Luke the Evangelist vs. Dorothy Day

With this our final round of Saintly Kitsch, the last spot in the Faithful Four is up for grabs. After a close race, Hilda of Whitby snuck by Harriet Tubman yesterday to join Frances Perkins and Oscar Romero as Lent Madness semi-finalists. Today it’s Luke the Evangelist squaring off against Dorothy Day. Will the writer of Luke-Acts add another illustrious chapter to his legacy or will Dorothy carpe diem?

To get to this point Luke defeated Absalom Jones and John Donne while Dorothy made it past Edward Thomas Demby and Benedict of Nursia.

We’ve seen mugs and tote bags and trucker hats this week. Most of the Lent Madness faithful have enjoyed the respite from the serious business of learning even as the choices have become ever more agonizing. A handful have stormed off in a huff (though we have a funny feeling they’re still voting). It’s hard to believe there are only three voting days left in Lent Madness 2013. On Monday Frances Perkins will face Hilda of Whitby; on Tuesday it’s Oscar Romero versus the winner of today’s match-up; and on Spy Wednesday the two remaining saints grapple for the Golden Halo!

Luke the EvangelistLuke

Keep your iPhone cases and T-shirts. Kitsch is not just about the cheap stuff. Questionable religious taste belongs to rich and poor alike, and for truly high-end saintly kitsch, apparently you need an evangelist.

It’s obvious that Luke, whose Mary extolled a God who has sent the rich away empty, would need a 14 Luke2Karat Gold prayer medal. This stunning beauty, originally priced at $2,438.99, is available on Amazon for only $928.99  — a 62% savings! Of course, it will take a couple days extra to ship from the seller, a company named (and I am not making this up) CleverEve Inc. Clever, indeed! Especially since numerous other 14K gold St. Luke pendants can be found on Amazon or eBay at prices ranging from $157. This one, for a mere $199, is especially tasteful.

Luke5If you are looking for something more practical and economical, perhaps this Italian Charm Watch with Stainless Steel Band would do the trick. Available on eBay, the St. Luke watch “has 16 stainless steel blank Italian charm links and measures approx. 5.1/2″, fully expanded approx. 7.1/2″ and will fit most average sized wrists.” Add extra charm with extra charms! Question: Is Luke looking up like that in pain after being stabbed from the back by the watch hands? Or is he merely resting his hand on the mechanism to manage his carpal tunnel syndrome after writing the bulk of the New Testament?

You might wish to match the watch with these fabulous St. Luke earrings. That is, if you want to picture Luke earringsLuke as a creepy bibliophile, inviting to look closely at your earlobes and his etchings.

Luke silverBut for the truly highbrow, what you really want is Art, such as this “Nicely Cast European Silver Saint Luke.” I have no doubt that it is, as the seller describes, “a finely cast, European silver figurine made during the 19th century…in fabulous overall condition.” And to be fair, if kitsch describes something mass-produced, then this does not fit the bill. However, if you allow your definition to stretch to religious representations of dubious taste, one might allow that spending $960 for a 4½ inch tall silver representation of a gospel writer particularly concerned with the poor and needy might merit the mantle of kitsch.

Laura Toepfer

 Dorothy Day

day5Like beauty, kitsch — especially as it relates to the saints — is in the eye of the beholder. What seems to some as appallingly cheesy as dogs playing poker with Elvis appears to others as magnificently inspiring as the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, where, as it happens, we once lost a son to a dense pack tourists for 30 long minutes. But that’s another story.

Dorothy Day, the American lay woman who co-founded the Catholic Worker movement and served tirelessly throughout her life on behalf of people living in poverty, did indeed spawn kitsch, but, like the woman herself who always wore donated clothes and lived a very simple life, it’s austere kitsch.

There is the famous poster by Bob Fitch who captured Day’s calm demeanor framed by police at a day2California protest organized by the United Field Workers in 1973. Seventy-six years old at the time, she was arrested later that day.

Those who are intent in promoting Day for sainthood have recognized the power of t-shirts and bumper stickers to make their case. The “Sainthood Now” campaign seems to speak with a revolutionary tone that Day might have endorsed for a less self-referential cause.

day4Speaking of revolution, this t-shirt captures the spirit of her conversion nicely, “The greatest challenge of the day is how to bring about a revolution of the heart.” Ain’t that the truth?

Of course, not all Google searches turn up treasures you can buy — or even see. For example, the Dorothy Day Archives at Marquette University apparently house, tucked away in some “Raiders of the Lost Ark” storeroom, the following items:

  • Runner hand-loomed by Dorothy Day, ca. 1936
  • Clothing worn by Dorothy Day: belt , coat, night gowns (2), scarves (2), stockings (2), n.d.
  • Prison smock autographed by inmates and Joan Baez on 2 August 1973
  • Hair clippings from Dorothy Day’s brush, 6 April 1980
  • Straw hat worn by Dorothy Day when she was arrested in support of farm workers in 1973
  • Last typewriter used by Dorothy Day (acquired ca. 1974)

Hair clippings! Sday8tockings!

