Nominations for next year’s field of 32 saints are currently being accepted by the Supreme Executive Committee. Yes, in addition to Eastertide, today begins Nominationtide.
But before we get to the main attraction, we encourage you to visit the Lentorium. You can prove your love for Lent Madness by loading up on Lent Madness merchandise, including the Lent Madness 2014 tote bag, the Lent Madness wall clock, some Lent Madness 2014 coasters, a Lent Madness 2014 magnet, and much, much more. And, of course, don’t forget to stock up on Charles Wesley or Lent Madness perpetual purple mugs.
And now, on to the main attraction, the call for nominations for Lent Madness 2015!
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.
While the SEC remains responsible for the formation of the final bracket, we encourage your participation in the nominating process. As in past years, we might even listen to some of your suggestions.
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 2014, those saints who made it to the Round of the Elate Eight in 2013 and 2012, and those from the 2011 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. We’re open minded. To a point.
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 2014 (all ineligible)
Mary of Egypt
David of Wales
Ephrem of Edessa
Catherine of Siena
Harriet Beecher Stowe
Alfred the Great
Lydia
Catherine of Alexandria
Antony of Egypt
Moses the Black
Thomas Gallaudet
Joseph of Arimathea
John Wesley
Charles Henry Brent
Christina the Astonishing
Alcuin
Julia Chester Emry
Charles Wesley
FD Maurice
SJI Schereschewsky
Phillips Brooks
Harriet Bedell
JS Bach
Anna Cooper
John of the Cross
James Holly
Nicholas Ridley
Aelred
Louis of France
Thomas Merton
Basil the Great
Simeon
Past Golden Halo Winners (ineligible)
George Herbert, C.S. Lewis, Mary Magalene, Frances Perkins, Charles Wesley
From 2011 — 2013 (ineligible)
Jonathan Daniels
Harriet Tubman
Hilda of Whitby
Luke
Dorothy Day
Li-Tim Oi
Oscar Romero
Enmegahbowh
Emma of Hawaii
Margaret of Scotland
Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Evelyn Underhill
Jerome
Thomas Cranmer
Clare of Assisi
Thomas Beckett
Perpetua
By the way, it’s worth remembering that all the talk you hear these days about transparency and accountability is moot for the SEC. We reveal little and answer to no one. So if you don’t like the choices that we’ll announce at an unspecified future date known only to us (see what we did there?), start your own online devotional.
For now, we wish you a joyous Eastertide and Nominationtide.
St. Patrick
I am writing my nominations here because I can not figure out how to nominate someone any where else. Eugene Carson Blake; Saint/Pope Hilarius
Also not sure what calendar she may be on but how about Pearl S. Buck?
FRED ROGERS!!! FRED ROGERS!!!FRED ROGERS!!!FRED ROGERS!!!FRED ROGERS!!!
Any questions?
I wondered when folks mentioned Mr. Rogers, but……having watched him deal with a disagreeable person on a video recently, with such a quiet loving way, I tend to agree with everyone. Fred Rogers meets all comers in the same way I imagine Jesus did in His Day!
yes
I agree. I know in past years, you’ve mentioned that Fred Rogers isn’t eligible because he isn’t noted on any denomination’s official list… However, I think it’s important to remember that before canonization processes existed, saints were chosen by popular acclamation.
This comments section is evidence enough that Fred Rogers has been canonized through sensus fidelium!
yes- FRED ROGERS for all the reasons mentioned. if he is even put on the bracket i will purchase “something” from the Lentorium…and if he WINS i will get a set of mugs…
Yup. My lance remains tilted.
I add my support here for Fred Rogers. Think of the millions of lives he has touched, the gentle and Christ-like way he he has welcomed the little children (and their beleagured parents).
Thank you, Heather. As a survivor of childhood bullying, Fred McFeely Rogers was a calm , gentle presence in my life..
St. Cecilia
And don’t give me any Jive about how you can’t because I ain’t buying it.
How about Thurgood Marshall? I know we celebrate him — not positive he is considered an official saint – although he certainly should be. He did a lot of brave and intelligent things in the name of inclusion and justice.
St. Kevin of Ireland
I second this one!!!!
Vincent de Paul
George Whitefield
Brigid of Kildare
Brigid of Kildare,
Patron of Generous Hospitality!:
I should like a great lake of beer to give to God.
I should like the angels of Heaven to be tippling there for all eternity.
I should like the men of Heaven to live with me, to dance and sing.
If they wanted I’d put at their disposal vats of suffering
White cups of love I’d give them with a heart and a half.
Sweet pitchers of mercy I’d offer to every man.
I’d make heaven a cheerful spot,
Because the happy heart is true.
I’d make men happy for their own sakes.
I should like Jesus to be there too.
I’d like the people of heaven to gather from all the parishes around.
I’d give a special welcome to the women,
the three Marys of great renown.
I’d sit with the men, the women of God,
There by the great lake of beer
We’d be drinking good health forever,
And every drop would be a prayer.
Just replace “beer” with wine and you’ve got my vote too. St. Brigid all the way
St. Brigid because her saint’s day is my birthday…and I like beer.
Julian of Norwich is very popular. Why don’t you give her another chance?
yes
yes
Yes indeed!
Nominations: Barbara, Vitus of Sicily, Sebastian, Ambrose of Milan, Lucy
Second Sebastian’s nomination.
I second Lucy. Any saint that provokes the tradition of girls wearing real lit candles on their head should definitely be in the running.
Lucy was in the 2013 bracket…
Please consider St. Francis Borgia. I do not have hopes of his winning the Golden Halo, as Mary Magdalene stands out as the exception to a strong preference for the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. However, I think that someone who overcomes his family’s infamous ecclesiatical exploitation to be a sincere Jesuit could make it to the Elate Eight if the seeding falls right.
http://hagiomajor.blogspot.com/2011/10/october-10-feast-of-saint-francis.html
St. Scholastica
St. Seraphim of Sazov
Venerable Bede
Ambrose
Sojourner Truth
Also, St. Francis of Assisi, another 2010 candidate.
Richard of Chichester. Fascinating life, reformer. The other Richard of Henry VIII era would make a fascinating crosspairing on the ladder.
Martin Luther
Venerable Bede — and the fact that I am a member of St. Bede’s in West LA has nothing to do with it.
I n0minate:
Michael Ramsey
Lev Gillet
Maria Skobtsova
Alexander Men
Christian de Cherge
Elisabeth Behr-Sigel
Sergius Bulgakov
Br. Roger of Taize
Fred Rogers
Seraphim of Sarov
Basil the Blessed
John of Kronstadt
Olivier Clement
Julian of Norwich!
Saint Martin of Tours. (Not only for his history, but also to honor the wonderful people of St. Martin’s Episcopal Church in New Bedford, MA. Love you all, and miss you greatly.)
