Nominations for next year’s field of 32 saints are currently being accepted by the Supreme Executive Committee.
As always, we seek to put together a balanced bracket of saints ancient and modern, Biblical and ecclesiastical representing the breadth and diversity of Christ’s One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church.
Inevitably, some will disagree with certain match-ups or be disappointed that their favorite saint didn’t end up in the official bracket. If you find yourself muttering invective against the SEC, we implore you to take a deep cleansing breath. Remember, there’s always Lent Madness 2029.
The 2013 bracket was the first time we included nominations from the Lent Madness faithful and a number of your suggestions made it in. While the SEC remains responsible for the formation of the final bracket, we encourage your participation in the nominating process.
That’s not to say the (usually) benevolent dictatorship that is the SEC is showing cracks in its junta-like Lenten power. The only time true democracy rears its ugly head in Lent Madness is during the actual voting. However, nominations from the floor mean that if you are unhappy with the 2014 bracket you can transfer your angst away from the SEC and toward one another. As for us, we can always blame the ancient Greeks.
We may have play-in rounds again this year, depending on where the mystical dove lands on our blank bracket as we discern which saints to include. Play-ins allows everyone to get a small foretaste of the Madness that is to come as eight saints vie for four spots in the official bracket on to-be-determined dates. On the other hand, play-ins cause endless confusion for those who are new to bracketology.
As you discern saints to nominate, please keep in mind that a number of saints are ineligible for next year’s “saintly smack down.” This includes the entire field of Lent Madness 2013, those saints who made it to the Round of the Elate Eight in 2012 and 2011, and those from the 2010 Faithful Four. Here is a comprehensive list of ineligible saints. Please keep this in mind as you submit your nominations — which you can do by leaving a comment on this post.
Also, please note that the saints you nominate should be in the sanctoral calendar of one or more churches. Anglican calendars are a bonus, but we’re open minded. To a point. Fred Rogers is not eligible, despite the royal pleas of King Friday XIII. If you are looking for lists of actual saints, you might check here, here, here, or here, among other places.
Remember that when it comes to saints in Lent Madness, many are called yet few are chosen (by the SEC). So leave a comment below with your (eligible) nomination!
The Field from 2013 (all ineligible)
Hilda of Whitby
Thomas Tallis
John Donne
Macrina the Younger
Martin Luther King, Jr.
T.S. Eliot
John Merbecke
Lucy
Nicholas Farrar
Jonathan Daniels
Martha of Bethany
Luke
Elizabeth Ann Seton
Gregory the Great
Frances Perkins
Dorothy Day
Ignatius of Loyola
Absalom Jones
Harriet Tubman
Oscar Romero
Damien of Molokai
Florence Li-Tim Oi
Janani Luwuum
Martin Luther
George Berkeley
Benedict of Nursia
Theresa of Lesieux
Anne
Ignatius of Antioch
Samuel Seabury
Chad of Lichfield
John the Baptist
Martin of Tours
Agnes of Rome
Edward Thomas Demby
Past Golden Halo Winners (ineligible)
George Herbert, C.S. Lewis, Mary Magalene, Frances Perkins
From 2010 — 2012 (ineligible)
Emma of Hawaii
Margaret of Scotland
Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Evelyn Underhill
Enmegahbowh
Jerome
Thomas Cranmer
Polycarp
Clare of Assisi
William Tyndale
Thomas Beckett
Constance
Perpetua
Vincent of Saragossa
Francis of Assisi
Julian of Norwich
Theresa of Avila
I’d like to nominate Jude Thaddeus for 2014. Thanks!
I would like to nominate John Wesley, one of the founders of the United Methodist Church.
like
I second that nomination!
A life-long Anglican in practice too!
I’d like to nominate Saint Paul, John Wesley and Saint Joseph.
Saint Andrew
Second St. Andrew!
St. Andrew! All the way!
St. Andrew!
I hereby nominate:
Lawrence of Rome http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lawrence_of_Rome
Søren Kierkegaard http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S%C3%B8ren_Kierkegaard
Oooh, Kierkegaard! I didn’t think of that one! Seconded!
Lawrence is a great suggestion. Anyone who claims the poor as the church’s greatest treasure truly understands what church is all about.
Enthusiastic second for Kierkegaard!
Felix Varela
I believe that strong consideration should be given to those saints whose feast days fall on Sundays in 2014 and are too “minor” to have their days transferred to the following Mondays.
I support Mary Johnson’s suggestion.
Failing that, St Cecilia
Great idea!
Saint Cecelia
Saint Cecelia
I nominate John Wesley. Do I hear a second?
Yes! Charles was nominated but not the little big man. My heart would be strangely warmed to see John in the mix.