And unlike web searches on St. Luke the Evangelist or, say, Macrina the Younger, it is possible for a Celebrity day9Blogger to land on the Jacksonville PD’s website and realize that in 2005 Dorothy Day, aged 56 — after what must have been a bad night — was arrested for domestic assault. Obviously not our Dorothy Day.

Day wrote, “My strength returns to me with my cup of coffee and the reading of the psalms.”

That brings us to the most ubiquitous of kitsch: the mug, both travel and ceramic, and its night-before cousin, the stein.

day7Then there is this deliciously funny mug. My boss, Bishop Steve Lane, has a terrific laugh and it’s fun to find ways to crack him up, which, verily, he did yesterday when I told him about this mug.day3

But always, always, we circle back to where we started. Back to truth and beauty and its beholder. One of the best finds of all is a mural of Dorothy Day painted by Amanda Webber at Luther Place Memorial Church in Washington, D.C.

day6Other doorways at the church are arrayed with murals of St. Martin of Birmingham and St. Francis of Assisi. At the dedication of the Dorothy Day door in May 2011, Pastor Karen Brau said, “We celebrate today the gifts of Biblical hospitality lived out in the life of St. Dorothy Day of New York. A woman who came to her faith in adulthood, St. Dorothy took the words of Jesus so seriously that she sought ways to live out Jesus’ love for all people, particularly the most vulnerable — the poor.”

And the people said, “Amen.”

Heidi Shott

Vote!

Luke the Evangelist vs. Dorothy Day

  • Luke (60%, 1,995 Votes)
  • Dorothy Day (40%, 1,315 Votes)

Total Voters: 3,310

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97 Comments to "Luke the Evangelist vs. Dorothy Day"

  1. jon rinnander's Gravatar jon rinnander
    March 22, 2013 - 8:09 am | Permalink

    In the ICU, so choose Luke

    • Peg's Gravatar Peg
      March 22, 2013 - 8:58 am | Permalink

      Blessings and strength to you, Jon.

    • Rachel K's Gravatar Rachel K
      March 22, 2013 - 9:16 am | Permalink

      I pray for you to recover your health, Jon, and for God to minister peace to you while doctors and nurses administer care. And Luke it is.

    • Harlie Youngblood's Gravatar Harlie Youngblood
      March 22, 2013 - 12:05 pm | Permalink

      I’m praying for you, Jon, and so is Luke.

    • Peggy's Gravatar Peggy
      March 22, 2013 - 3:32 pm | Permalink

      Jon,
      Prayers on the way for your healing.
      Peg from SMAA

      PS…my vote went for Luke…it was the Luke earrings that swayed the vote 🙂

    • Liz V.'s Gravatar Liz V.
      March 22, 2013 - 3:41 pm | Permalink

      Praying for you.

    • Catherine's Gravatar Catherine
      March 22, 2013 - 4:23 pm | Permalink

      It’s Luke for me today. And prayers for healing for you, my friend.

    • Barbara's Gravatar Barbara
      March 22, 2013 - 8:49 pm | Permalink

      Blessings, Jim.

      • Barbara's Gravatar Barbara
        March 22, 2013 - 8:50 pm | Permalink

        Blessings, Jon, that is – sorry.

        • JenniferThomasina's Gravatar JenniferThomasina
          March 23, 2013 - 4:12 am | Permalink

          Blessings to Jim too, why not. In all seriousness if this is not fun for someone there is no reason in the world for them to continue on, so by all means Stop the Madness (for yourself). Jim, I wish you well in your alternative studies.

          Meanwhile, an idle thought – if it is a sin to vote for a saint in remembrance of one who shares the name, is it also a sin to name someone after the saint to begin with, esp given that said small human is bound to go through a very undignified helpless and squalling phase, perhaping bringing dishonour to his/her namesake? Yeah, I think not. So I’m ok to stay, and I’m not renaming any of my kids (which would be awkward anyways since they’re all adults).

  2. March 22, 2013 - 8:12 am | Permalink

    I’m laughing too hard, especially over Ms Toepfer’s contribution, to be able to vote yet. Thank you, you lovely ladies, for perking my morning so thoroughly.

  3. MaterC's Gravatar MaterC
    March 22, 2013 - 8:38 am | Permalink

    I note that Luke is ahead probably because some hospital CEO where the poor cannot be treated has sent a request to vote. The truly poor of course have no Internet connection and are disenfranchised. So on their behalf Dorothy wins the Day for me

    • Ann of Oneida's Gravatar Ann of Oneida
      March 22, 2013 - 1:10 pm | Permalink

      Ditto and you hit the nail on the head!
      I work with poor daily and they need our support as does Dorothy !

