One of the best hymns for Lent is attributed to Gregory the Great, who became Bishop of Rome in 590. He sent missionaries to England who set up their base in Canterbury.

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Now let us all with one accord,

in company with ages past,

keep vigil with our heavenly Lord

in his temptation and his fast.

The covenant, so long revealed

to those of faith in former time,

Christ by his own example sealed,

the Lord of love, in love sublime.

Your love, O Lord, our sinful race

has not returned, but falsified;

author of mercy, turn your face

and grant repentance for our pride.

Remember, Lord, though frail we be,

in your own image were we made;

help us, lest in anxiety,

we cause your Name to be betrayed.

Therefore, we pray you, Lord, forgive;

so when our wanderings here shall cease,

we may with you for ever live,

in love and unity and peace.

We have a choice of melodies. We may sing it to a twelfth-century plainsong chant, or we may sing it to an eighteenth-century mountain melody from Bourbon County, Kentucky. Another choice is that we may simply memorize the text as poetry and let it roll around in our minds until Holy Week and Easter.