Welcome back, friends, to Lent Madness and the third match-up in the Round of the Saintly Sixteen. We’ll continue all week with this round featuring quirks and quotes from our saintly contestants. Today Hilda of Whitby takes on Ignatius of Antioch in a clash of influential figures about 600 years apart. To get to this point, Hilda routed Samuel Seabury and Ignatius came out victorious in the Battle of the Iggys by slipping past Ignatius of Loyola.
We did our best to help keep your weekend bout with Lent Madness Withdrawal (LMW) at bay. Because we care, we…
1. Shared some creative ways parishes are using Lent Madness in a post titled Creative Juices Overfloweth.
2. Linked to an article about Lent Madness taking over the entire state of South Dakota (we’re still waiting on confirmation that the members of the Supreme Executive Committee will be added to Mount Rushmore).
3. Found out from the conservative website The Daily Caller that Lent Madness is part of a liberal conspiracy and may be responsible for the downfall of the Obama Administration. (Don’t read the comments that follow if you have a weak stomach).
Our goal for this week, in addition to the usual Madness, is to get over 5,000 likes on Facebook. There’s no reason, with your help, that we can’t achieve this milestone. If you’re on Facebook but have’t yet liked us, you’re missing some bonus material and links to get you through the day. (It’s kind of like getting the deleted scenes on a movie DVD). We’re hovering in the low 4,700’s right now. Come on, people!
Hilda of Whitby
Hilda (614-680) was the founding Abbess of the Monastery in Whitby, England. The source of our information about Hilda’s life is from the Venerable Bede’s The Ecclesiastical History of the English — we have no surviving direct quotes from Hilda herself. According to Bede, Hilda was brought up in the court of King Edwin of Northumbria after her father, the king’s brother, was poisoned when Hilda was an infant. She was baptized along with King Edwin and his entire court in 627.
Bede tells us that Hilda’s widowed mother, Breguswith, had a dream in which her daughter’s destiny was foretold. In this dream she suddenly became aware that her husband was missing and, after a frantic yet fruitless search, she found a valuable necklace under her dress. When she gazed upon the jewel it brilliantly illuminated all of England. This vision was interpreted as foreshadowing the light Hilda was destined to shine on British Christianity.
As a young woman Hilda entered a convent, influenced by St. Aidan, Bishop of Lindisfarne. In 657 she founded the monastery in Whitby, where she remained until her death. Bede describes her as a woman of great energy, wisdom, and a skilled administrator. Many kings and princes sought her council and it is no accident that the Synod of Whitby was held at her monastery in 664. It was here that the church in England decided to follow the Roman rather than the Celtic path, a decision that would impact the course of Christianity in Great Britain.
Legend has it that when snakes infested the town of Whitby, Hilda’s prayer turned the snakes into stones. Here’s a verse by Sir Walter Scott commemorating this event:
When Whitby’s nuns exalting told,
Of thousand snakes, each one
Was changed into a coil of stone,
When Holy Hilda pray’d:
Themselves, without their holy ground,
Their stony folds had often found.
As Bede writes in his hagiography of Hilda:
Thus this servant of Christ, Abbess Hilda, whom all that knew her called Mother, for her singular piety and grace, was not only an example of good life, to those that lived in her monastery, but afforded occasion of amendment and salvation to many who lived at a distance, to whom the fame was brought of her industry and virtue; for it was necessary that the dream which her mother had, during her infancy, should be fulfilled.
Ignatius of Antioch
Ignatius was Bishop of Antioch, and was martyred during the 1st-century. His series of letters, written as he was carried under guard to his death at Rome, provide key insight into the Early Church’s understanding of church unity, ecclesiology, and the sacraments.
Even as he was facing the near certainty of his death at Rome, Ignatius appears to have kept his own unique sense of humor as he wrote his letters. While writing to the Church at Ephesus, he opined on a few newly found fashion accessories:
Let nothing appeal to you apart from Jesus Christ, in whom I carry around these chains (my spiritual pearls!), by which I hope, through your prayers, to rise again.
While his letters show no sign that Ignatius ever owned any pets of his own, one of Ignatius’ statements reveals that he might have had great sympathy for any cat owner who just can’t seem to get their pet to act nicely:
I am fighting with wild beasts, on land and sea, by night and day, chained amidst ten leopards (that is, a company of soldiers) who only get worse when they are well treated. Yet because of their mistreatment I am becoming more of a disciple; nevertheless I am not thereby justified.