There is a legend on that on All Saint’s Day, St. Martin goes out on earth as a great white horse, searching for an honest man, whom he then takes to Heaven for the day, where good men are given food and drink, and the time to do the work their hearts are set upon.
http://www.unz.org/Pub/Century-1925jun-00238?View=PDFPages
Thomas Ken
George Augustus Selwyn
Mikael Agricola
and when will Perpetua be eligible again?
Roger Williams founder of Rhode Island who stood for religious freedom for all. Newport has the first Synagog established in the new world.
I’d like to nominate the two saints from the Orthodox churches:
St. Philopater Mercurius.
St. Demiana and her 40 virgins (a whole team!).
These are two of my favorite saints, and not many people have heard of them.
I nominate Corrie TenBoom. She was instrumental in saving Jews during the Holocaust. She lived in The Netherlands, I believe. It’s been a long time since I learned about her in Jr High but her courage and faith has made a lasting impression on me. The book The Hiding Place tells of her endeavors to save as many Jews as possible.
As far as I know, Corrie is not on any church calendar (which makes her ineligible for Lent Madness). But if she were in the Bracket I would vote for her in a flash! She has always been a hero of mine.
I second Corie Ten Boom – calendar scmalendar – since when does that matter to the SEC! They can do as they please! PLEASE!!!!
Your Excellencies,
I respectfully suggest that it would be fun to have a contest between the two new papal saints, John Paul II and John XXIII.
Your humble servant,
Rhee
John XXIII wins hands down.
Rhee stole my thunder, but I second or third or whatever it is by now John Paul II and John XXIII.
I totally agree – both popes/new saints!!!!
Make that fourth (at least) for John XXIII–his shaking-up of the Roman Catholic church led, I am sure, to the re-reformation of other mainline churches, the Episcopal Church included. (I have this sneaky thought that the House of Bishops or General Convention just couldn’t let our Roman brothers and sisters be more progressive than we.)
Julian of Norwich-All shall be well!
Saint Euphemia
Nominations:
Blandina and the Martyrs of Lyon
The Venerable Bede (great idea, folks – hadn’t thought of him!)
Hugh of Lincoln
Julian of Norwich
Francis of Assisi
Thanks for asking!
And what about John Chrysostom? Cranmer has been nominated.
(Oh, I forgot: Cuthbert, for a friend…..)
Dorcas
Bede
Julian of Norwich
I recommend and nominate Anna Pauline (Pauli) Murray. She was the first woman of color ordained priest of the Episcopal Church, a crusader for human rights for all, a writer, and (incidentally or not) a Lesbian who would probably be considered Transgendered in today’s understanding. Her writings indicate that she always felt like a man trapped in a woman’s body. Withal, her life attests to grace, faith, fire for the kingdom of God, and great courage. She has been approved for inclusion in TEC’s calendar of saints by General Convention, and her feast day is 1 July.
WOW! WOW! WOW!
I strongly second Pauli Murray
Macrina (the Younger): In a society where women were expected to marry and have children, Macrina refuses to remarry after her betrothed dies. She stays at home, helping her mom raise her 9 siblings, and she embraces the ascetic life, baking bread (like a servant) and dedicating herself to prayer, vigils, etc. She saves orphans, performs miracles, leads the female part of the family’s double monastery, and has an impact on her brother, Gregory of Nyssa (and, according to Gregory, on Basil the Great, too).
Gregory of Nazianzus: A fourth century bishop who never wanted to be a leader, Gregory was forced into the episcopate by his father and friend, Basil the Great. Gregory’s theological orations had tremendous impact on Trinitarian and Christological debates at the time, but his love of poetry (which he himself composed) as well as his dedication to his family merit equal consideration. He showed that one can lead the church while still caring for family–a mama’s boy, he cared for his extraordinarily old parents until their death, and he praised his (married!) sister as well as his brother, father, and mother in three splendid funeral orations. He also revealed that theological prowess doesn’t preclude love of art/poetry/beauty. He also could be dramatic! After demonstrating his lack of political acumen at the Council of Constantinople, Gregory practiced silence, not speaking during Lent of 382.
St James of Jerusalem
Saint John
Which one?
I nominate Hildegard Von Bingen.
Second!
I was just coming here to put in a nomination, so … thirded! I listened to BBC’s Great Lives Podcast a few months ago and they covered her life, which was so interesting, plus her achievements were pretty extraordinary for the time.
And Dunstan!
Some nominations to consider:
Augustine
Bede
Thomas Aquinas
John Calvin
Charles Spurgeon (he would despise such a tournament)
And finally, one of my favorite preachers and teachers…
Fulton Sheen
Lancelot Andrews, John Donne, Hannah More, Dorothy Sayers, Verna Dozier
Bishop Kemper
John Mason Neale and Margaret of Antioch
Kathy Hartley, Thurgood Marshall is considered a saint with a feast day, no less! And I enthusiastically second his nomination!!!
Egria (4th century pilgrim)
Monica (mother of Augustine)
Marcina the Elder (mother of Basil)
Macrina the Younger (granddaughter of Macrina the Elder)
Christine de Pizan
Margery Kempe
Marguerite Porete
Second Margery Kempe and Marguerite Porete….
Yes! Kempe and Porete are fascinating. I’ll “third”!
I’d have nominated Porete myself but didn’t think she was on anyone’s calendar, what with her ah burning desire to sidestep the authority of the official church of her time and continue telling people about God anyways.
I’d like to see St. Alban, Britain’s first Christian known by name and first martyr. How about one of those unnamed saints in John: The Man Born Blind or The Woman at the Well.
I should like to nominate Susannah Wesley, mother of this year’s winner Charles and nominee John. Wife of Anglican priest Samuel Wesley and a woman clearly ahead of her time in education and influence, this mother of 19 children was the primary influence in the lives of Charles and John. She also kept the congregations of husband Samuel Wesley moving along when he spent his time in debtors prison. Never at a loss for advice, Susannah even chastised her son John for not allowing circuit riding women to be called preachers. Some of them, she claimed, were better than her beloved John at proclaiming the Gospel. Clearly, without her the Methodist movement may never have had the impact it did.
Tom Penna, I thank you. I teach US History in high school, and every year I tell me students that my church celebrates Thurgood Marshall, and I share his life story as part of our study of Brown vs Topeka Board of Education. Hopefully the kids are impressed!
I’m so pleased to hear of your efforts with your students, Kathy! We hear so much invective these days aimed at public servants. I believe we should be celebrating them! And Thurgood Marshall is an excellent and praiseworthy example.
Tikhon, Patriarch of Russia, Confessor, and Ecumenist – April 7
Mary(Molly) Brant (Konwatsijayemi), Witness to the Faith Among Mohawks – April 16
Jon Hus, Witness and Martyr – July 6
Hildegard – September 17
Teresa of Avila, Nun – October 15
Therese of Avila, “nun”? Just nun? She is a doctor of the church!
