Pray40: The Return – Hallow’s Lent Community Prayer Challenge for 2026
“Do not be afraid of him. Awful is his greatness before us, terrible is his loftiness, yet he is boundlessly merciful, he became like us out of love, and he is rejoicing with us, transforming water into wine, that the joy of the guests may not end.” – The Brothers Karamazov
This Lent, Hallow will once again launch its Lent Pray40 prayer challenge, beginning on Ash Wednesday – Pray40: The Return.
Join us on a journey back home to the Lord – no matter our sins, no matter our struggles, no matter how far we’ve strayed away. Just as we’ll see through the Parable of the Prodigal Son, we’re all farther away from God than we need to be…but the good news is God is always waiting for us with open arms, running out to us while we are still a long way off.
To really help bring the truths of this parable to life this Lent in Pray40, we’ll dive into the incredible book, The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky!–considered one of the greatest novels of all time.
We are blessed to have some incredible guides leading this year’s Lent prayer challenge:
- Journey with Jonathan Roumie, who portrays Jesus in The Chosen, through one of the greatest novels of all time, The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky
- Join Mark Wahlberg and Chris Pratt, award-winning actors, as they lead us through fasting challenges rooted in Scripture
- Meditate on Scripture with the incredible Mother Olga, founder and servant mother of the Daughters of Mary of Nazareth, as well as excerpts from the spiritual classic The Return of the Prodigal Son, written by Fr. Henri Nouwen
- Pray alongside Sr. Miriam James Heidland, beloved on Hallow for her imaginative prayer sessions and sister of the Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity
- Listen to Sunday homilies from Fr. Mike Schmitz, host of the #1 Christian podcast Bible in a Year, to start each week off right and really help us live out what we learn in Pray40
This is routinely the largest and most popular prayer challenge Hallow offers. In 2025, nearly two-million people joined Pray40, and Hallow was blessed to reach #2 in the App Store, behind only ChatGPT.
In 2026, please consider joining millions around the world in prayer by joining Pray40 on Hallow!
Past Pray40 Challenges
Last year, we explored the amazing story of Takashi Nagai and the book A Song for Nagasaki.
Amid the devastation of the atomic bomb, Nagai demonstrated incredible faith in a moment that couldn’t be more difficult.
We also meditated on the writings of St. Josemaría Escrivá, through is spiritual classic, The Way.
“Lent is a time of penance, purification, and conversion. It is not an easy program, but then Christianity is not an easy way of life. It is not enough just to be in the Church, letting the years roll by. In our life, in the life of Christians, our first conversion… is certainly very significant. But the later conversions are even more important, and they are increasingly demanding.”
In 2024, Pray40 focused on the book He Leadeth Me, the powerful story of Fr. Walter Ciszek.
We walked through the life-changing, spiritual classic He Leadeth Me, written by Fr. Walter J. Ciszek, S.J. Fr. Walter, a Jesuit priest and missionary, was imprisoned for more than 20 years in the Soviet Union, first in solitary confinement and then in a Siberian worker camp. Amidst some of the most brutal conditions imaginable, Fr. Walter underwent a profound spiritual journey. In fear, he found hope. In confinement, he surrendered his life to God.
In 2023, the Imitation of Christ inspired Pray40.
Daily readings from the 15th century book, written by monk Thomas a Kempis, were center to the Lenten prayer challenge. The book, which influenced the lives of countless saints over the centuries, is equally powerful today.
In 2022, Hallow’s Pray40 challenge focused on the Seven Last Words of Christ.
These seven “words,” which are actually sayings that contain multiple words, represent these seven themes: Forgiveness, Salvation, Relationship, Abandonment, Distress, Triumph and Reunion. They helped us keep our prayer focused on Jesus’s time on the cross, fixed on the incredible sacrifice He made for us.
Pray40 Resources for 2026
Go deeper with your experience going through the Pray40 Lent prayer challenge with additional resources available from Hallow.
Hallow is trhileld to share a new special Hallow edition of The Brothers Karamazov to help you go even deepre into this incredible book this Lent.
SEE MORE: Lent Prayers for 2026 | What to Give Up for Lent | Ash Wednesday 2026 | Where to Get Ashes | Divine Mercy Chaplet | Lent 2026: Schedule and Important Dates | Good Friday 2026 | Stations of the Cross
Join the #Pray40 Lent Community Challenge
Spread the Word!
In 2025, nearly 2 million people joined Pray40, leading to Hallow reaching #1 overall in the App Store.
This year, we’d love for you to spread the word about Hallow’s Pray40 Lent prayer challenge, inviting others to pray every day leading up to Easter.
We will make a link available soon with images to share on social media, with friends and family and more.