Yes! Second! And third!!
Endicott Peabody of Groton
How about considering Emily Marlbone Morgan, founder of The Society of the Companions of the Holy Cross, which celebrates the 100th anniversary of their retreat center, Adelynrood, in 2014. This group of 800 Episcopalian women dedicate their lives to Intercessory Prayer, Peace and Social Justice and Simple Living. Find more about the retreat center and the Companions at their web site or Adelynrood.org.
Way to go, Marge!
Not wanting to discriminate on the basis of gender, I propose two:
William Wilberforce
Catherine of Siena
Both worthy contributions!
Never again. The results were really too mad for me.
I had a very good friend and fellow church member say the same thing. I know it’s all in good fun, and meant to be educational, but it’s surprising how invested you get. And you look at some of the results and think, “Seriously? No, wait. Seriously?!”
St. Bridget is my favorite Celtic saint. Please include her in 2014.
I second that nomination – patron of babies; blacksmiths; boatmen; cattle; chicken farmers; children whose parents are not married; children whose mothers are mistreated by the children’s fathers; dairymaids; dairy workers; fugitives; infants; Ireland; Leinster, mariners; midwives; milk maids; nuns; poets; poor; poultry farmers; poultry raisers; printing presses; sailors; scholars; travellers; watermen, her outstanding characteristics include generosity and hospitality. She also said'”… I would like a great lake of beer for the King of Kings. I would like to be watching Heaven’s family drinking it through all eternity.” “
Yes please to Brigid. I think she’d be a strong contender in many areas, plus name recognition, plus, hey, she stood up to St Patrick. I can only imagine the coffee cups!
Yes Brigid!!
St. Simeon Stylites, so as to be reminded of the central place of Syria in the Christian story.
good suggestion; we should be so reminded. Also the kitsch would be wondrous to behold, I suspect.
And there’s always St. Simeon the Holy Fool (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simeon_the_Holy_Fool ), too…..
St. Dorothy of course!
I enthusiastically nominate Thurgood Marshall!
Second that!
Edward the Confessor
Vincent de Paul
I nominate Saint Patrick.
Second on St. Patrick!
Julia Chester Emery
Kateri Tekawitha
second that nomination for Kateri Tekawitha
I hopped on here as a first time participant EVER and first timer this moment to Lent Madness. Had never heard of you guys (I am an RC, they don’t let us talk to you Episcopalians… for fear that we will see the LIGHT and never return) and then my friend mentioned Lent Madness…. and oh my word, my eyes rolled back in my head in happiness, reading your site!!
OK, so I got on specifically to nominate Kateri, so a big 10-4 on Kateri.
PLEASE include her.
Also, you gotta get St. Maria Goretti in there for the whole Take Back the Night, “No Means No” thing on violence against women.
Finally… I am particularly fond of ….
Chrisina the Astonishing
(no really…. she’s real.) Though she was furloughed along with poor St. Christopher, she is still the patron saint of the mentally ill…. and so a particular friend of mine!
Humbly submitted,
A closet Catholic with the big C
Hi Carey,
I was a RC myself, now I’m Episcopalian(all the worship, none of the guilt…)and can’t imagine being anything else. But I digress.
I first learned of Christina the Astonishing from a really neat book entitled “Saints Preserve Us! Everything you’ll want to know about every saint you’ll ever need”, and she is one of my favorites also, after Fred Rogers that is. I continue to hold firm for Fred Rogers. SEC, I hope you’re listening because I’m not shutting up about this!!!!
anyway, thanks for reminding me of Christina.
Go In Peace to Love and Serve the Lord,
Madeleine
I’ve got three:
John Wycliff (I have always admired his bravery in believing that *people should read the Bible in their own language*!!)
Nicholas Ridley (because he is the ancestor of one of my best friends)
and Wulfstan, Bishop of Worcester (because he’s got an awesome name!)
So how does one lobby the SEC?? I’m sure with a little persuasion, at least one of my picks can make it into the bracket!
I second Wycliff. The story I remember is the bishop used one of his shadier connections to collect all the first run, so he could burn them. Just happened the underworld connection was the same guy Wycliff used to smuggle them over in the first place. He gave the money to Wycliff, who used the bishop’s own money to print the second edition. Oh, and the KJV plagiarized great chunks of his work.
So how does one lobby the SEC?? Good coffee would be a start.
However, I think Starbucks gift cards would have the opposite effect.
Of course, the SEC could do a different type of play-in round. Require donations to Episcopal Relief and Development, with the saint getting the largest donation getting the nod. This way you could even do 3-on-3 or more.