Mary Brant, yeah!
I humbly propose for your consideration:
Frances Joseph Gaudet
St Thomas the Apostle
Thomas a Kempis
Julian of Norwich
I nominate Alban–First English Martyr. I believe he would stand bravely against any bracketorial (saintly) adversary.
Bede
Sojourner Truth (my favorite heroine)
John Donne
James Weldon Johnson
Jan Hus
Washington Gladden
Count von Zinzendorf (for my supposed Moravian ancestors.
I’d like to nominate Paul Tillich. I hope the Supreme Executive Committee will consider this.
YES!
Nominations:
Venerable Bede
Francis of Assisi
St. George
Roger of Taize
John Wycliffe
William Tyndale
J.R.R. Tolkien (yes I am serious)
Margery Kempe
Brigid of Kildare
St. Swithun
George Fox
Edith Stein
Meister Eckhart
Hildegard of Bingen
St. Anne the mother of Mary
I also support the many who would add Fred Rogers.
I’d like to nominate Paul Tillich. I hope the Supreme Executive Committee will carefully consider this nomination.
I see several names up above that I would consider voting for. Here are my nominations:
1. Martin Luther King, Jr.
2. Martin Luther
3. Mother Theresa
I consider Walt Disney and Jim Hensen to be saints, but doubt they have been canonized by anybody.
St. Francis of Assisi. Come on folks!
Well, we’ve talked about Fred Rogers, so, lets do it. And why not include his friend to be his neighbor on the list…Fr. Charles Cesaretti.
Yes indeed
Yes indeed, and thank you Carol. Excellent idea.
John Donne
Julian of Norwich
How about St. Stephen, Deacon and first Christian martyr.
Second!! Second!! Second!! (And of course no connection to my serving a church named St. Stephen’s…!)
Nicholas Ferrar
Bishop Edward King of Lincoln
Saint Panteleimon. one of the holy unmercenary physicians (July 27)
Saint Nicholas of Myra
Being very new to this I haven’t a clue what “Your comment is awaiting moderation” means.
It means, dear friend in Christ, that the SEC is going to have a look-see @ your comment before posting but hey I’ve been wrong before…….
Monica (mother of Augustine)
Pope John Paul II
I see my favorite saint of all time, Jonathan Daniels, is ineligible. So I propose a couple of other favorites, Hildegard of Bingen and Julian of Norwich, both smart women. Hildegard was named by Pope B
Ein edict a doctor of the church, in 2012. About time.
As for Julian, I found a revealing essay by a recent biographer/translator, here:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mirabai-starr/julian-of-norwich_b_4115736.html
Definitely intend to pick up her book!
Eleanor Roosevelt.
Oohh, I hadn’t thought of St. Swithun. He should get a turn
I also support Pauli Murray and suggest Elisabeth of Hungary.
I nominate John Muir and Francis of Assisi.
a good pair, Muir and Francis of Assisi
Julian of Norwich, please, please, please!
As an affiliate of the Order of Julian of Norwich, I’d add several more PLEASEs.
Spending time with Theresa of Avilla, I’m convinced that she should become the patron saint of Attention Deficit Disorder and Fibromyalgia. Though most folk with this combination of difficulties are never able to achieve in conventional ways, I think she deserves a shot.
Josephine Butler, on the CofE calendar was an amazing woman for her and any other time, 1828-1906. Before women had the vote she, CoE clergy spouse, abhorred “the sin” and yet among other things she was a tireless advocate on behalf of prostitutes held nearly captive by oppressive “health” laws which she said in a public forum were akin to “surgical rape” and a double standard which led to the laws being repealed. She’s on the CoE calendar Lesser Feasts for May 30 and Dec 30. She said that “God and one woman make a majority.” Please just read her bio even if not nominated. She well deserves to be known better.
Here are my thoughts for contenders for 2015 Golden Halo:
The “alive and well” Pope Francis
The Rt. Rev. William Hobart Hare
Any of the writers of the Gospels that have not been contenders
Frederick Douglass
Wm. Mayo
Chas. Menninger
Enmegahbowh
Is there a rule about nominations being only singleton?
I would really like to vote for Team Enmegahbowh: the man himself AND his get ‘er done lady Iron Sky Woman. For clergy spouses everywhere.
St. Madeline Sophie Barat, R.S.C.J. One of my favorites (I named my daughter after her).
And St. Jude.
I also second Julian of Norwich!
Hey Jude(sorry about that, I couldn’t resist quoting the Beatles!), good nomination! My mom named me for the same saint only I got the french spelling. C’est la vie.
Paul of Tarsus
Jan Huss
The Venerable Bede
St. Columba
Joan of Arc
Jane Addams
Yes! Joan of Arc, also Anne Frank and G. F. Handel.
Julian of Norwich – Can hardly believe she was never nominated or won long since.
St. Bernadette of Lourdes.
And lovely purple tee-shirts. I promise to buy one, maybe two.
For sure !
Also St. George
Susanna Wesley
The Venerable Bede
Fred Rogers
Yes yes yes!
Polycarp, my alltime favorite
Brigid of Ireland
Patrick
Columba
Cuthbert
Clare
Francis of Assisi
I would nominate (humbly): Frances Willard, Ida B. Wells, and Jane Addams.
Wonderful nominations so far. Lent Madness 2015 will be great. Thanks for this special Lenten devotional, which is both fun and inspirational.
I nominate, or second the nominations of:
Cecilia
Philander Chase
Paul Jones
Prodence Crandall
And remembering all those who have been kidnapped in Nigeria,
nominate one who was, also: Samuel Ajayi Crowther
St. Bede- It’s time to bring sexy back
Pair him with Mechthilde of Magdeburg and no one will get any rest…!
Maximillian Kolbe
Tikhon of Moscow
Elizabeth Seton
Ananias (the one who visited Paul when he was blind)
Lucy
Monica
Dame Julian of Norwich
William Tyndale
My nominations would include Fred Rogers, Sojourner Truth, and Father Gregory Boyle of Homeboy Industries (<— Can they still be alive? Probably not. Well, Father G gets a good mention at least).
Absalom Jones
I nominate St. Hugh of Lincoln. Because he’s the patron saint of managers (which I are one), and he spoke up against the authority of the day.
Oh, but if we can nominate other church’s saints I nominate: Thérèse of Lisieux (The Little Flower)
Yes, I was surprised and disappointed to discover that Therese of Lisieux (one of the three women who are doctors of the Catholic Church) is no where to be found on the Episcopal calendar. The Little Way that she articulated has meant so much to me.
She was actually up against St. Theresa in 2013
St. George! Patron saint of England, Greece, and other countries of note.