    • William Loring's Gravatar William Loring
      March 22, 2013 - 10:24 pm | Permalink

      That is probably the most mean-spirited comment I’ve seen on this site (Big Lobster and Big Pineapple don’t come close). 14 hours later Luke has kept pretty much the same margin all along which also makes me question its veracity; a big surge and then some narrowing of the gap would be the more likely pattern if it were true.

  4. March 22, 2013 - 8:43 am | Permalink

    Sry. Gotta go with old dead white guy here. Very un PCapalian of me!

    • Anne McCorkle Garrett's Gravatar Anne McCorkle Garrett
      March 22, 2013 - 10:37 am | Permalink

      Dear SEC, once again we do not have our choice of thumbnails supporting our saint of choice! There is only one today, and it is not neutral!

      • Laura T's Gravatar Laura T
        March 22, 2013 - 12:39 pm | Permalink

        That’s on FB, not on LM… as the admin for a church FB page, I run into this problem all the time.

        • March 23, 2013 - 7:39 am | Permalink

          I think it has to do with the order the photos appear on the blogpost, but then Facebook might use some algorithm other than order of photos in the code in the post You can always unchecked the “show thumbnail” bo before posting. Or you can go to LentMadness.org right click on the photo you want (like one of the Lent Madness logos found under, I think, widgets), choose file save as, and then post it as a photo on FB and add the URL to Lent Madness in the photo description.

  5. Cathy Wilson's Gravatar Cathy Wilson
    March 22, 2013 - 8:45 am | Permalink

    Kitsch aside, I still have concerns about DD’s statements regarding Castro, Lenin & Mao Tse Tung, which seemingly condoned their use of violence (mass murder). Hard to understand how she could believe that these tyrants acted out of love. I’m voting for Luke (his kitsch sets the bar much higher than what we’ve seen so far, although I’m still dreaming about the Hilda iPhone case!)

    • Barbara's Gravatar Barbara
      March 22, 2013 - 9:51 am | Permalink

      I’m wondering if there is a Frances iPhone case…

    • Paul's Gravatar Paul
      March 22, 2013 - 11:32 am | Permalink

      While it’s true that Dorothy Day said complimentary things about Castro, Lenin, and Mao, I don’t think I’d go so far as to say that she condoned their use of violence. See, for example, “The Incompatibility of Love and Violence” at http://www.catholicworker.org/dorothyday/daytext.cfm?TextID=232

  6. Hilary W.'s Gravatar Hilary W.
    March 22, 2013 - 8:58 am | Permalink

    As an Archivist, I was entertained by the description of Dorothy Day’s Papers as “tucked away in some ‘Raiders of the Lost Ark’ storeroom.'” Regardless of their vault’s similarity or lack thereof to the storeroom in question, Marquette has some terrific stuff, including this collection that may be of interest to Lent Madness folk: http://www.marquette.edu/library/archives/tolkien.shtml
    Marquette originally acquired Tolkien’s papers because of his role as a Christian/Catholic author.

    Despite the obvious appeal of Dorothy Day’s archival collection, though, my vote goes to Luke.

  7. March 22, 2013 - 9:01 am | Permalink

    Luke has SWAG y’all! It’s hard for Dorothy Day to compete with all that swag. Yet, I am drawn to the anti-swag today. That and Day’s inspiring me to work for social justice have earned her my vote up in heer.

  8. March 22, 2013 - 9:12 am | Permalink

    Don’t forget to check the update from the Archbishops:

    • Beth's Gravatar Beth
      March 22, 2013 - 10:55 am | Permalink

      Positively brilliant, today, Maple! Good Morning, to me…

    • JenniferThomasina's Gravatar JenniferThomasina
      March 22, 2013 - 12:47 pm | Permalink

      Not to supplant the Archbishop’s wise suggestion of prayer, but here is some supplemental help – A Psychological Tip – from Piet Hein for the severely undecided:

      “Whenever you’re called on to make up your mind,
      and you’re hampered by not having any,
      the best way to solve the dilemma, you’ll find,
      is simply by spinning a penny.
      No – not so that chance shall decide the affair
      while you’re passively standing there moping;
      but the moment the penny is up in the air,
      you suddenly know what you’re hoping.”

      (translation for Canadian readers, recently bereaved of lowest coinage denomination: “penny” = “nickel” …now)

      • Peg's Gravatar Peg
        March 22, 2013 - 11:47 pm | Permalink

        It’s perfect–and so true!