I like the Episcopal Relief and Development idea as a lobbying tool. And the coffee should be Bishop’s Blend.
Another vote for the nomination of St. Jude.
Also, please consider St. Christopher and St. Nicholas.
I remember St. Nicholas from something at PDS (now PES, PK3-HS12) years ago.
Yes on Nicholas of Myra. How has he been missed all these years?
St. Nicholas got beat out year before last – I may never recover
St. Peter!
St. George, St. Galgano, St. Fina, St. Joan of Arc – I think I’ve covered Italy, France and Turkey. Santa Serafina was from San Gimignano and her life was celebrated in frescoes by Ghirlandaio – she was a pious young woman who helped look after the poor; San Galgano was a crusader who tired of war, founded a monastery. St. Joan and St. George are well known.
Brother Lawrence
Simeon Stylites
Athanasius
Any of the Cappadocians, especially Gregory of Nyssa
How in the world has Augustine not made the list yet?
Auggie made the brackets last year; he lost to his mother, if I recall….
How about Mother Teresa? If we can nominate more than one then Meister Eckhart, St Teresa the little flower, and Phoebe.
I nominate Chiune Sugihara, Japanese consul in Lithuania in 1939 and a Christian convert, who obeyed his conscience rather than his superiors’ orders and signed visas for more than 6,000 Jewish refugees so that they could travel through Japan on their way to safety. I can’t find him on a calendar of saints, noting that I do not read Japanese or Hebrew and it is distinctly possible that I have missed his name, however I believe he belongs there.
Yad Vashem, the Holocaust memorial in Israel, lists Chiune Sugihara as Righteous Among the Nations.
He is quoted as saying “I may have to disobey my government, but if I didn’t, I would be disobeying God.”
http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Holocaust/sugihara.html
Actually, Chiune Sugihara is on the calendar of the Episcopal Church, under
“The Righteous Gentiles”, feast day July 16. A good nomination!
I support this nomination – was just looking through the list of Righteous Gentiles for possible names!
Great suggestion!
Mother Emily Ayckbowm, founder of the Community of the Sisters of the Church, a community of Anglican Religious. CSC was founded in 1870 and currently has houses in the UK, Canada, Australia, and the Solomon Islands. http://neatnik2009.wordpress.com/2009/12/07/feast-of-emily-ayckbaum-april-5/
Yes!
Ven. Hudson Stuck
http://liturgyandmusic.wordpress.com/2011/04/22/april-22-john-muir-hudson-stuck-naturalist-writer-1914-priest-environmentalist-1920/
I nominate Percy Dearmer
how about Holy Mary Mother of God — don’t see her listed. And Mother Theresa.
As I recall, I think the SEC has a “No Jesus/No Mary” rule. Sort of like the Vatican’s unwritten rule wherein popes don’t take the name Peter.
I suppose St. John Coltrane http://www.coltranechurch.org/ is probably ineligible too. Maybe we could incorporate a few riffs into “A Mighty Fortress is our God.”
I nominate Columba (Colm Cille) and Eric Liddell.
Yes to Columba!
Yay!!
I nominate St Alban, the first Christian Martyr in Britain,
Yes. It is time for Alban. Because my firs church out of seminary was St. Alban’s, Morehead, Kentucky.
I nominate Frideswide of Oxford, an Anglo-Saxon Abess
I nominate St. Brigid of Kildare.
George Herbert
I nominate the Four Chaplains (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Four_Chaplains) as a four-for-one. I believe they exemplify the saintly values we’re looking for, and they are celebrated on a feast day in the Episcopal liturgical calendar (Feb. 3rd, the Dorchester Chaplains). I believe they are figures deserving of our Lent Madness recognition.
St. Margaret of Antioch
I second St. Margaret of Antioch. A brave dragonslayer!
GO DRAGONSLAYERS!!!
I would like to request that St. John Chrysostom NOT be nominated so that he can continue as a commentotor for Lent Madness, AND
Also, I hereby nominate Robert Machray, Archbishop and Metropolitan of Rupert’s Land, and first Primate of all Canada. He is included in the Calendar of the Anglican Church of Canada.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Machray
I agreed on this one. Don’t want a season without John Chrysostom!
I really think we need to give Fred Rogers special dispensation.
That being said, as a church musician I have to suggest St. Cecilia, and I see I am not the only one.
I think we should make a concerted effort to get Fred Rogers onto a sanctoral calendar! Since Mr. Rogers is ineligible for reasons beyond his control, I nominate: The Venerable Bede – let’s face it, venerable is such a good word and gets used so little;
Catherine of Siena
Alfred the Great (can you tell I’m a medievalist?)