NOW they tell us they have Charles Wesley tote bags! That would have been infinitely more useful than the two mugs I ordered. What to do?
BUT–now for my nomination: Hildegard von Bingen!
Hildegard, definitely, even if we have to chant it!
I agree with this one for sure. Hildegard!! and of course Fred Rogers. And kevin of Ireland
Of course, Kevin of Ireland!!
I would like to nominate:
Saint Oscar Arnulfo Romero (1917-1980)
and
The Martyrs of Uganda (1886)
Unfortunately, Saint Romero got robbed last year – I don’t think he is eligible for a couple years now.
And how about St. Photine of Samaria – the “woman at the well” in the Gospel of John? She has a whole backstory in the Orthodox Churches (http://orthodoxwiki.org/Photine_of_Samaria), including five sisters and two sons; in that story she travels to Carthage to evangelize and is eventually martyred under Nero. She’s called “the First Evangelist” for her actions in that story; her name means “enlightened one.”
(While we’re at it, maybe another Evangelist this year? Mark hasn’t been nominated, I don’t think…..)
Good nomination!
I nominate St. Anne. She was on the list last year but she is not on the ineligible list. Jesus’ Grandma deserves a second chance!
My two cats, Humphrey Chimpden Earwicker Gilbert and Anna Livia Plurabelle Gilbert, respectfully submit St. Gertrude of Nivelles, patron saint of cats for nomination. Their little hearts were so disappointed this year that she wasn’t in the bracket.
My nominations are John Muir, St Augustine of Canterbury, and Hildegard of Bingen.
I second (third?) Julian of Norwich and Teresa of Avila. I also second Fred Rogers and Oscar Romero. And I nominate Hadewijch.
My nominations are St. George, Patron Saint of England, and St. Thomas Aquinas. Thank you.
Constance and Her Companions:
Ruth, Thecla, Frances, Hughetta, Louis and Charles
Yes to Fred Rogers.
Also Sojourner Truth adn Frederick Douglass.
And Venerable Bede — all right, I have mentioned him before. But he is worth mentioning him again.
Elizabeth Seton
Martin Luther
Philip Melanchton
Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Abraham Lincoln
St. Francis of Assisi, please.
I agree,, St. Francis of Assisi!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
How about Walter Raushenbusch/Adoniram Judson/Roger Williams
Damien of Molokai
I second Damien of Molokai.
Florence Nightingale
St. Andrew
Thea Bowman
Mary Breckinridge
and Queen Elizabeth I of England — we wouldn’t be Anglicans without her!
St. Martin de Porres
St. Rose of Lima
Madeleine l’Engle
Greetings Ann, good call. I’m embarrassed that in my enthusiasm over you-know-who, I clean forgot not only the Queen her ownself, but our own dear St. Andrew. Sheeeesh! See you Sunday.
From one of the choristers to one of our best acolytes,
I remain,
Very embarrassed,
Madeleine
Elizabeth Huntington Dyer, the first woman lay deputy to General Convention in 1946. Pauli Murray. Frances Willard.
Monica
yesyesyesyesyesyes!!!!!!
Ooooops, I meant this for the QEI nomination!
SecondSecondSecondSecond!!
Edith Cavell
I would like to nominate Eliza Shirley, who at the age of 16 brought the Salvation Army to the United States (Philadelphia) from England. While the Salvation Army doesn’t have a church calendar, I don’t think, she is an important figure in the history of the S.A.
Toyohiko Kagawa, Gregory the Illuminator (in honor of 100th anniversary of Armenian Genocide in 2015), Geoffrey Studdert Kennedy, Walter Rauschenbusch, Andrei Rublev
I would like to nominate John Woolman, the American “Quaker Saint.” Also the priest-poet, Gerard Manley Hopkins. I would agree to Fred Rogers. Many others are good, too, but I didn’t see Woolman or Hopkins among the nominees so far.
Hildegard of Bingen
Henri Nouwen
Damien of Molokai for sure!!
I have two nominations from the pages of Holy Women, Holy Men:
Adelaide Teague Case, (commemoration on July 19), outstanding Christian educator and the first woman professor in an Episcopal or Anglican seminary.
Lillian Hunt Trasher (commemoration on December 19), known as “Mother of the Nile” in caring for nearly 25,000 Egyptian orphans over the course of half a century, with virtually her sole source of support her cheerful and unwavering faith in the grace of God. She could be considered the “poster child” for Matthew 6:25 ff.
St. Brigid of Kildare
St. Teresa of Avila
St. Hildegard of Bingen
St. Gertrude
Deborah (Judges 4–5)
Second the nomination of Bp Jackson Kemper!
Also, Mary Sumner, founder of the Mothers’ Union, which began in her husband’s parish of Old Alresford in Hampshire, eventually spreading to the Diocese of Winchester, then through dioceses in Great Britain, and ultimately into the British Empire, most notably in Canada, India, and New Zealand. It was both a simple idea (calling mothers together to offer mutual support) and also a radical one (mixing social classes and identifying motherhood as a profession of great importance). She remained president of the Mothers’ Union well into her 90s, and was instrumental in using the Mothers’ Union to rebuild Britain after WWI. She is commemorated on the liturgical calendars of a number of provinces of the Anglican Communion on August 9.
Richard Allen; Paul Jones; Harriet Starr Cannon; George Kennedy Allen Bell
David Pendleton Oakerhater
Gregor Mendel – i know he’s not on any calendar, but he should be!
John Muir
Vida Dutton Scudder
I’m curious – for what do you use the money gathered from the sale of all those saintly items ?
Brendan the Navigator
Fred Rogers, please. Pedro Arrupe. Saint Ignatius of Loyola. Is Florence
Nightingale eligible?
My nominees (Science has been woefully underrepresented in the past
Pierre Teilhard de Chardin
Nicolaus Copernicus, and Johannes Kepler
Dorothy Hodgins
Marie and Pierre Curie
Second them all
I take comfort from the writings of two saintly women:
St Julian of Norwich…”and all manner of things shall be well”
St Therese of Lisieux … “May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be…”
AND….both of these will have a plethora of kitsch for added fun and reflection!
I nominate Etheldreda, the namesake of the SHN nun who instructed me in Anglicanism lo these many years ago!
Also, Esther and Judith, valiant Old Testament women.
Jacob Riis
John Mason Neale, founder of the Society of St. Margaret and prolific translator and hymnal-contributor
Have you ever considered St. Columba who began the abbey on Iona?
And perhaps a female nun from the Iona nunnery though I do not know any names … maybe others do.