Among the common threads uniting Ignatius’ letters is his plea for unity within the church. In his letter to the Ephesians, he presents a stunning image of the church as a choir:
In your unanimity and harmonious love Jesus Christ is sung. You must join this chorus, every one of you, so that by being harmonious in unanimity and taking your pitch from God you may sing in unison with one voice through Jesus Christ to the Father, in order that he may both hear you and, on the basis of what you do well, acknowledge that you are members of his Son. It is, therefore, advantageous for you to be in perfect unity, in order that you may always have a share in God.
Legends also abound about Ignatius; one holds that he was among the children taken into Jesus’ arms in Matthew 19. Another says that even as Ignatius was tortured before his death, he never ceased to proclaim Jesus. His tormenters are said to have demanded why Ignatius insisted, to his own detriment, to continue to preach Jesus Christ. Ignatius responded: “Know for certain that I have this name written in my heart, and therefore I cannot proclaim any other name.” After his martyrdom by lions, the legend holds that Ignatius’ body was opened and that Jesus’ name was found inscribed, in letters of gold, on his heart.
Legend or not, it is certain that Christ and the church never were far from Ignatius’ heart, for it was in service of both that Ignatius ultimately gave his life.
Vote!
HIlda of Whitby vs. Ignatius of Antioch
- Hilda of Whitby (54%, 2,049 Votes)
- Ignatius of Antioch (47%, 1,781 Votes)
Total Voters: 3,829
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Don’t forget to watch the Archbishops in their Lent Madness update video.
Did someone omit the link, or am I looking in the wrong place?
If you click on “Maple Anglican” in the post above, it takes you to the Maple Anglican web site. Click on the word “here” in the paragraph about YouTube, and that will take you to the video.
Thank you, Peg. I got as far as the web site, but I have a congenital dislike for 2-step searches when one will do (as it has done in the previous postings) and dropped it. Maybe Maple will go back to putting the direct link right in the posting.
Still Hilda. That is all.
Agreed, Scott. She continues to have that “A” Game with me.
Dear SEC, we would like to have our thumbnail choices back! This is twice where I have only been able to post on Facebook with the face of the person for whom I am not voting!
I have this problem with FB, too and have very recently been told it’s due to the way Facebook aggressively caches content.
Facebook has something they call the URL Debugger, which Lent Madness (and perhaps we) can use to clear the cache so the most recent version is used instead: https://developers.facebook.com/tools/debug/. Try using this tool and plug in the address for the Facebook campaign, it should be able to resolve the issue.
I hit no thumbnail for that reason. I voted for Hilda. It’s her icon or no icon.
Hey, if you don’t like the way Facebook works, yell at Mark Zuckerberg. We place two images on the page (one for each saint). What Facebook does with them is up to Facebook. Sorry.
If you want to buy the SEC a controlling interest in Facebook, we assure you that many things will change about how Facebook works.
Lots of fun to contemplate: Saintbook 🙂
Okay…but if pop-up ads for relics appear in the sidebar there, I am out. Eww.
(There may be a “Saints preserve us!”/’preserved saints’ joke in there somewhere, but I don’t have time to find it right now — perhaps by the kitsch round.)
I love the icon of her with her Crozier!
Yes, but in her day abbesses were much more likely to have mitres than croziers.
Our household voted for Ignatius. My seven year old twins liked the martyrdom by lions – that sealed the vote today.
While searching youtube and the internet I came across an Anglican school in Australia-St. Hilda’s School. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VBc9arY_XbA&list=PL3713D26B9071E83F&index=9 These bright young women are singing their hearts out. Now I’m not saying that a vote against St. Hilda is a vote against this amazing boarding school for girls…or is it?
1,544 great reasons to vote for Hilda. Thanks for sharing.
Can’t wait for this week’s edition of Monday Madness…
Ignatius’ metaphor as the church as a choir along with the martyrdom by lion win my vote. And today this quote will come in handy as I face consistent pressure to convert to the Muslim faith: “Know for certain that I have this name [Jesus Christ] written in my heart, and therefore I cannot proclaim any other name.” Amen!
I am sorry to read that you are facing “consistent pressure to convert to the Muslim faith.” I hope you will find much support for your ownd wishes and desires.