Matthias – a Biblical one for good measure
Anne Hutchinson
Harriet Beecher Stowe
Nominate Venerable Bede.
I would like to nominate Thomas Merton.
Excellent choice!
I was going to nominate Thomas Merton!! So glad someone else thinks he is worthy of the Madness
I had Merton winning the whole thing year before last, and was wrecked when he got wiped out. Killed my bracket, and dented my soul a little. He deserves another chance!
I would like to nominate:
Francisco de Osuna
Richard Rolle
Kentigern (Mungo)
Ninian
and Pelagius
St. John of Damascus, defender of icons in the first Iconoclastic Controversy. Pointing out that the uncircumscribable chose to become circumscribable in the person of Jesus, St. John said, “I worship not matter, but the Creator of matter, who became matter for my sake.”
The Martyrs of Memphis
Pierre Teilhard
St. Andre Bessett
I nominate Albert Schweitzer
Catherine of Sienna. April 29th is both her day on the calendar and my birthday.
I nominate Roger Williams, and man of complexity and deep conviction.
Scholastica of Nursia, and Clare of Assisi.
Catherine of Sienna
St. Brigid
Princess Elizabeth of Hungary
I would like to nominate Moses Ben Maimon, better known in English as Maimonides. I first heard about his eight levels of charity when I was a little girl as part of a sermon in church. It has always stuck with me, and the more I learn about Maimonides the better I like him.
Oh, and also Christina Rossetti, British poet of the 19th century
St. Colman and his companions, a cock, a mouse, and a fly.
St. Stephen
St. Alban
St. Tristan
Moses the Ethiopian! Former street thug turned pacifist monk!
Julie Billiart. She founded the sisters of Notre Dame de Namur. Known as the smiling saint. I’ve spent the past two years volunteering with the Notre Dame Mission Volunteers.
I second Moses the Ethiopian (or the Black as he is sometimes called)
I’d vote for Fred Rogers too. There were many days when my children were young that I needed to hear someone say “I like you just the way you are.” I also concur with William Wilberforce (especially as portrayed by Ioan Grufford in “Amazing Grace).
Alas, until the powers that be add Mr. Rogers to Holy Men and Holy Women, I nominate Hildegard de Bingen.
Fred Rogers would get my vote too; he never failed to honor children as whole people in his show/ministry.
I would like to nominate Hilda of Whitby! She was up against such stiff competition from Frances but deserved the halo equally as much and so should definitely be a first round draft for 2014!
May I suggest that you consider the “Deacon Saints” a list developed over many years by Deacon Ormonde Plater. Many are well known, such as David Pendleton Okerhater, and far more not as well known. You may find this list on the AED Association for Episcopal Deacons website, left side under Resources, DEACON SAINTS. If need be I can send you a copy. I can suggest specific names if desired. In any case, more deacon saints please.
I agree and would certainly second the nomination of David Pendleton Oakerhater, also known as O-kuh-ha-tuh.
Agree!
This is exciting! My nomination has to go to the one and only John Muir and/or Hudson Stuck! They share a day. If I can only choose one, though, my vote is for Muir. I feel like taking a little hike in the woods now..
Muir Madness!! I second this one!
St. Cuthbert.
Yes! Because he has his own little island off Lindisfarne and a cave a fe miles inland. And I’ve been to both!
I’d like to nominate Alban, first martyr of Britain. His story is lovely, like the righteous gentiles who harbored Jews during the holocaust, and his name is used often enough that the masses will enjoy learning about him.
I nominate St. Richard of Chichester – he was a protector of the clergy, and helped write the lyrics to a very popular song from Godspell:
Thanks be to Thee, my Lord Jesus Christ
For all the benefits Thou hast given me,
For all the pains and insults Thou hast borne for me.
O most merciful Redeemer, friend and brother,
May I know Thee more clearly,
Love Thee more dearly,
Follow Thee more nearly
Kiril & Metodii (otherwise known as Cyril and Methodius) – not only patron saints of Slavic scholars, in whose number I was included before becoming a priest – but inspirations to all linguists and missionaries, all who seek to share the truth of God in Christ in new cultures and languages.
Richard Hooker
George Whitefield
The Martyrs of Memphis — if a collected group of saints can be nominated
I’m nominating Joan of Arc – can’t believe she doesn’t have the Golden Halo already!
Celia, wonderful idea. This was a maiden who stood by her convictions, even at the cost of her own life!
I nominate William Temple and the Martyrs of Memphis
How could I not nominate St. Simon, from whom my parish gets its name?
I nominate “Woodbine Willie”, Geoffrey Anketell Studdert Kennedy, whose feast day is March 8. He was a poet, prophet, priest of the C of E, and the best known chaplain of the British Army in World War One. I would love to see a military chaplain who handed out cigarettes as part of his ministry (!) be in contention in 2014.