    • March 23, 2013 - 7:49 am | Permalink

      Dear Maple Anglican, can you please include the URL to the video on YouTube along with the embedded video since for some reason iOS 5 (the last iOS with good maps) won’t play the embedded videos.

      Thanks!

  9. Peg's Gravatar Peg
    March 22, 2013 - 9:13 am | Permalink

    I do love Silver Luke and His Hypnotised Cow, with ham-handed Luke suffering the beginnings of a coronary–no doubt having seen his figurine self in a mirror. And blessed are the poor in spirit but rich in pocket who would invest in “Pray For Us” golden bling. That is some mighty fine kitsch. But then there’s Dorothy’s hair clippings and straw hat–perhaps the one from her poster image! Think of the provenance! But seriously, folks, no matter what color Luke was, he is my pick, across the ages, around the world, in the hearts and minds of all sorts and conditions of humanity. His gospel writings give insights found nowhere else. Dorothy Day did great good. I hope she is sharing psalms and coffee with the writer, the healer, the uplifter known and loved as St. Luke.

  10. Greg Jacobs's Gravatar Greg Jacobs
    March 22, 2013 - 9:18 am | Permalink

    May the Force be with you, Luke.

  11. Marguerite's Gravatar Marguerite
    March 22, 2013 - 9:23 am | Permalink

    Voting for Luke. He was the first Episcopalian after all, showing Jesus at all those smart dinner parties.

  12. Amelia +'s Gravatar Amelia +
    March 22, 2013 - 9:23 am | Permalink

    The “I’m more Dorothy Day than Opus Dei” got me. Dorothy gets my vote.

  13. Mary W.'s Gravatar Mary W.
    March 22, 2013 - 9:26 am | Permalink

    Two POWER CB’s go head to head today! Loved both the writeups, especially Laurie’s. While I liked Luke’s kitsch better, I’m sticking with Dorothy Day, although if I had more time I might look up those quotes by her about Mao Tse Tung etc.

  14. March 22, 2013 - 9:31 am | Permalink

    As much as coffee and the Psalms sounds like my kind of morning, I responded first and best to Luke’s account of the Gospel. Besides, Darth Vader killed his father. Oh, wait… Team Luke for me.

  15. Lauren Stanley's Gravatar Lauren Stanley
    March 22, 2013 - 9:33 am | Permalink

    Oh, c’mon! Hair clippings! Stockings! And a mug that makes you snort out your coffee!!! Dorothy Day all the way …

  16. Martha's Gravatar Martha
    March 22, 2013 - 9:51 am | Permalink

    We don’t even know who Luke was or how much of what’s in the Gospel was any one person’s. I love the Gospel but have no sense of the person. So, it’s Dorothy for me.

  17. March 22, 2013 - 10:15 am | Permalink

    Gotta be Luke for me. I have had Luke 9: 57-62 before me for a long time now. I predict Luke and Frances for the Golden Halo. Now that will be an epic battle. Ham vs Lobster!
    With my hand on the plow,
    Michael Cunningham

  18. Nancy Baillie Strong's Gravatar Nancy Baillie Strong
    March 22, 2013 - 10:20 am | Permalink

    The Dorothy Day/Opus Dei mug did it for me, too!

    • Billie Jo's Gravatar Billie Jo
      March 22, 2013 - 7:56 pm | Permalink

      The mug won me over as well….but then I am also a strong admirer of the Catholic Worker House as well. On behalf of women everywhere, thank you, Dorothy.

  19. Claire Woodley's Gravatar Claire Woodley
    March 22, 2013 - 10:38 am | Permalink

    Anyone up against Luc, well….that boy is too fab to be beat out by anyone, except! Isn’t it time for women’s day? Like Dorothy Day!
    Today is the Day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in her!
    Vote Dorothy!

  20. michelle's Gravatar michelle
    March 22, 2013 - 10:45 am | Permalink

    exercising my option for the poor

  21. Anthony Guillén's Gravatar Anthony Guillén
    March 22, 2013 - 10:56 am | Permalink

    Well I finally had to chime in. Come on folks – can we let Luke outpace our beloved Dorothy Day? I know she wasn’t an Episcopalian BUT she would be the talk of the town if she walked in to any of our fashionable Episcopal congregations on a Sunday morning with that designer outfit. Certainly she would make our Lenten Array look absolutely cheesy in comparison. PLEASE VOTE NOW for Dorothy Day. No respectable Episcopalian or friend of mine would want Luke, who never even got arrested once, to win today’s voting.