Sing it sister!
This also drew me to Ignatius. To stand so sure and firm in faith in the face of certain death……WOW!
Mary Ellen, my sister, thank you for sharing the difficult struggle you are enduring. As you face the pressure to convert, please know that you are loved and supported by your Christian brothers and sisters; please continue to speak of this struggle to a priest and within a Christian community.
As you say “convert” may I assume you are baptized? As a baptized child of the infinitely-loving God, you are safely “marked as Christ’s own forever,” “sealed by the Holy Spirit,” forgiven and raised to a new life of grace. With an ” inquiring and discerning heart,” a heart that is open to God’s grace and truth through Jesus, you have freedom. And I say again you are not alone in your struggle with what appears to be unwelcome pressure on you to convert to the Muslim faith. Those among us who hear your concern are your fellow baptized Christians. All are a part of the Baptismal Covenant in which promises are made as we are fully initiated into “Christ’s Body the Church.” As your brothers and sisters in the Covenant, it is our duty and pleasure to help you and each other to “grow in the knowledge and love of God.” Thus we say, “persevere in resisting evil” that would pull you against your will away from God in Jesus Christ, and “whenever you fall into sin, repent and return to the Lord”, living freely in the “fullness of -God’s- peace and glory,” continuing “in the breaking of bread” and “the apostles’ teaching and fellowship.”
But there is more…you yourself will find strength by proclaiming to others “by word and example the Good News of God in Christ.” “Respect the dignity of all human beings”, serve Christ! Follow, obey, and share Jesus as our Lord. I believe it was our Presiding Bishop Katherine Jefferts-Schori who wrote, “The [Baptismal] promises remind us we are not yet perfect, that we are called to move deeper in our faith and make a difference in the world.” (TEC website, 1/16/12) (source on “Holy Baptism” in the Book of Common Prayer, 298-314)
A prayer: “Almighty God, comfort and heal all those who suffer in body, mind, or spirit; give them courage and hope in their troubles, and bring them to the joy of your salvation.” We pray especially for Mary Ellen. “Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.” (BCP, 389)
Amen. We are praying for you Mary Ellen, and will continue to pray for you, and all those around you. Remember you are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses and the saints in heaven and on Earth are praying with and for you. http://www.biblestudytools.com/kjva/hebrews/passage.aspx?q=hebrews+12:1-2
God bless you, Mary Ellen, for your faithfulness to Our Lord Jesus Christ.
You will continue to be in our prayers. We also pray for those who are pressuring
you, that they too may embrace the Truth.
There’s a pub in London called the “Prospect of Whitby”. I like the food and atmosphere there. Hilda reminds me of Hildegard of Bingen whose music I love. And … “it was necessary that the dream which her mother had, during her infancy, should be fulfilled.” by her ultimate triumph in Lent Madness. Pax ya’ll.
Ignatius, in support of Mary Ellen, above. Blessings and courage, sister!
A nailbiter…and I love the witness of both.
Yes, indeed, both are worhty of praise, but for his writings on the sacraments showing how the very Early Church viewed and practiced them I have to give more than a nod to Ignatius of Antioch.
And, also since I am still being perfected but not perfect old wounds sometime reopen. If Hilda had anything to do with taking on Roman ways and losing the Celtic Way in the Church in and of the British Isles besides the synod happening at Whitby then I have a bone to pick with her.
It looks like Hilda was so busy doing, she didn’t have time to write, so others wrote about her – and made her sound pretty sound.
I like both quite a bit. But the fact that Hilda’s mother was named Breguswith (what a name!) swayed me.
How interesting that today’s front page news story is about Sheryl Sandberg writing about women in leadership positions and then I open Lent Madness to read of Hilda of Whitby,(680 – 614),and her great influence on Kings, Princes and general society. Hilda was described as “a woman of great energy, wisdom and a skilled administrator.”
One wonders what advice Saint Hilda might offer us if she could do a TED talk.
Ignatius going to Rome wanting to be eaten by lions! not for me. Also it was because of Ignatius calling eucharist the medicine of immortality that the liturgy revisers for the 1979 prayer book shifted from saying “bread of life” to “bread of heaven” – I’m for Hilda!
Have to go with Hilda again. I visited Whitby for a couple of days in July 2011 and found the site of the medieval monastery to be a peaceful and blessed place, one of the best preserved monastic ruins in Britain. I’ll vote for Hilda in honor of that visit.
