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This Lent, let Sr. Josephine Garrett be your companion as you journey into the depths of your heart, inviting Jesus to bring healing and renewal through his love.

Have you ever wondered why Jesus entered the wilderness? Some say it was to reveal his divinity, while others believe it was to reconcile humanity with God. In *Wilderness Within*, Sr. Josephine Garrett—mental health counselor and sought-after speaker—reflects on the idea that Jesus stepped into the wilderness to save us. He came to rescue you! Rather than seeing the wilderness as a place of fear, anxiety, or uncertainty, Sr. Josephine encourages a different perspective. “What if, instead,” she writes, “we looked at how God has been a faithful provider in the wilderness and trusted that He will do the same for us in the wilderness journey ahead? What if we joyfully take His hand and journey into the wilderness, because when Christ enters there, ‘this opposite place of the garden becomes the place of reconciliation and healing’” (Pope Benedict XVI, *Jesus of Nazareth*)?

Throughout the forty days of Lent, Sr. Josephine will help you embrace the wilderness of your heart—a place to be explored, restored, and ultimately sent forth on mission through Christ’s love.

Week of Ash Wednesday: Begin your Lenten journey with the understanding that you always have the opportunity to start anew in Christ.

Week One: Open your heart to God’s love and learn to cherish it as a beautiful gift from your Creator.

Week Two: Reflect on the relationships in your life and recognize that we are all made for connection.

Week Three: Honestly examine your wounds, limitations, and sins, approaching them with humility and a spirit of repentance.

Week Four: See more clearly how God has designed your heart to be rescued by Him, and expand your capacity to receive His healing.

Week Five: Step out of your interior wilderness, renewed by Christ’s love, ready to serve others and be a good steward of your unique gifts.

Holy Week: Walk with Jesus to the Cross, contemplating how to love Him deeply at each stage of His Passion and Resurrection.

Each day includes a brief meditation, engaging illustrations, reflective questions, heartfelt prayers, and space for journaling your personal insights. Whether you embark on this journey alone or within a group, *Wilderness Within* offers a meaningful and transformative Lenten experience.

Companion videos featuring Sr. Josephine and a free downloadable leader’s guide are available at avemariapress.com.