  22. Kimberly Collins's Gravatar Kimberly Collins
    March 22, 2013 - 10:59 am | Permalink

    I just *had* to vote for Dorothy Day. Oh, I’m sure people like me will be roundly excoriated in this “comments” section for our “political correctness” for daring to vote for a modern-day revolutionary over the man who wrote a significant portion of the New Testament (I see it’s already started). But, hey! (As Si on Duck Dynasty would say & nothing’s more kitsch than DD, but I digress…)

    (1) Dorothy Day has been one of my personal heroes since my teens (2) My best friend & I were *just* talking about Dortohy the other day (& now I know what to get him for his bday this year, that “I’m more Dorothy Day than Opus Dei” mug!) (3) they mentioned the Day ARCHIVES!!! & I’m an archivist. Also amused that every time someone in the general public mentions an archives, they seem to be required to talk about the archives being like the end of Raiders. Sigh. (4) in said archives is a smock autographed by prisoners & St Joan Baez! (5) as if I needed anything else to seal the deal, the article quotes Pastor Karen Brau, whom I know personally & worked with on many a social action back in the day. !!!

  23. Alan's Gravatar Alan
    March 22, 2013 - 11:06 am | Permalink

    Hair clippings, stockings – 1st and 2nd class relics you guys! Those will be high demand once Rome gets around to declaring Dorothy “venerable”

    • Verdery's Gravatar Verdery
      March 22, 2013 - 11:26 am | Permalink

      Right, Alan. Just what I thought when I read about those. Especially the hair clippings, with their “Eeww!” factor.
      I admit I might go for the smock signed by Joan Baez!

      • March 22, 2013 - 12:07 pm | Permalink

        Funnily enough, I had “Eeww” (really, that exact way) in the text but then deleted it before sending it to the SEC.

        • March 23, 2013 - 8:03 am | Permalink

          Verdery & Heidi:

          Maryhill Museum in Goldendale, Washington has among many artifacts and works of art on display, a bracelet that was made for Her Majesty Queen Marie of Romania (each of her first cousins got one) as a gift from her Grandmother Victoria (yes, that Victoria who ruled a third of the world in her day). The bracelet is very beautiful and is delicately woven out of Her Majesty Queen Victoria’s hair.

  24. March 22, 2013 - 11:18 am | Permalink

    Even though I’ve often been voting for the women this Lent Madness season, I am voting for Luke today. Being Year C it’s the year of Luke in the lectionary, and Luke has so often captured the pattern of Jesus’ relationships with women (as well as foreigners, the outcast, the poor), thereby setting the pattern for later disciples such as Dorothy Day to follow. That my exegetical reasoning and I’m sticking with it! 🙂

  25. Joy's Gravatar Joy
    March 22, 2013 - 11:20 am | Permalink

    Loved the DorothyDay/Opus Dei mug! Based on kitsch, since I can’t spend all day being torn between two beloved saints – seems counterproductive, I’m voting for Dorothy today. Thank God we’re reading Luke this year so I can revel in his words come Easter Sunday! I do love the way he tells the story.

  26. Barbara's Gravatar Barbara
    March 22, 2013 - 11:22 am | Permalink

    Good to know there’s high-end kitsch; thanks for that. Interesting, too, to see how closely “kitsch” and “relics” combine and re-combine with each other. (I wonder if there was medieval kitsch? I bet there was.)

    Well, it’s Luke for me today; glad he’s still around….

  27. Anne of Memphis's Gravatar Anne of Memphis
    March 22, 2013 - 11:23 am | Permalink

    St. Luke gets my vote for today. An Apostle of Jesus: ’nuff said.

  28. Allison Askins's Gravatar Allison Askins
    March 22, 2013 - 11:26 am | Permalink

    The mug (hair clippings and night gowns) did it for me, too …. My vote goes to Dorothy.

  29. Susan Elliott's Gravatar Susan Elliott
    March 22, 2013 - 11:30 am | Permalink

    Went for Dorothy Day, though it wasn’t easy. I think it was the handwoven runner — along with the vision of her with a cuppa joe in one hand and a psalter (very plain, of course) in the other.

  30. Ephrem Hugh Bensusan's Gravatar Ephrem Hugh Bensusan
    March 22, 2013 - 11:30 am | Permalink

    Earlier this week in Lent Madness, when Dorothy Day was winning the field against our father among the Saints Benedict of Nursia, William Cooper and I pointed out her adulatory remarks about the good motives of such luminaries as Lenin, Stalin, and Mao, butchers of millions, as well as lesser lights like US Communist leader Angela Davis, who was denied the same opportunities her mentors had.

    In fairness, however, even though saying this may seal our Catholic Worker’s loss to the Holy Evangelist Luke in today’s contest, it should be pointed out that Dorothy Day took strong stands for things that are very unpopular in the contemporary Episcopalian milieu. I’m afraid that, due to her outspoken views on abortion & contraception, social welfare & the minimum wage, government-run medicine, and traditional sexual mores, Dorothy Day would be dismissed unceremoniously as one like unto an evil Republican, waging war on women and the poor.