Oh yes . . . a great poet!
I would like to second this. Old Woodbine was one of the most eloquent poets and writers of WW1. An anglican priest, padre in the line, his chapter on prayer, in “The Hardest Part” is one of the most moving things I have ever read on the subject.
I would like to nominate Prudence Crandall
I would like to nominate Rainer Maria Rilke, Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, Thomas Merton, Henri Nouwen, Evagrius, Karl Rahner, and Antony of the Desert Fathers.
I nominate Saint Kateri Tekakwitha
With one meow, my cats say St. Gertrude of Nivelles.
nominate Sarah Hale and Molly Brant
Nominations: St. Ethedreda, St. Genesius of Rome (patron saint of actors), St. Cyprian of Carthage,
I would like to nominate Festo Kivengere, Ugandan Anglican Bishop,
(1919-1988).
I nominate St. Dymphna, the patron saint of mental illness
I second that! St. Dymphna’s story also has special meaning for abuse survivors since her father killed her for refusing to marry him.
https://www.natlshrinestdymphna.org/history.php
(But I would vote for Mr. Rogers too!)
After much consideration I nominate Fanny Crosby, extraordinary hymn writer. (Just try to find a hymnal that doesn’t have at least one hymn with lyrics by Ms Crosby.) “To God be the glory, great things He hath done!”
I Nominate Margaret of Antioch (the dragon slayer).
Margaret of Antioch
I would like to nominate st. Jean de Brebeuf, martyr to the Huron People of southern Ontario
I respectfully submit for consideration St. Dunstan, Archbishop of Canterbury.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St_Dunstan
Nominations: Basil the Great, and for the Parrotheads among us: Saint Barbara (Patron Saint of Lightning).
And a second for Joan of Arc!
I nominate St. Brendan the Navigator.
Second
I nominate St. Dunstan of Canterbury and Glastonbury.
If you want a saint in favor of the Bible being available in one’s native tongue, I say go with Tyndale, Coverdale, or one of more recent Bible translators, not Wyclif since Wyclif wanted the church to be perpetually in hock to wealthy donors and to be forbidden to own property.
Although ineligible, Fred Rogers is saintly enough for me!
I also think David Oakerhater deserves another shot.
Yes, David Oakerhater definitely deserves another chance!
ineligible, my butt. as I have told them, the SEC needs to get off the aforementioned body part and MAKE him eligible!!!!
Deaconess Harriet Bedell, missionary to the Seminole tribe; and Bishop Samuel Isaac Joseph Schereschwsky, who completed a translation of the Bible into Mandarin (or Cantonese?), when almost completely paralyzed, typing with one finger.
And I second the nominations of St. Brigid of Kildare and Kateri Tekawitha!
I propose Harriet O’Brien Monsell, of County Clare Ireland, founder of the Anglican Community of St John the Baptist whose purpose was to help marginalized women. Another proposal is for Sr Constance (Caroline Louise Darling), one of the “Martyrs of Memphis” of the Episcopal Community of St Mary.
How about my dear favorite Polycarp
And: Perpetua and Felicitas
Aidan of Lindisfarne
Martyrs of Japan
Teresa of Avila–or–
John of the Cross
It would be interesting to do a study of individual personality or personal spirituality based on peoples’ nominations…
Oh good, someone for John of the Cross! I second that nomination!
I’d also like to nominate Ephrem of Syria.
–Samuel Isaac Joseph Schereschewsky, Lithuanian Jew, Presbyterian seminarian, Anglican priest and missionary to China, Bishop of Shanghai, translator of BCP & Bible, sufferer from Parkinson’s disease.
–The Venerable Bede, scholar, priest, monk, historian, translator, and patron of my church.
I would like to nominate Ephrem the Deacon, also a hymn-writer like John Wesley.
I’m going Scottish with these nominations:
Anthony of Egypt
St. Cuthbert
Charles de Foucauld
and John Wycliffe (not to be confused with Wyclef Jean)
I would like to nominate Corrie ten Boom.
I don’t know if she is on any church’s calendar, but she is truly a Saint.
I would like to nominate John Muir whose life and writings reflect a remarkable understanding of and care for “this fragile earth, our island home”.
I second my nomination!
Can you do that??
If he can’t, I’ll second it!
Anthony DeMello
St. Anselm of Canterbury! Not only a wonderful theologian, but a great example of rocking medieval names.
Yes to Anselm! It’s my confirmation name.
I would like to nominate John of the Cross. I’m on a Carmelite kick!
I nominate Dunstan, don’t know much about him but sure to like the name!