Nice to know that you are getting press form every corner of the 4th Estate– even the ones who support by trying to make you look bad!
I swing toward Ignatius since he speaks clearly to my condition today. The cat, once afraid of every human noise, now won’t get out of my chair. Also, anyone eaten by lions has the edge in my contemplations.
Sticking with Hilda. Go sister!
With apologies to folks who have pet snakes, I voted for Hilda because she immobilized the ones that were bothersome. A skill I wish I possessed when walking through midwestern woods.
My fear and dislike of snakes, puts Hilda in the vote column for me. I have to admit that even with this it was tough decision.
Didn’t ignatius invent presbyters? After that, the whole church expects all the church’s work to be done by the ordained. That makes him, along with Augustine and Constantine (concentration on heaven and property respectively) one of the great villains of Christianity.
Pope Hilda I… what’s the difference between Celtic. And Roman Catholicism? . Respect for women?…
um, the date of Easter and the way the monks cut their hair. Srsly. I can see the Easter date being a big deal, but it could explain why there are several (maybe even 10s) of different Queen’s Birthday holidays throughout the Commonwealth. Kind of a post-Reformation neener-neener….
“Reverence the deacons as the commandment of God,” said Ignatius. This deacon returns the favor by voting for him in Lent Madness.
As the wife of a deacon, I’m torn as to whether this quote should sway my vote for or against Ignatius. 😉
I have to go with the humble Christian whose wise counsel was sought out by many to the volunteer martyr who seemed more focused on his own immortality. Go Hilda!
Always a sucker for a martyr. Keep the faith, Mary Ellen
Good to have Lent Madness back. Can U believe I watched basketball this weekend. No replacement for the “nail biting ” excitement, and anticipation of Lent madness. The Holy Fool…..Goes with HILDA…..
Hilda all the way!
I can think of some snakes that Hilda could deal with today.
Go, Hilda!!!!
good one, Diane
Every year on the Sunday closest to the Feast of Hilda (Nov. 18), we have a Celtic-inspirited service of Holy Eucharist to honor our matron saint. I’ve always believed Hilda was more concerned with the welfare of her community and the body of faithful than she was tied to her personal prayer style. Go Hilda!
It’s Hilda all the way for me!
Hilda was a wise woman who managed an abbey, and provided spiritual guidance through the centuries to millions. She has my vote.
PLUS she got rid of snakes – that gets my vote every time!
Another hard decision. These match-ups are getting grizzly. I went for Hilda again and am praying for Mary Ellen.
After a glance at the CROSIER in Hilda’s hands, I cast my vote, here under the oak trees, for Hilda.
I hadn’t noticed that at first. Good catch Gwin! I am so often left wondering, especially during Lent Madness (of course), how many other women saints went unnoticed through the centuries. And even though it is likely that Iggy will close the gap and win this, at least Hilda will have had her day a bit.
No contest. Hilda of Whitby. Anyone who can turn snakes into stones. You go, girl!
I was planning to vote for Hilda when I signed on, but Ignatius call for unity won my over.
Hilda all the way. BTW was the SEC trying to sway the vote by not even giving Hilda’s CB credit???
In honor of my own spiritual director — it is Hilda.
I cannot decide. Both are shining examples of Christ-like authority and leadership. Ignatius is one of the great apostolic successors who led by the ultimate example. Hilda led by teaching, and by the example of seeking reconciliation.
I will gently point out that contemporary documents have her as Hild, not Hilda.
During her administration of Whitby, Bede tells us, a certain lay brother used to leave the Friday night gebeorscipe or beer-drinking session because he couldn’t for the life of him compose a song as one was supposed to do; head hanging, he’d go hang with the sheep he herded. On one such occasion an angel visited him and said, “Sing me something.” The brother protested that he couldn’t sing a thing. The angel insisted: “Sing me Creation.” And, to his own vast surprise, he did.