    Link:
    http://www.crisismagazine.com/2013/the-dorothy-day-few-of-us-know

  31. Albert Krueger's Gravatar Albert Krueger
    March 22, 2013 - 11:31 am | Permalink

    Luke used the Force day by day…

  32. Verdery's Gravatar Verdery
    March 22, 2013 - 11:31 am | Permalink

    Dorothy Day, who was probably at least partially inspired by the Magnificat and who carried on the tradition of strong women related by Luke. (The Battle of the Kitsch was a tie.)

  33. Brianne's Gravatar Brianne
    March 22, 2013 - 11:33 am | Permalink

    As we near the final vote, the choices become harder. As soon as I clicked for St. Luke, I was filled with voter’s remorse. how could I ignore Dorothy Day?! Was I too self centered, voting for Luke because St. Luke’s is my parish and I’m laid up with a broken foot and am relying on doctors this week?

    I’m sure Ms. Day will forgive me, but it’s getting hard to take the pressure.

    • Junior's Gravatar Junior
      March 22, 2013 - 4:05 pm | Permalink

      That’s OK. I don’t think she was a very good mother.

  34. Bookwoman's Gravatar Bookwoman
    March 22, 2013 - 11:44 am | Permalink

    and in the not so bling-y kitsch department, would you consider novels? As a teenager, I thought I had cornered the market on understanding Luke, simply by reading Taylor Caldwell’s Dear and Glorious Physician. My willing suspension of disbelief was that strong! Luke all the way!!

  35. Gwin Hanahan's Gravatar Gwin Hanahan
    March 22, 2013 - 11:46 am | Permalink

    That kneeler? needlepoint of the winged bull?…I did it!

  36. March 22, 2013 - 11:46 am | Permalink

    Jon, blessings and prayers for safe and joyful recovery – I was an Emergency Room chaplain for four years – ICU, TCU, NICU and the Emergency Dept. I still minister there when called. Luke has my vote.

  37. David Hilton Jackson's Gravatar David Hilton Jackson
    March 22, 2013 - 11:47 am | Permalink

    I respect immensely Dorothy Day, but Luke lays the basis for the social gospel, especially in the Magnificat and the Parables of Jesus, so Luke it is.

  38. Rev. Lucy Porter's Gravatar Rev. Lucy Porter
    March 22, 2013 - 11:49 am | Permalink

    Luke, my favorite Evangelist and patron of the (mostly Methodist, liturgical reform) Order of St. Luke, has my vote today. “My soul doth magnify the Lord”

  39. March 22, 2013 - 12:00 pm | Permalink

    Luke – the patron saint of anyone who ever listened to the Spirit, changed his/her mind, and discovered new truth hidden in ancient texts, just waiting to be discovered all that time.

  40. Mollie Douglas Turner's Gravatar Mollie Douglas Turner
    March 22, 2013 - 12:28 pm | Permalink

    Gotta be Luke! Sorry, Dorothy–most worthy, indeed, but against a Gospel-writer? What more is there to say?

    • christine's Gravatar christine
      March 22, 2013 - 6:40 pm | Permalink

      You are right on- that did it tho the Opus Dei mug ……..

  41. March 22, 2013 - 12:40 pm | Permalink

    I think I should point out that the super-frilly Luke medal that says “St. Luke Pray for Us” is actually the “especially tasteful” $199 edition. The less elaborate one is the one retailing for $2438.99.

  42. Carol Buckalew's Gravatar Carol Buckalew
    March 22, 2013 - 12:50 pm | Permalink

    Luke for me. I don’t seem to be very good at predicting anything in LM but I would like to see the final round be Luke & Francis Perkins. I just don’t want to decide between them!

    • March 22, 2013 - 1:41 pm | Permalink

      Ditto — am thinking, do I send a message to the Supremes or Congress?

  43. Heather C's Gravatar Heather C
    March 22, 2013 - 12:53 pm | Permalink

    Another archivist here, swayed by the Dorothy Day papers. Though really the overarching question in my mind is, who would be the tougher match up against Archbishop Romero (my pick for the Halo this year)?

  44. Roxane's Gravatar Roxane
    March 22, 2013 - 1:17 pm | Permalink

    Have to go with Luke. He’s part of the foundation upon which Dorothy built.

  45. JenniferThomasina's Gravatar JenniferThomasina
    March 22, 2013 - 1:18 pm | Permalink

    Folks who think LM kitsch is a distraction don’t understand how beautifully two clear-headed insightful writers can keep our eyes on the prize despite all that glitters, gleams, clinks & blares around us.

    Excellent job especially today, Celebrity Bloggers!! Bless you for pointing out the Magnificat challenge of the iron(y) in the gold, Laura, and for showing us the assured & determined calm of God’s call to justice in the storm of protest, Heidi.

