasing to You, faithful perseverance in waiting for You, and a hope of finally embracing You. Amen.”
6. St. Catherine of Siena (1347–1380) – Prayer of Contrition
“O eternal God, accept the sacrifice of my contrite heart, and cleanse me with the fire of Your love. Destroy in me all self-love so that I may truly offer myself entirely to You. Amen.”
7. St. Francis of Assisi (1181–1226) – Prayer of Humility
“Most high and glorious God, bring light to the darkness of my heart. Give me right faith, sure hope, and perfect charity. Fill me with understanding and knowledge that I may fulfill Your holy and true command. Amen.”
8. St. Alphonsus Liguori (1696–1787) – Prayer for Mercy
“O my God, I thank You for giving me time to repent. How many years I have deserved to be in hell! If I should die at this moment, I do not know what would become of me. Lord, I give You thanks for Your patience with me. Grant me sorrow for my sins, and the grace to return to You. Amen.”
9.St. Benedict of Nursia (480–547) – Prayer for Strength
“Gracious and Holy Father, grant us the intellect to understand You, reason to discern You, diligence to seek You, wisdom to find You, a spirit to know You, a heart to meditate upon You, ears to hear You, eyes to see You, a tongue to proclaim You, a way of life pleasing to You, patience to wait for You, and perseverance to look for You. Amen.”
10. St. John Henry Newman (1801–1890) – Prayer for Holiness
“O my God, teach me to see You in all things and to see all things in You. May I find You in all that happens, whether it be joy or sorrow, for I trust that all things come from Your loving hand. Purify me, O Lord, that I may be wholly Yours. Amen.”
Let this season be one of grace, where we seek not only to acknowledge our need for God’s mercy but to fully embrace His invitation to new life.
Wisdom and prayers of saints 