St. Monica, mother of St. Augustine
For your consideration:
St. ÆKaterina of Alexandria
St. Quiteria
St. Joseph of Cupertino
St. Expeditus
St. Mother Frances Cabrini (a New Orleans Saint)
St. Roch
St. Louis, King of France
St. Margaret-Mary Alacoque
St. Catherine Labourre
Anthony of Padua
Francisco de Osuna (second that)
Peter Alcantara
I nominate Hiram Kano. Japanese missionary in Nebraska and Colorado
I nominate St. Germain. I don’t recall seeing his name on the bracket. Bishop of Paris, born 496 died Paris 576.
I’d like to nominate Fr. John Roberts who founded many of the churches in central Wyoming. Found in Holy Men & Holy Women Feb. 25th.
Joseph Justus Barsabbas
Saint Matthias
Great match between these two. Maybe JJB will win over Mathias this time around.
ABFP (anyone but Frances Perkins) – not kidding
St. George
St. Andrew
St. Patrick
St. David
St. Cuthbert
St. Bede
Any and all Desert Fathers and Mothers
St. Charles Stuart, King and Martyr (kidding, kind of, sort of)
Charles Stuart, yeah!! (not kidding, not kind of, not sort of)
Also Joseph, foster father of Our Lord
and Molly Brant
Augustine.
Absalom.
Ambrose.
Clearly there’s a theme there. So I had to break it….
The Venerable Bede.
I hereby nominate my main man, Hugh of Lincoln and Blandina of Lyons.
I wouldn’t mind seeing St. John of the Cross up there, either.
I second Joan of Arc
St. Florian – patron saint of firefighters – every R.C. house in Germany where my mother grew up had an icon of St. Florian, and my mother taught me the prayer that went along with it – translated it goes: Holy Florian, protect our house, let the others burn! (We have the icon, naturally, and we have a bier stein as well!)
How about Captain Chaplain Emil Joseph Kapaun? He was designated a “Servant of God” by the Catholic Church in the 1990s–just recently posthumously rec’d the Medal of Honor for his work during the Korean War. Really inspiring story.
I second the nomination of Chaplain Emil Joseph Kapaun!
Since I’m fairly new to Lent Madness, will someone please tell me why Fred Rogers is not elligible? Seems to me that anyone who can work the magic with toddlers that he did should already have a golden halo! (or do I have the wrong Mr. Rogers?)
As for nominations: St. Gregory the Illuminator (Armenian saint from the Armenian Apostolic Church) or St. Vartan who stood up for Christ in the early 300’s and died for the cause when he refused to surrender to pagan influence?
I’m assuming it’s partly because he was a Methodist (not that there’s anything wrong with that), but mostly because he isn’t listed on any calendar of saints of any religion… yet.
It has nothing to do with being Methodist . . . he’s not in any of the required calendar listings.
The Rev. Fred Rogers was an ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church. As Sister Mary has indicated, and the SEC has ruled, his eligibility has to do with the fact that he isn’t on any of the lists of Anglican “saints” … yet.
The Four Martyred Churchwomen of El Salvador: Ita Ford, Maura Clark, Dorothy Kazel & Jean Donovan
I’d like to nominate Thecla of Iconium, the teen-aged side-kick of St Paul according to second-century legend.
How about St. Kevin of Ireland?
Oh, and second the nomination of Thomas Merton.
St. Cecilia
I’d like to second the nominations for St. Jude and St. Joseph of Cupertino, since I am hoping to engage more members of my church (St. Jude’s of Cupertino) in next year’s Lent Madness.
St. Herman of Alaska (in the Orthodox tradition)
Thanks again for the wonderful, humorous & entertaining Saints Education you gave us during Lent!
I’d like to nominate Martin Luther for another shot at the Golden Halo!
I nominate Tabitha ( Dorcas). She was praised for her good deeds and was raised from the dead….Acts 9.
I believe I read her ” day” is Jan. 27. I have always loved her story.
Because he wrote a creed so difficult to say, I’d like to nominate Athanasius, Bishop of Alexandria, 373
bl. john paul ii
st. gianna molla
st. gerard majella
st. olaf
st. martin of tours
st. patrick
st. brigid
I’d love to see some Irish (and other Celtic) saints included. St. Brendan the Navigator ( Brendan of Clonferet ) is one who springs to mind.
I would like to nominate St Anslem.
I respectfully nominate Saint Maximillian Maria Kolbe
I would like to make two nominations-
Julian of Norwich-the first woman to write a book in English—Revelations of Divine Love, a book we would all do well to read a bit more of!