Bishop Jackson Kemper. As the Episcopal Church’s first missionary bishop, his jurisdiction eventually covered Indiana, Missouri, Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota, Kansas and Nebraska. He was the presider at conventions that created several Midwestern dioceses, before he became Bishop of Wisconsin, where he founded additional institutions. He’s also the namesake of the new Bishop Kemper School for Ministry educating lay people and clergy for four dioceses that he helped create about 150 years ago.
Seconded from the Diocese of West Missouri
St George patron saint of England
I nominate John Muir!
St. Raphael of Brooklyn! The Christians from/in the Middle East are widely unknown/misunderstood in the West (who knows why?). St. Raphael helped establish the first orthodox churches in America for Middle Eastern immigrants to this country. Today the Christian community in The Holy Land/Middle East is rapidly shrinking for a variety of reason – all the more reason to include St. Raphael. See more here: http://orthodoxwiki.org/Raphael_of_Brooklyn
More Celtic saints-Patrick, Cuthbert, Columba
Matthew and Mark
Madeleine L’Engle
Yes! thank you — I was trying to remember her!
I second Madeleine L’Engle.
Me too. “a wrinkle in time” was decades ahead of its time!(plus how many authors have the same name, with the same spelling, as yours truly?)
For Lent Madness, 2015, consider including Dame Julian of Norwich.
I would like to nominate Verna Dozier, long time school teacher, lay preacher and theologian who espoused social justice before it was a buzz word. I heard her speak once and was highly moved by her message.
I nominate Canon David Gibson of Chicago, Illinois
In the 50’s he was studied as a saint in our Sunday School curriculum. I met him in his church when I was little. My mother told me he had been a business man and then felt God calling him to the priesthood and that when he prayed for someone he prayed until he got an answer to his prayers. He was known and well loved by people who needed guidance and help.
Teresa of Avila
St. Kinga aka Cunegunda–what an awesome name!
Henry Suso (carved Jesus’s name on his chest)
Peter Verona (is depicted with an axe in his head)
Henri Nouwen
Josephine Bakhita
Kateri Tekakwitha
Isaac Jogues
Once again I recommend St. Fiacre. He is one of the Irish monks who “Saved Civilization” by bringing Christian knowledge back to the European continent during the Dark Ages, in his case, to France. He is often depicted with a shovel propped before him, and is considered a patron saint of gardeners. Great legends, great kitch. Check him out!
Gregory Palamas, Maximus the Confessor
I nominate Saint James of Jerusalem. I am not certain, but, I thought he ran the first church council, The Council of Jerusalem. He died a martyr.
Dear SEC,
– The Blessed Virgin Mary,
– Saint John the Evangelist,
And why not put a Canadian on the Bracket this year like:
– Archbishop Robert Machray, first Primate of all Canada
– Bishop Charles Inglis, first Bishop in British North America
Kateri Tekawitha
You go, Kateri.
So, I’m confused. Is Fred Rogers’ dog eligible or not?
Verna Dozier
I nominate Mary Flannery O’Conner who wrote some of the deepest and thought provoking Christian Fiction of the 20th century while in the final throws of the insidious disease Lupus. She passed at age 39 after providing a great body of work.
Dorcas
St Teresa of Avila
Hildegarde of Bingen
Augustine of Hippo
St. Hydroc
St. Therese of Lisieux
Candidates I would like to see:
Cesar Auguste Franck (not a saint, but was a great and very devout church musician)
St. Caecilia, patroness of the musicians
St. John Paul II
St. Christophorus (or Christopher)
respectfully submitted,
Andres
Michelangelo, Toyohiko Kagawa, Philipp Melanchthon, Jan Hus, Dag Hammarskjöld, Katharina von Bora Luther, Martyrs of Japan
I want to add:
St. Benedict! Ora et labora!
Priscilla, aka “Prisca” (July 8 on the RC calendar)
Brigid (Feb 2)
Julian of Norwich (May 8)
John Donne (March 31)
Isaac Watts (November 26)
Thurgood Marshall (May 17)
John Woolman (Quakers don’t have calendars, but he would be on it if they did.)
Harriet Starr (May 7)
I want to add:
St. Benedict! Ora et labora!
Sister Emily Cooper, Deaconess, who named and baptized children who would have been forgotten. She was named the director of The Home of the Innocents in Louisville, Kentucky in 1880 by the Bishop of Kentucky, Benjamin Bosworth Smith. The Home was a place for the care of sick, abandoned or abused children. Many children were abandoned there, unnamed. She gave each of these children Christian names and assisted at the baptisms of 244 children. (From Holy Women, Holy Men – March 28)
St. Florian is the patron saint of firefighters. I think his fans could generate a little heat in the competition.
Well, I don’t exactly know what a sanctoral calendar is, but I nominate Clarence Jordan – if he isn’t on such a calendar he should be! Clarence founded Koinonia Farm, an interracial Christian community – in Georgia in the 1940s. As you can imagine, much persecution ensued. Clarence also translated much of the New Testament into a version called Cotton Patch. Through Clarence’s inspiration, Habitat for Humanity eventually came about.
Elizabeth of Hungary
Pope John 23rd
St. Nicholas
St. Isaac Jogues
Pope Francis (Do you have to be dead?)
Damien of Molokai
Kateri Tekakwitha
Brendan the Navigator
St. Norbert
St. Juan Diego
Coach K from Duke University! (JK)
I nominate a few obscure saints: Serafina of San Gimignano, San Galgano. Serafina had visions and San Galgano gave up knighthood, slamming his sword into a stone. I don’t have time right now to give you all the background on these two, but I’ll send it later when I’m not at my secular job.
Pax et bonum,
Ellen
Suggest Dr. Paul Farmer–What he did in Haiti and continues to do has all the marks of Sainthood.
St. Francis of Assisi
St. Columba
St. Waldef of Northumbria
St. Barnabus
Thomas Ken, Bishop of Bath and Wells who stood up faithfully to monarchs and even his fellow Non-Jurors, but especially for giving us “Praise God from whom all blessings flow” without which we would be unable to receiving offerings in the Episcopal Church. (As part of the hymn, “All praise to thee, my God, this night”)
Well shut the Front Door, I am impressed by the nominations I’ve seen here!
See, I’m not as single-minded as the SEC thinks I am, another nomination that comes to mind is St. Drogo. Among other things, he was capable of tending his flocks AND being at church. Simultaneously. No really!
So, in addition to You Know Who, I nominate St. Drogo.
Peace out,
Madeleine
I would like to nominate Florence Nightingale
St. Thomas the Apostle — popular for all of us with occasional doubts.
And for the children in all of us, Good King Wenceslaus.
