Lent Archives - Starlight and Saucepans

Cross on top of a church with a sunset in the background

Two Christian Music Artists I Enjoy (as someone who isn’t a fan of the genre)

I'll admit that Christian music isn't usually my cup of tea. There are individual Christian/worship songs that I like (some of them quite a lot), but I don't generally seek out artists or songs in the genre. Part of that…

By Lizzie Hexam March 21, 2025Spiritual Life9 Comments

Spiritual Life

The Surprising Joy of Ash Wednesday

In a few minutes from now I'll be leaving for a quiet, somber Mass with almost no singing, no Gloria, and at which we in the congregation will receive on our foreheads blessed ash in the shape of a cross.…

By Lizzie Hexam March 5, 2025Spiritual Life7 Comments

Quote from an ancient homily for Holy Saturday: "Something strange is happening - there is a great silence on earth today, a great silence and stillness. The whole earth keeps silence because the King is asleep. The earth trembled and is still because God has fallen asleep in the flesh and He has raised up all who have slept ever since the world began. God has died in the flesh and Hell trembles with fear."

Spiritual Life

Short Ramblings on Holy Saturday

In December I think, "You know, Christmas really is my favorite time of year." And now, as we approach the Triduum, I'm saying, "Um...actually...you know what...I think this is my favorite time of year." I love Holy Week. I love…

By Lizzie Hexam March 27, 2024Spiritual Life9 Comments

The Great Divorce by C.S. Lewis book cover

Bookishness Spiritual Life

Heaven and Hell in The Great Divorce

Today's blog post was slotted to be something quite different (its elegant title in draft was "First Drafts & Writer's Block & Snippets"), but then I stumbled upon the Grim Writer's Remember, O Thou Man Lent link-up...and that put an…

By Lizzie Hexam March 8, 2024Bookishness, Spiritual Life11 Comments

St. Mary Magdalen at the foot of the cross

Spiritual Life

Ash Wednesday

Today is Ash Wednesday. "Remember, man, that thou art dust, and to dust thou shalt return." We hear some variation on these words today as the priest or deacon marks our foreheads with ashes in the shape of a cross…

By Lizzie Hexam February 14, 2024Spiritual Life2 Comments

Spiritual Life

Music Selections for the Triduum

Today is Holy Thursday. I'm going to be rather busy-ish today and the next few days, so on the off chance you were looking for the Saint of the Month post, I'm afraid I won't have the chance to write…

By Lizzie Hexam April 6, 2023Spiritual LifeNo Comments

Spiritual Life

Tips for Having a Holy Lent

Happy Mardi Gras to you all (or Fat Tuesday, if you prefer, although let's be honest, Mardi Gras sounds much better). Tomorrow is Ash Wednesday, and the beginning of Lent. If you haven't chosen yet what you'd like to do…

By Lizzie Hexam February 21, 2023Spiritual LifeNo Comments