The second is Blessed Titus Brandsma. There are not too many Dutch saints, he was a Carmelite friar, a priest, a journalist, and died at Dachau.
Bless!
I’d like to nominate Mary Magdalene, the “Apostle to the Apostles.”
Pauli Murray! Just added to Holy Men, Holy Women in 2012. First African American Woman to become an Episcopal priest and a civil rights champion.
Also, from my formerly Roman Catholic days, St. Rose Philippine Duchesne. Anyone who attended a school run by the Religious of the Sacred Heart could tell you all about her. 🙂
Theophan the Recluse.
Perpetua and Scholastica all the way!
I nominate St. Bede, father of English history.
Ralph Adams Cram
I nominate Charles and John Wesley for a battle of the Methodists. Both Anglican priests, one a hymnist, one a social activist, who will take the day?
I’d like to nominate John & Charles Wesley, who remained Episcopal priests as they built the theology for Methodism ~ and whose day on the Episcopal calendar is March 3!
Scholastica and Perpetua!
Good King Wencenslas for having the best Christmas song ever! I think I’ve nominated enough now! Can’t wait for Lent!!!
Do they have to already be dead?
If not, I’d nominate +Katharine Jefferts Schori who inspires and leads us into mission and the reign of God in spite of opposition, poisen pen emails and the like!
St. John Bosco, founder of the Salesians. (Okay, I used to be a Roman…)
OK, as a (whispers hurriedly) current RC, may I please say that the fact that you have had Perpetua but not poor Felicity, is just wrong. I have literally never heard one mentioned without the other…. so here she is Felicity (BFF of Perpetua)
Saint Francis de Sales!
I would like to nominate Samuel Isaac Joseph Schereschewsky.
I nominate . . .
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_J._Seymour
I nominate Thomas Merton.
Catherine of Sienna
Thomas Merton
Christians Rosetti
Balthere of Tyninghame (later Baldred), a hermit and abbot. When he died three churches claimed his body and wouldn’t share, There miraculously appeared three identical bodies, all in windings. The three churches were extremely happy to each have their own St. Baldred relics.
I nominate The Rev. Dr. James DeKoven (feast day – March 22, during Lent!) a theologian way ahead of his time. And a man who cared deeply for the church and her people.
I nominate, Ruth burrows, Edward Hays, Henri J. M. Nouwen, John of the Cross, and St Thomas the disciple.
Joe Hill
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BS1aiAMWaz0
He ought to get a shot (oops) at the title.
I like the idea of singing that song in church.
I nominate St. Constance and her Companions, the martyrs of the Memphis yellow fever outbreak of the 1800s, St. Blandina an early Christian martyr from Gaul, and St. Stephen- my parish’s patron saint.
I nominate Eglantine Jebb, founder of Save the children, who, the the ABC wouldn’t listen went to the Pope. She drafted the first Declaration on the Rights of the Child. Remembered on 17th December so lost in the pre Christmas busyness.
Also
Columba
Adomnan
Hildegard
Anselm
Abelard and Heloise (must be some good kitsch there)
Walter Hilton
Thomas Traherne
Elizabeth I. Where would we be without the Elizabethan Settlement?
I nominate Verna Dozier!
I nominate Saint Timothy.
Yay for Timothy (for obvious reasons)!
i nominate st. valentine -just because…..
I’d like to nominate St. Christopher.
Théophane Vénard, from France
Ruth Burrows, Thomas Merton, Edward Hays, Henri J. M. Nouwen, St Thomas the Apostle, and John of the Cross.
I hereby nominate:
St. Basil the Great, Bishop of Caesarea, he of the Cappadocian Three, a father of communal monasticism, defender of the Nicene faith, destroyer of the pneumatomachi, denier of worldly comforts, generous benefactor…
…also author of “On the Holy Spirit,” a small treatise on which I wrote my dissertation!
St. Philip where I attend
I nominate St. Fiacre, patron saint of gardeners. (If you see a garden statue holding a shovel, rather than welcoming bird-St. Francis- that’s Fiacre) He has a great story, even if he was a trifle misogynistic, and the kitsch would be abundant.
Second St. Fiacre
Tommy Douglas 1904 – 1986
Canadian. Baptist Minister. Premier of Saskatchewan from 1944-1961. Brought about Universal Health Care for the people of his province which all of Canada later adopted. Voted “Greatest Canadian” based on viewer supported survey, CBC television, 2004.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tommy_Douglas
speaking of kitsch- for st. valentine it would be so plentiful( I don’t think I have ever used that word in a sentence). and I also nominate st. lucy for Rev. K. Jeanne Person who campaigned so mightily for her in 2013 LM
Some calendars assign the prophets feasts. If the prophets can be included, I would like to nominate Samuel.