In the morning the lay brother’s astonished foreman took him to Abbess Hild. She had him recite the poem, questioned him, then sent him off with instructions to see if he could come up with another poem by the next morning. He could and did. Hild, correctly surmising that that this was a gift from God, admitted him to the community, which set about filling the gaps in his education. For the rest of his life, when Whitby needed a poem on a religious theme, this brother would be instructed in the necessary points of doctrine and sent off to think about it, and in the morning, “like a cow chewing its cud”, he’d produce a gem of a poem in the Old English alliterative-stressed style. For this lay brother was Caedmon, first poet in Old English whose name we know. Bede, alas, preserves only the first eight lines of his considerable output, beginning “Nu sculon herigean • heofonrices weard” ‘Now shall we praise • Heaven’s Guardian’.
Bright lady, Hild. She gets my vote.
I LOVE this!
Love Hilda – but voted for Iggy. Could easily have supported either – but the slams in the comments about Iggy A. tipped the scales for me in his favor.
Can’t stand those negative ads….
Ignatious – The teaching on unity even more important today. Also, this was my grandfather’s middle name so I have to vote for him!
It wasn’t in today’s post on her, but Hilda’s example of speaking her truth at the Synod of Whitby, then accepting the outcome, is also an outstanding example of unity.
Agree wholeheartedly. One more reason I’m finding it hard to decide between these two!
Hilda! Hilda! Hilda! (Chant and stomp on bleachers)
I was going to vote for Hilda, the founder of a couple of co-ed monasteries, until I read Ignatius’s metaphor of the church as a choir. This alto votes for the unity that comes from harmony.
And puts forth the idea that a bell choir is an excellent example of the Body of Christ–each person does something different, but each is vital to the whole piece.
I do wish y’all would update the bracket as we go along and put a link next to the current voting page. It might help some of us undecideds if we could anticipate upcoming matchups.
Our Bracket Czar keeps the bracket up to date on the bracket page. It’s waiting for you 24/7.
I came here determined to vote for Hilda, but ended up voting for Ignatius. I love me some snark, and well, I sing in a choir. How easily I am moved…. *sigh*
I have been waiting to hear something of Caedmon, the first known English poet (and a singer.) He was recognized by Hilda and her Abbey. Is the Hilda blogger so certain that she will advance (as I am) that he/she is waiting to post this info later?
I would not be so certain. Iggy is advancing rapidly. I do hope she continues on.
I included this in her first round information, and had it ready to go in this round with the cow chewing cud story before my weekend respite derailed my Hilda plans. Stay tuned for how this Celebrity Blogger spent her weekend when she should have been writing. I do hope she makes it to the next round, though. Thanks to Tim for doing a great job as a pinch-hitting celebrity blogger!
Ah-that explains why no byline for Hilda article this week. Hope all is well, or will be.
OK, so I missed Lagerquist’s wonderful post. Another fan of Caedmon and Hilda!
So, Ignatius had pearls, too? If I recall correctly, the 1st round description of Hilda had her clutching her pearls. “And all the saints with pearls in hand…” Now there’s a first line to get Caedmon going, don’t ya think? Or do we also have to provide him some pub brew?
Voting for Hilda for many reasons. She led a community of men and women, four men who became bishops trained under her (the Celtic cross in Whitby has a lovely carving of Hilda with four mitred bishops peeping out from behind her.) She argued for unity at the synod of Whitby, she encouraged Caedmon in his gifts. Oh and her feast day in the C of E has been moved to allow Hugh of Lincoln her day. The least we could do for her is redress this wrong.
According to All Saint’s Parish in Brookline, MA: “Hilda remained a peacemaker to the very end-her greatest concern was that her monastic family should be one in the Lord, and her last recorded words were: ‘Have evangelical peace among yourselves.'” What an amazing woman. Of course I voted for Hild!
In the end I’ve decided that Hilda’s example of finding unity in dialogue tips the scale in her favor, at least for moi. But to play a little bracketology, I expect whoever wins here to eventually lose to Martha of Bethany.
It’s so difficult to decide.
Perhaps Ignatius is the greater martyr and traditional witness, but women who serve the Church in leadership roles now see Hilda’s wisdom and tremendous gift of leadership as a witness to the many women have lead Christian communities but whose names are not remembered.
Speaking of bracketology David, I think who ever wins this side of the bracket will have to go up against Romero or Li-Tim-Oi, if we put Iggy up it will not be a fair fight, at least Hilda has a fighting chance…or Martha. 🙂
I suspect you’re right about the other side of the bracket, Sarah, though I’ll be voting for Benedict as long as I can.