  46. Lane Johnson's Gravatar Lane Johnson
    March 22, 2013 - 1:22 pm | Permalink

    Someone earlier wrote of having a sense of personhood in this choice and in others. I almost always vote for the verifiable person over a legend. While I honor the Gospel of Luke, I don’t really know who Luke is. I’m voting for DD.

  47. Candace's Gravatar Candace
    March 22, 2013 - 1:38 pm | Permalink

    Since it’s all about the kitsch, gotta vote for Luke and those earrings! 🙂
    On a serious note, Jon, God be with you in the ICU! May the Spirit of the Lord minister peace and healing to you!

  48. Molly R's Gravatar Molly R
    March 22, 2013 - 1:50 pm | Permalink

    Yes, but someone, or some community, did write it. I think DD is pretty cool, and has a serious ahit against the Cinderella run of Frances Perkins, but Luke and Acts are too important. I cannot vote against the Pentecost story!

  49. Linda T.'s Gravatar Linda T.
    March 22, 2013 - 1:50 pm | Permalink

    A question about the mug: are we talking Opus Dei as in the Roman Catholic organization or Opus Dei as understood by St. Benedict’s Rule? If it’s the Rule, it seems to me that Dorothy Day’s life was a shining example of Opus Dei.

  50. March 22, 2013 - 1:56 pm | Permalink

    Although I completely admire the work of Dorothy Day I have to go with St. Luke, his gospel includes the story of the interesting prophetess Anna (who often is overshadowed by Simeon), living day and night fasting and praying in the temple (I love a zealot), and Mary, keeping all these things in her heart. That what his gospel is to my, the heart of the story. Thanks St. Luke!

  51. Christine CO's Gravatar Christine CO
    March 22, 2013 - 2:09 pm | Permalink

    I’m pleased to see so many fellow archivists in the group. And I was especially pleased to see that Heidi described the archives as being like something from Raiders of the Lost Ark. Most writers seem unable to write the word “archives” without modifying them as “dusty old archives.” (although, it’s been a while since I’ve seen it, but I guess the archive in RotLA *was* quite dusty, and had a lot of dust webs hanging…oh well….). Any archivist worth her/his salt keep the archive as clean as possible! Peace

  52. JaneC's Gravatar JaneC
    March 22, 2013 - 2:24 pm | Permalink

    Dear Dorothy,
    There’s a quote of yours that keeps following you around; “Don’t call me a saint. I don’t want to be dismissed so easily.”
    I am sorry to have to say this to you but “Saint, Saint, Saint, Saint, Saint.”
    You are really not that easy to dismiss but I am voting for Luke today.

  53. Cindy Selby's Gravatar Cindy Selby
    March 22, 2013 - 2:38 pm | Permalink

    I am personally hoping for St. Luke to prevail to the very end of Lent Madness! Go Luke!

  54. Patsy's Gravatar Patsy
    March 22, 2013 - 2:43 pm | Permalink

    My grandson Luke asks me to cast a vote for Luke.

  55. The Holy Fool's Gravatar The Holy Fool
    March 22, 2013 - 3:29 pm | Permalink

    Luke all the way.

  56. Marguerite's Gravatar Marguerite
    March 22, 2013 - 4:27 pm | Permalink

    “..he hath visited and redeemed his people and hath raised up a mighty salvaton for us” Who said that? Luke. That’s who.

  57. March 22, 2013 - 5:08 pm | Permalink

    Gotta go w/ Luke – my parish’s namesake…been prompting parishioners to get in the vote and make a difference for our Patron Saint! BUT – want to also recognize Saint Dorothy Day — a formidable giant in her own right….plus she has pretty nifty kitch.

  58. Kieran C's Gravatar Kieran C
    March 22, 2013 - 5:31 pm | Permalink

    Tough choice. Luke is my favorite Gospel, and I hate to leave him out to dry. But as the Roman Catholic Church is still deciding on whether to make Dorothy Day a Saint, beating them to it by helping her win this great honor seems to express a friendly ecumenical rivalry.

    Just for good measure, I know some Buddhists in Boston who were so inspired by her work they got involved in the old Catholic Worker House. So I’m cheering the fine lady on this round!

  59. Jim's Gravatar Jim
    March 22, 2013 - 7:25 pm | Permalink

    I am sorry to say that I too have decided to “quit” Lent Madness. Our parish has participated for the last two years as a way to raise money for charity but at coffee hour last Sunday I realized that I was among the few who had not already quit.

    Lent Madness says that it is a fun way to learn about the saints and then vote to see who wins the Golden Halo. This means to me and I suspect many others that you should actually try to learn about the saints before you cast your vote. However from many of the comments posted many people vote based upon gender, having similar names, knowing them or knowing somebody who knows them or as a symbolic vote to right some past wrong.