Dame Julian of Norwich
The Right Reverends: Irving Mayson, John Burgess
The Reverends: Fred Williams, Quin Gordon, Alexander Crummell, Tollie Caution, Adolpho Birch, Bravid Harris
St. Pope John XXIII
St. Pope Paul VI (to be canonized Oct., 2014)
St. Pope John Paul. (John could vs. Paul with a winner possibly going against John Paul
St. George (to go against St. John Paul–3 of the Beatles’ names)
St. Jude
St. Theresa of Avila vs St. Therese of Lisieux ( “Big” Therese versus “”Little” Therese)
St. Patrick
St. Patricia
St. Francis of Assisi vs. St. France’s Cabrini
St. Laura
Julian of Norwich
St. Bernadette Souborous
St. Peter (of the Bible) [1st Pope in Roman Catholic tradition–against other Pope saints could cause some holy angst]
Or could have St. Peter vs. St. Paul
St. Dominic
St. Felicity
St. Genesius, patron saint of actors
Second this one too! Used to have a St. Genesius medal back when I was involved in theatre
Phoebe
Teresa of Avila
Teresa of Lisieux
Julian of Norwich
St Stephen
Hildegard von Bingen
St Brigid
Tom Dooley
St Ignasius
St Helen (mother of Constantine)
St Francis of Assisi
So glad someone finally nominated Benedict of Nursia, so definitely second that one, as well as:
Bede
Hildegard
Francis of Assisi
And how about Caedmon, for all the poets out there.
Two great hymn translators: Catherine Winkworth, translator of hundreds of German hymns (Jesus Priceless Treasure; Now Thank We All Our God; Praise to the Lord, The Almighty, the King of Creation) and John Mason Neale, hundreds of Latin hymns (O Come O Come Emmanuel; Good Christian Friends Rejoice; All Glory Laud and Honor). They share July 1st as feast day in Evangelical Lutheran Worship. Without them our hymnals would be thinner and poorer.
Saint Simeon of Jerusalem
Thecla (Ancient Greek: Θέκλα) was a saint of the early Christian Church, and a reported follower of Paul the Apostle
Salome (Hebrew: שלומית, Shelomit), was a follower of Jesus. Her feast day in the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic Church is October 22 [9] and in the Calendar of Saints of the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod on August 3 with Joanna and Mary
Miriam -sister of Moses & Aaron
I think an ultimate nomination for Lent is St. John Climacus.
Others:
Athanasios (Athanasius) the Great aka of Alexandria
St. Damien of Molokai
St. John the 23rd
The Sanctified Seven:
1. Julian of Norwich (Anglican)
2. Hildegard of Bingen (Roman Catholic)
3. Oskar Schindler (Orthodox Catholic Church of America)
4. Thérèse of Lisieux (Roman Catholic)
5. Christina Rossetti (Anglican)
6. Joan of Arc (Roman Catholic)
7. Scholastica (Roman Catholic)
I second the nominations of Francis of Assisi and Martin of Tours, and respectfully suggest ST. NICHOLAS of Myra.
I second nomination of Madeleine L’Engle
None
Richard Meux Benson, founder, Society of St, John the Evangelist (SSJE)
William Porcher DuBose, theologian
St. Bernadette, visionary (Our Lady of Lourdes)
St. Juan Diego, visionary (Our Lady of Guadalupe)
Anna Pauline Murray … But, “All will be well” if Jullian of Norwich is nominated!
Without any attempt at justification, five names is excessive, ten names is outrageous, fifteen names with only sixtyfour total in a bracket is only gumming the works. This is supposed to be fun but do some homework.
From the article itself: “Also, please note that the saints you nominate should be in the sanctoral calendar of one or more churches.” In other words, we’re talking about people who’ve already been declared saints.
Which means that “justification” isn’t really necessary; the main object here is to learn more about the saints of the church. Many of these people are from very distant times and places, and Lent Madness helps bring their names and lives back to our consciousness – which is a very good thing, I think.
And, yes: it’s fun.
Francis of Assisi
Brigid
Anne Hutchinson
John Donne
Julian of Norwich
Joan of arc
Roger Williams
Thea Bowman all the way!
Also, St. Elizabeth of Hungary
Edith Stein of Germany
St Brigid of Kildare
Saint Seraphim. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seraphim_of_Sarov
Seraphim of Sarov – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
en.wikipedia.org
Saint Seraphim of Sarov (Russian: Серафим Саровский) (1 August [O.S. 19 July] 17…See More
Julie Billiart!
To appeal to Scott and Forward Movement’s hometown, she founded the sisters of Mount Notre Dame de Namur, who, upon sending sisters to the United States, based themselves in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Also Julian of Norwich, Elizabeth of Hungary, Cecilia, and the Dorchester Chaplains.
why does it keep saying “leave a reply to RHEE”? anyway- as always FRED ROGERS,,,and PLEASE no POPE contest. i would NEVER, as an Episcopalian in good standing since birth, walk around with a Pope mug or tote.
Linda, I hear you loud and clear(and I was Catholic for 23 years, I’m a born-again Anglican and completely happy to be so)!
Franklin Delano Roosevelt
Yes! I think FDR would be a grand choice, also Winston Churchill
Two, please. Franklin Delano Roosevelt and Eleanor Roosevelt.
Anselm of Canterbury/Aosta/Bec
Any active or retired servicemember should be able to appreciate a saint with multiple “addresses”
Two come to mind, Pope John 23rd, and Fred Rogers
I just remembered another worthy candidate: Albert Switzer
Cuthbert of Lindisfarne
Aidan of Lindisfarne
Columba of Iona
Notice the pattern?
In addition to Hildegard, St. Paschal–patron saint of those of us who cook.
St. Jarlath – was an Irish priest and scholar from Connacht, remembered as the founder of the monastic School of Tuam and patron saint of the Archdiocese of Tuam.
Also…
St. Brigid of Kildare
St. Hildegard of Bingen… who described herself as a “feather on the breath of God”.
St. Brigid of Kildare
Hildegard von Bingen
Fred Rogers
Anne and Joachim – grandparents of Jesus
St. Joseph
St. Cecilia
Lucy
J.R.R. Tolkien
St. Nicholas of Myra
Madeleine L’Engle
Christina Rossetti
Saint John XXIII
Elizabeth of Hungary
Joseph, the father of Jesus
Mary Townsend
A pair of obscureish, twin saints: Sergius and Bacchus (Oct 7 in the Orthodox Church) might be an interesting one for people to learn more about.
How about John Paul II? Wasn’t he just officially made a saint by the Roman Catholic Church? I also nominate Queen Elizabeth I of England.
Go Elizabeth I!!
Archangel St. Rapheal! He answered my prayers and brought me my wife!
Martha Washington, who could be in holy women, holy men based on her faith practices and the role it played in her life.
Anselm of Canterbury; faith seeking understanding FTW!
Definitely one of my favorite saints: Dame Julian of Norwich and also Saint Teresa of Avila both of whom are written up most indearingly in Carol Lee Flinders great book: Enduring
Grace subtitled Living Portraits of of Women Mystics (1993).