What treasures we might have had from Hilda if more of her own words and actions had been committed to history and passed down to us! Here’s to all the amazing but unknown, voiceless women ministering through the centuries. Hilda has my vote!
Voting for Hilda is really a vote for the work of the Venerable Bede. Ignatius of Antioch letters survived, more of an original source, if you will, therefore making Ignatius a better choice for Saint de Jour.
Of all the places in England that we visited a few years ago, my son, Chris and I put Whitby and Lindisfarne in the top ten of our list of Most Inspirational. The ruined cathedral is amazing!
What ruined cathedral? Did you mean abbey? On second thought the abbey at Lindisfarne did served as a Cathedral for a time though apparently be default more than by intent.
I hope we are not assuming that just because Hilda did not write anything that we have found yet-or survives she is some how a lesser saint. What documents did Jesus write? Oh that’s right nothing because he was too busy being awesome.
I miss the choice of thumbnails. Yesterday and today I posted with no thumbnail because the only choice was the st. I was not voting for. Bring back the choices.
I voted for Ignatius of Antioch because of his plea for unity within the Church. His image of the Body of Christ as a choir, with everyone taking his pitch from God and singing with one voice, is a lovely one, and one we should strive to achieve. My own parish is beginning its search process for a new rector, the national Episcopal church will be electing a new Presiding Bishop in the next 2 years, and the Catholics will be getting a new Pope soon. A prayer for chuch unity seems quite timely.
But Hilda was a perfect example of unity when she agreed to accept the date of Easter — we would all be fortunate indeed if we had religious leaders with Hilda’s gifts and holiness.
Hilda!! Unfortunately, I was unable to fulfill my Celebrity Blogger obligations this weekend for Hilda (stay tuned for more info as to why, Lent Madness style), but thanks to Tim for getting it done. I’d add that Hilda has a college in England named after her (and Bede, but since this is all about Hilda…) that produced not one, but TWO actors who played James Bond. Changed the church, got rid of the snakes in Whitby, and gave us two James Bonds. All without being martyred. Winning, by church friends. Winning. Vote for Hilda!!
Hilda is the patron of many schools, including St. Hilda’s and St. Hugh’s School in NYC.
Definitely voting for Hilda!
Laurie,
Great to see that you are up and posting and please know that we miss your blogs, no insult to Tim’s efforts of course. Please know that we are all hoping that you are back to 100% soon. In the spirit of Lent Madness I trust that you have forgiven the horse.
Up and around. Working on my post for tomorrow. Nina the horse has nothing to ask forgiveness for, as she was being a happy, exciting horse outside for spring. The fence, however, has much to ask forgiveness for.
Liberal (Fence-al? Corr-al?) Conspiracy Responsible for Downfall of Lent Madness Celebrity Blogger. Quick, someone call The Caller! (or not)
Also, this is not a battle between a martyr and a non martyr. This is a match up between a “red martyr” and a “white martyr.” It is said that Hilda suffered for 7-9 years with illness and fever and still continued to work in the service of God until she died. By definition this makes her a white martyr, poor long-suffering soul that she was.
“When her own community was divided over the differences between the practices of Celtic and Roman Christianity, a synod was called at Whitby. Hilda was personally sympathetic to the Celtic tradition, just as some of us have loved various aspects of our own tradition like the prayer book or certain hymns or particular styles of worship. But the synod did not choose the Celtic tradition; they opted for the Roman position. Hilda adapted to that decision and was one of the strongest proponents of peace.” From “Brightest and Best; a Companion to the Lesser Feasts and Fasts” by Sam Portaro. Thanks, Sam for this reference book for me during Lent Madness! Go Hilda!
I think I will have to go with Ignatius today. This line got me just like the window in our church where Jesus is standing with the children … “Legends also abound about Ignatius; one holds that he was among the children taken into Jesus’ arms in Matthew 19.” If only we all held onto the capacity to wonder and experience mystery like children!
Despite Ignatius’s generous decision to become the ultimate cat treat, Hild won me over today with her nurture of harmony, generosity, and creativity.
That is hilarious Peg! Now my cat wants me to petition the SEC for a re-vote to Ignatius. No way, I say – but then I gave him a cat treat, so he is good with it (the vote has been bought, as they say). =^..^=
Pounce for everyone!
Anyone who can get rid of the snakes in Whitby AND give us two 007s has my vote! Hilda all the way!
My cats are urging me to vote for Ignatius.