    I understand that there are no rules on voting, other than voting only once, but the idea of learning about saints and then voting or simply voting for reasons mentioned above are mutually exclusive and will not work. Sadly I do not know of any way to fix this issue and since fun seems to be the prevalent belief those of us who approach this as a learning exercise have no choice but to drop out.

    I have enjoyed the last two years. Many of you from your comments seem to be really good folks and I wish you all the best and I sincerely hope that you continue having fun with Lent Maness. However please understand that there are also a number of people who find that fun and silliness and a learning exercise simply cannot coexist.

    Best wishes to all of you.

    • Peg's Gravatar Peg
      March 23, 2013 - 12:02 am | Permalink

      One thing worth remembering is that a great many people vote but do not comment. The votes usually number in the thousands, and the comments never come close to that. Quite often, the majority of comments seem to favor the contender who winds up losing. Some people ignore the comments entirely. And even people who make glib/silly/snarky/off the wall comments can and do consider the saints before them with tender care and genuine respect. Hoping you’ll reconsider…

    • March 23, 2013 - 8:14 am | Permalink

      If fun and learning couldn’t coexist I don’t think I would have survived 7th grade math. (I had a great teacher for that class, which sadly was the exception not the norm during my K-12 career.). Peg is right. Many vote. Few comment. As for reading the comments . . . all can, some should, none must.

  60. Ginny Rodriguez's Gravatar Ginny Rodriguez
    March 22, 2013 - 7:54 pm | Permalink

    Luke was a real person. He did his homework: researching primary sources, interviewing and evangelising with Paul. Luke did not promote himself. He did promote the gospel of the life and times of Jesus Christ. His voice is clear, consistent, and, sometimes, amazed.
    Vote for Luke, a Real Man!

  61. Bonnee's Gravatar Bonnee
    March 22, 2013 - 8:16 pm | Permalink

    So, learning can’t or shouldn’t be fun? Not sure where to start with that. Glad this guy wasn’t in my English class a zillion years ago when Trojan War scenes were re-enacted. How much we enjoy and learn from Lent Madness.

  62. linda of new orleans's Gravatar linda of new orleans
    March 22, 2013 - 8:35 pm | Permalink

    lighten up Jim. i have learned so much and really try to make a thoughtful choice. i think it’s a wonderful way to learn and have fun at the same time. so sorry you are quitting. i bet you check back to see who wins the golden halo!

  63. Katrina Soto's Gravatar Katrina Soto
    March 22, 2013 - 8:53 pm | Permalink

    God means us to be joyful.

  64. Susan Chacon's Gravatar Susan Chacon
    March 22, 2013 - 10:18 pm | Permalink

    The kitsch-round is undoubtedly my favorite. So sad to see it end!

    (p.s. to Laura T: So what you’re telling me is that it doesn’t necessarily have to be cheap to be cheezy? My head just may explode… ;-D)

  65. Patsy's Gravatar Patsy
    March 22, 2013 - 10:33 pm | Permalink

    As a teacher for 22 years, now retired, I found that a little “fun and silliness” did aid learning. A good laugh is indeed a healthy medicine and a learning device [just don’t tell the students!]. The nice thing about Lent Madness is you can go if you want to at any time. I would like to hope that no one casts any asparagus upon you for leaving [or staying]. Myself, I am already dreading LMW. Yes, I voted for Luke because my grandson’s name is Luke, because I sat at St. Luke’s Table on my Cursillo [Eighth Weekend, Diocese of Bethlehem, 1977], I have a number of ancestors who were doctors, and Luke’s Gospel has always been my favorite. Kitsch is fun, but I do follow my heart in my vote.

  66. Melissa C-L+'s Gravatar Melissa C-L+
    March 23, 2013 - 1:31 am | Permalink

    Prayers for healing Jon… and I eent Dorothy. She continues to challenge me to live out my faith in bigger and better ways.

  67. Marguerite's Gravatar Marguerite
    March 23, 2013 - 11:56 am | Permalink

    My Opus Dei connection had gone. A dear friend’s husband’s brother’s partner’s mother was firmly Opus Dei. She has, however, departed this life. She was not, reportedly, crazy. I’m doubtful.

    I wonder who her friends would be in heaven and what sort of board games they would want to play there. Risk certainly. Oh well, obviously waiting for the next Maple Anglican video.

  68. chaplain tom chapman's Gravatar chaplain tom chapman
    March 23, 2013 - 2:50 pm | Permalink

    I have mixed emotions on this one. Luke presents basic historical narratives we as Episcopalians/ Christians by into and Dorothy Day really led by example. I have been involved in the healing ministry and was the Convenor of the order of St. Luke . For me this is pretty much a toss up, Dorothy Day today

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