Enmegahbowh, the first Native American to be ordained a priest in the Episcopal Church in the United States.
Bishop Henry Whipple, the first Episcopal Bishop in Minnesota, a humanitarian and an advocate for Native Americans.
Father Damien of Moloka’i, known for his ministry to people with leprosy who were quarantined on the island of Moloka’i in Hawaii.
Edith Stein
St. Bridget. Her feast day is February 1st.
BROTHER LAWRENCE – interesting fellow: sought a place where he could suffer for his failures. He thus entered the Discalced Carmelite monastery in Paris. We could all suffer there. Despite his lowly position in life and the priory, his character attracted many to him. He had a reputation for experiencing profound peace and visitors came to seek spiritual guidance from him. The wisdom he passed on to them, in conversations and in letters, would later become the basis for the book, The Practice of the Presence of God. (All from Wikipedia)
ANNE HUTCHINSON – A doer , not a dummy.
“Her strong religious convictions were at odds with the established Puritan clergy in the Boston area, and her popularity and charisma helped create a theological schism that threatened to destroy the Puritans’ religious experiment in New England. She was eventually tried and convicted, then banished from the colony with many of her supporters.”
(above from Wikipedia)
Nominations:
St Columba
Hildegard of Bingen
Eglantine Jebb
Octavia Hill
Oscar Romero
Mary Sumner
Wiiliam Temple
Brother Andre of Montreal.
I nominate the Rev. Vivian Redlich, one of the Martyrs of New Guinea: a young missionary who, having been sent away from his post to recover from an illness, returned to be with his flock at Sangara, an area being shelled by Japanese warships. He celebrated Holy Communion with the members of his congregation, and wrote to his father that, “If I don’t come out of it, just rest content that I have tried to do my job faithfully.” He was killed there in 1942, not by the Japanese, as was originally thought, but members of an indigenous tribe with whom he and his staff had taken shelter.
Hildegard of Bingen
Fanny Crosby….for SO many reasons…..
At the risk of stating the obvious, I’d just like to point out that if kitsch potential is a criterion, St. Bernadette should be a shoe-in. Nobody does it better than Lourdes.
In the spirit of this year’s match-up between the Wesley brothers, and offering a chance to ponder the deep and lasting significance of two roughly contemporaneous church reformers, who helped open the blessings and joys and fullness of the Christian faith to the individual:
Jan Hus vs. John Wycliffe
As for brothers–why not Boris and Gleb?
With all the world focusing on Ukraine, how about St. Olga of Kiev? She was the first person in Ukraine to convert to Christianity.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olga_of_Kiev
Queen Elizabeth I. Without her there would be no us (flip, but true!)
In honor of her 500th birthday next year, I nominate Teresa of Avila, or Santa Teresa de Jesus.
Cuthbert
Aidan
Columba
Julian of Norwich
Fred Rogers
St. Agatha
Teresa of Avila
Princess Elizabeth of Hungary would be a good addition to this list – my cousin just reminded me of her.
Polycarp
John Chrysostom
Dominic (founder of the Dominicans)
Mother Elizabeth Anne Seton
Kateri Tekakwitha
Ambrose
Augustine of Hippo
John XXIII
John Paul II
Albert the Great
Damian of Molokai
St. Benedict
Louis Pasteur
Gregory the Great
Walter Sullivan (past and late bishop of Richmond)
Thomas Aquinas
Patrick
Ignatius of Antioch
John Paul I
St. Francis of Assisi
St Lucia (it’s Lucia not Lucy – Dec 13th)
I join those who would like to see Hildegard get another shot at the Golden Halo.
I also nominate John of Damascus (Dec 4) whose defense of icons and religious art echoes through the centuries.
I also encourage the SEC to consider following the example of our Orthodox brothers and sisters in adding some saints from the Hebrew Bible into the mix. (I’d commend Abraham and Isaiah, among others).
And if you cave to the pressure to add those who are not currently commemorated in a sanctoral calendar, then Jael gets my vote.
I nominate
1. The Venerable Bede
2. Roger Louis Schutz-Marsauche of Taize worship
3. Pandita Mary Ramabai
4. Fred Rogers
Dear Virginia,
Thank you for your support!
Peace out,
Madeleine
Krister Stendahl, Harvey Cox, and Amy-Jill Levine come to mind as possible candidates for the Golden Halo.
A saint with a sure ladder to success (and perfect for my wife who works on that class of inventions at the USPTO): John Climacus or John of the Ladder on the Orthodox list of saints
“Die Lutheran” & the “Morning Star of Wittenberg”: Katharina von Bora Luther – voting for her should be as easy as shooting fish in a herring barrel
Lutheran grudge match: Philipp Melanchthon (some controversy for being too ecumenical but liked by 90%+ of Lutherans) vs. Martin Chemnitz (beloved by confessional Lutherans, only on LCMS calendar)
A fighting Lutheran (sort of): Eivind Berggrav
My full communion pick (For Moravians and the ELCA): Jan Hus
Lutheran Redux (been there done that but still a favorite…for some):
Martin Luther
Irene the Great Martyr.
Gustavus Adolphus
Henry, Bishop of Uppsala, Missionary to Finland
Erik IX of Sweden
Nathan Soderblom, Archbishop of Sweden, 1930 Peace Prize
Dag Hammarskjold
Narcissa and/or Marcus Whitman, medical missionaries and martyrs in Oregon
Father Damien of Molokai, who aided the lepers, until he died as one
St. Hildegard of Bingen
Julian of Norwich
William Hobart Hare, Bishop of Niobrara and South Dakota
Margurite d’Youville–first Canadian born saint, and responsible for an awful lot of good in New France.
Dame Julian of Norwich
Teresa of Avila
Fred Rogers
Oscar Romero and the Martyrs of El Salvador
Francis of Assisi
Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Agnes of Rome — poor girl, who had to grow her hair really fast to cover her naked body — and now has to suffer all those tourists gawking at her skull.
Phyllis Tickle — theologian — campaigning for Christianity to have a very much needed clean out of outdated ideas and emerge better for the next 500 years.
250+ comments and a sizable number of them clamoring for the inclusion of Fred Rogers as a 2015 candidate for the Golden Halo award. I still relish Eddie Murphy’s take-off on Mr. Rogers Neighborhood as being much, much better…..as in “He-wo, boys and guls !” Well, SEC are you men or mice??? Has Madeleine B. finally worn you guys down? For shame Padres !!!
“He wo” Aleathia(couldn’t resist that!),
I seriously doubt that I have worn the padre’s down….I got a rather snarky email from Fr. Tim informing me that I was beginning to irritate him because of my persistence and please stop. I responded that hey, I’m sorry but once I tilt my lance it stays tilted! I choose my windmills carefully though. The SEC knows, or should know by now, that getting me to un-tilt my lance is remarkably easy. Just. Put. Fred. Rogers. In. The. Bloomin’. Bracket. Do that simple thing and I promise to un-tilt my lance. How hard is it??
this is for Aleathia…comparing eddie murphy’s skit to the real mr. rogers is just wrong.