I am sensing the development of a Cat Caucus. SEC – pay attention or the fur could fly. =^..^=
My cat, Hilda, says to vote for Hilda!
By the time of Hilda it was a question of discerning what place in the body of Christ your path would follow, with Ignatius it was still a question of holding the body of Christ together period. He gets my vote.
Why are Archbishops J&T not linked in the comments, Maple Anglican?
Hilda today.
Vote for Ignatius of Antioch. He was the cat’s meow! Literally!
In that image, Ignatius gets a lion _and a hyena_. A hyena. That is hardcore.
Ignatius for me today. I love the choir metaphor.
Saying a prayer for Mary Ellen! May God strengthen you and fill your heart with peace and with His love for those who are pressuring you. Amen.
I’m sticking with Hilda (or Hild) of Whitby. Unifier, wise, faithful, and snakehandler. The Celtic side of my ancestery compelled me. Of course, our cat, Gutterball, will snub me now. (As if he didn’t already…)
Oh no, he’ll be fine . . . he knows mice and cat food taste better than people any day!
Come on, Iggy! Don’t tell me you were torn apart by lions only to be beaten by a girl! (sorry, Mother Hilda, I mean no disrespect). There’s still time for Ignatius of Antioch to pull ahead and win this contest. Vote for Iggy!
I miss being able to post the icon of the one for whom I voted!
Good ole Hilda! But what concerns me is all this talk about conversion! I am only responsible for my own conversion which I deal with on a daily basis! Have a beautiful week everyone! Hugs Chaplain TNC
Voted Ignatius. After all, he “was slain by a fierce wild beast”…just like in the hymn. I mean…if you make it into the hymnal… you should at least make it into the Elate Eight, no?
Tough one. So much to admire in both candidates, and nothing in comments so far from most excellent tie-breaker consultants Hope and Skye to help me choose. Rats.
You can’t seriously expect me to decide between these two, so I’ll decide very unseriously.
I have asked the cats. They said “Antioch” for his tenderness — renowned in feline circles. https://twitter.com/LionsOfRome
In the horrible parlance of today’s generation “Jesus’ name was LITERALLY on his heart?” Um. No. Not literally. You had me up to that point. Snakes of stone gets Hildy the vote.
I’ve gotten into Peter Tremayne’s mysteries about the 7th century monastics. Absolution by Murder is about the Synod of Whitby, under Abbess Hilda’s protection. I have a very soft spot for all monastics, as I believe they’ve kept the world in balance for centuries. Go Hilda!
For all those being pressured to convert to Islam and to all those being persecuted around the world for their Christian faith – I vote for Ignatius. “Know for certain that I have this name written in my heart, and therefore I cannot proclaim any other name.”
Amen!
As I worship at St Hilda’s church in Hartlepool (incidentally where she was Abbess before going to Whitby which isn’t mentioned above) how could I vote any other way!
Still hanging in there with Hilda.
So, given that Hilda is a benefactor of all those martyred, such as the likes of Ignatius, she still sits pretty in her position of affluence, being the niece of the king and wealth. How does one not notice a valuable necklace has gone lost? Not so impressed by nepotism– my vote is for the martyr with a wit of sarcasm. Reminds me a little bit of our own rector. 🙂
FWIW — Hilda had to choose between Celtic and Roman. In Ignatius’ day, the choice was between Antioch and Jerusalem. To quote the brilliant and ever-delightful Phyllis Tickle, “In Jerusalem you had to be circumcised; in Antioch you had to be kidding.”
@ Cynthia Espeseth “Matron saint”! Love it!
Ignatius of A. got my vote before. But now with this tough call, I am still swayed by anyone who could turn snakes into stone.
The bicameral abbey, establishment and administration, swayed my vote between these two favorites. Hilda of Whitby!
Our discussion group, after voting for Hilda had an aha moment. Lent Madness really had its beginnings in the middle ages when a choice had to be made between two saints, John,revered by the Celts, and Peter, the Roman Catholic rock.
We had to sleep on this one. After dreaming about Hilda and the Iggy guy, we decided to vote for Hilda. With that done, it is time for swim practice before school. 🙂
The guest house on the Lahore (Pakistan) Cathedral’s compound is named St. Hilda’s. I’ve stayed there several times when traveling through
Lahore. However my votes goes to Ignatius.
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