Wilderness Within invites you to journey with Sr. Josephine Garrett through the interior wilderness of your heart this Lent, allowing Jesus to heal you with his love and lead you to peace.
Drawing on her experience as both a religious sister and a licensed mental health counselor, Sr. Josephine explores the wilderness not as a place of fear or desolation, but as a sacred space of encounter and renewal. She reflects on the belief that Jesus entered the wilderness to rescue us—transforming it into a place of reconciliation and healing.
Across the forty days of Lent, you’ll be guided through meditations, illustrations, prayers, and reflection questions designed to help you:
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Begin anew in Christ and see Lent as a time of grace
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Reverence your heart as a gift from God
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Deepen your relationships with others through love and honesty
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Examine your wounds and sins with humility
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Allow Jesus to heal your heart and prepare you for mission
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Follow Christ to the Cross and Resurrection during Holy Week
Each week builds on the last, leading you from self-examination to healing and then outward into mission—ready to love others with a restored heart. Whether used individually or in a group, Wilderness Within serves as a faithful companion for a transformative Lenten season.
Free companion videos and a downloadable leader’s guide are available at AveMariaPress.com.
About the Author
Sr. Josephine Garrett, CSFN, is a Sister of the Holy Family of Nazareth, a licensed counselor, and host of the Hope Stories podcast. Before entering religious life, she worked as a vice president in the home loans division of Bank of America. She holds a bachelor’s degree in political philosophy from the University of Dallas and a master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling from the Chicago School of Professional Psychology. She serves as a counselor in private practice and as a speaker on faith and mental health. Sr. Josephine lives in Tyler, Texas.
June Jameson is a Catholic artist known for her large oil paintings inspired by faith. Her work has appeared in galleries, churches, and hospitals, and many of her images are available for liturgical licensing through the Diocesan Library of Art. She lives in Ocala, Florida, with her husband and nine children.