Saint Arnulf (Arnold) of Metz is always a crowd-pleaser — lots of kitsch, if he can make it to that round.
Saint Kateri Tekakwitha is a newly canonized by the Roman Church; I saw some terrific kitsch with her image at the North American Martyrs Shrine in Auriesville, New York. I also saw a relic — bone chip, though from what part I cannot say.
Oh, and the Four Chaplains — Lt. George L. Fox, Methodist; Lt. Alexander D. Goode, Jewish; Lt. John P. Washington, Roman Catholic; and Lt. Clark V. Poling, Dutch Reformed. Their heroism and ecumenical spirit is canon-worthy, even if they are not yet in any canon. http://www.fourchaplains.org/story.html
I’d like to nominate Julia Chester Emery and Agnes of Rome.
Several of my family love St Sebastian. He will try to help with any problem that torments you
Anyone who has been to Napoli can but love Santa Lucia. We often pray to her.
okay, SEC, you guys need to get off your ecclestical butts and make it possible for Fred Rogers to be nominated!!!! I mean it!!!!!!!
My childhood was not what one would call a romp around the maypole. Ask any survivor of bullying. after coming home with my self-esteem dragging behind me(in tatters no less), it ALWAYS made my day to see his kindly face and know that I was likable “just the way you are.”
I do not want to hear that he was never canonized, blah-blah-blah.
I do not want to hear any excuses because they’re all lame in the extreme.
Just DO it!!!!!!!
I totally agree with you. fred rogers was the most wonderful, kind, self esteem builder, authentic man. I loved to watch him with my kids.
Thank you, Linda. I too watched him with my daughters(now grown), and his message is as valuable now as it was then, maybe more so.
SEC, do not make me come down there…..it’ll be Katie bar the door!!!!
I KNOW you can hear me!!!!
I would like to nominate St. Timothy
Many people will not see Pauli Murray because she is not in their copy of Holy Women, Holy Men, having just been added at General Convention. A good reason to put here story before the whole church!
I nominate St. Margaret of Antioch, the original Dragonslayer!
How about my favorite, Saint Anthony of Padua?
Can Corrie ten Boom be nominated?
Is she on the list of the Righteous Gentiles?
One thoguht about Sugihara, Maximilian Kolbe, Corrie ten Boom, and others who stood up to the Nazis — an argument against nominating them is that it’s going to be difficult for the SEC to walk the line between “amusing kitsch” and “appallingly bad taste”.
I don’t know enough about the others, but there are a lot of Corrie ten Boom quotes that appear in various forms that would definitely qualify under the kitsch category. Since she survived the Holocaust (and went on to a long a fruitful ministry after it), that sort of thing isn’t bad taste for her.
I nominate the following:
Priscilla, friend and co-worker of Paul and a Christian teacher in her own right
Irenaeus, Great refuter of the Gnostics
Clotilda, Queen of the Franks, who helped get her husband, Clovis, converted
Maximillian Kolbe, Polish Roman Catholic monk who took the place of a prisoner to be starved to death by the Nazis.
Dorothy Sayers, 20th century apologist
I would like to nominate:
Deaconess and Missionary Harriet Bedell
Awesome! I also just nominated her!!
St. Andrew, St. Swithun, The Wesleys, William Tyndale, St. Francis de Sales. Too many prospects, too little time.
I would like to nominate St. Joseph, Hildegard of Bingen, and Sarah Josepha Buell Hale.
I nominate Deaconess Harriet Bedell (Jan 8)
Sincerely,
Willie Allen-Faiella
St. Stephen’s, Coconut Grove
Miami, FL
I would like to nominate W. Don McClure, Presbyterian martyr in Africa (1977). Was missionary in Africa for 50 years. Books: Red Headed Rash and Religious and Adventures in Africa by Charles Partee
I would like to second (or third) the following:
Columba
Genesius
Stephen the Martyr
Sir Arthur Sullivan — he must be on some holy person list somewhere
Hildegard
Blessed Frederich Ozanam. French Roman Catholic who personified gracious service to the Lord.
I would like to nominate two gorgeous souls:
1. St. Hildegard of Bingen, an abbess who wrote about health, about her visions, corresponded with popes and emperors, composed music (changing medieval church music), and composed a morality play that may have paved the way for opera.
2. Brother Roger Schutz, founder of the Taizé Community. He was a gentle soul who started an ecumenical movement.
Since I have not heard back from the SEC regarding Fred Rogers,(pertinent pause at this point……)I nominate St. Drogo. what impresses me the most about him is his ability to be two places at once, one of the locations always being at church. Such faith is awe-inspiring!