“He-wo” Linda(sorry, couldn’t resist),
Sorry, I can’t agree. Eddie Murphy is a very funny man! He is using the gifts that God gave him and I think that Fred Rogers would approve, in keeping with one of his most enduring messages ie: “people can like you just the way you are.”
Peace out,
Madeleine
St Aelrod
Nelson Mandela
Brother Lawrence of Practice the Presence of God fame
Fred Rogers
Bishop Tutu
I nominate the following:
Francis of Assisi,
James the Apostle, Bishop of Jerusalem, and
Mother Teresa
Life is a bit too busy to try thinking about nominations, and I bet many good ones are in the long thread above!
Just an idea to the SEC for creating the bracket .. I’ve participated a couple times on a blog to choose a great city to visit. After nominations, a preliminary round determines the seeding. This year’s contest’s preliminary round post .. http://foxnomad.com/2014/03/04/best-city-visit-travel-tournament-2014-preliminary-voting/
It’d put the bracket czar out of work, but just an idea to toss around at the SEC convention. Cheers!
St. Barnabus, Julian of Norwich
Absalom Jones
St. Stephen
St. Andrew
Harvey Milk!
Yes! Harvey Milk!!! Why hadn’t I thought of him!!!
Sir (Saint?) Thomas More (“The King’s Good Servant but God’s First”) .
A Man for All Seasons portrayed him well as a strong spiritual leader, who was executed for refusing to endorse King Henry VIII’s divorce from Katherine of Aragon in order to marry Anne Boleyn.
This is for Aleathia and Linda,
Back in the 80’s, Fred Rogers was in New York appearing on the Letterman and had an opportunity to visit the SNL set. When he knocked on Eddie Murphy’s door, they talked for a while and Fred told Eddie how much he enjoyed watching his alter ego! It’s all there, you can look it up under “Eddie Murphy Fred Rogers”!
So. If Fred Rogers doesn’t have a problem being spoofed, …..the defense rests. But only on this point ha ha haaaaaa!
Martin Luther King Jr.
I nominate Margaret of Cortona. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Margaret_of_Cortona
She is less known Italian saint from the middle ages, but not only is this bad-girl-single-mom turned mystic a great story of redemption, but her bravery in the face of a scandalized and skeptical community is inspiring. She knew she was God’s beloved.
***And for quirks, how can you beat the fact that she is one of the few “incorruptible” saints (i.e., her body never decomposed).
I am a fan of many of the saints that have been nominated here, but I’d really love to see Pauli Murray, Philip the Deacon, and any of the Teresa/Therese/Theresa nominees in the bracket.
As a cradle Episcopalian, I have no problem with new popes in LM. Not having them in because you are an Anglican seems terribly prejudiced, and does not serve the ecumenical dialogue beginning on LM. I’m sure that the same Spirit moving their reforms was acting in ECUSA as well as other places too.
Sorry, I meant “Not wanting them in LM” NOT “Not having them in”
Also, Ignatius of Loyola is another sexy-smart candidate, like T. of Avila.
Vida Scudder
Oscar Romero
Hildegard of Bingen
Catherine of Cortona
Is there any way to remove my own post today once it’s up? Not my Margaret of Cortona nomination, but a response to another’s post? It just drags out a weary debate, and I regret it.
Hey erase the last request. Thinking of my aunt, not the saint. Let’s try for Margaret of Cortona.(1247-1297)
My husband and I were discussing possible saints. We decided we would like to see a match up of Jesus Christ and John Lennon, so we could determine once and for all whether the Beatles were or weren’t greater than Jesus.
Oh for the Love of Mary, here we go again. Do you remember the fuss this stirred up all those years ago? Do you want to open up that particular can of worms again?
St. Edith Stein
St. Bridget of Sweden
I would like to nominate St. Melangell of Wales, the Patron Saint of Hares, Rabbits, Small Animals & the Natural World. She has an interesting story and a lovely church in Wales, though her original church & shrine was a victim of the Reformation. So, I’m thinking the Anglican World sort of owes her & hers an apology. Her Feast Day is May 27 and we hope to celebrate with a gathering of some of our rabbit friends at historic St. Luke’s Church & Cemetery in Merritt Island, Fla. I personally have this unbounded affection for rabbits (starting w/ my 1st stuffed Easter bunny in 1953) and am connected via Facebook with a horde of Rabbit & Small Animal Rescue Groups in the U.S. and around the World which I think we could bring into the Lent Madness flock once they hear of St. Melangell and her story — which I will make sure happens if she is in the brackets. Thank you for your consideration, and special thanks from Nelson, Lord Harefoot, High Admiral of Bunnimore, a little black & white Dutch rabbit who at the age of 9 is in charge of our home. St. Melangell may not be one to make it to the Golden Halo itself, but she & her story are certainly worth remembering, as is the Natural World that she protects. And as the Ancient Egyptians believed: “To speak my name is to cause me to live again.”
I would like to nominate Saint Zita, patron of people who have lost their keys. Also patron of indoor servants. Her feast is April 27.
I am so delighted with the nominations of Thurgood Marshall and Pauli Murray. I have seen others like Ida B. Wells, but I don’t think that she is on a church calendar.
I do want to mention that encouraging people to participate in Lent Madness in my church is a bit of a struggle because many people think that it is too frivolous. If the SEC were to include people who were not recognized by a church calendar, I would have no legs to stand on in promoting Lent MAdness in church. Please, stick to your rules and do not be swayed by enthusiasm.
Hi Relling,
Oh, frivolous schmivolous. These people need to lighten up a bit, it’ll add years to their life. Also life to their years. Now if you will excuse me, it’s time for my daily cartwheels!
Peace out,
Madeleine
Flannery O’Connor
Sojourner Truth
Nicholas of Myra, patron of all in need, the oppressed, imprisoned and vulnerable
Amen to that!
How about Agnes Sanford!
The Martyrs of the Sudan
Julian of Norwich
The thread is still open and I’d time for looking around the Calendar (I hope this is accurate .. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calendar_of_saints_(Episcopal_Church))
Dunstan .. a quick read of his bio and I can recognize so many issues regarding interpersonal relationships, the politics of ticking off one’s boss haven’t changed a bit in a thousand years .. I’d appreciate a celebrity blogger’s reflection
William Wilberforce .. a leader in abolishing the slave trade .. buried near his friend William Pitt (ahem .. played by Benedict Cumberbatch in the movie, does kitsch separated by a degree count 🙂
Richard Hooker .. thought I recognized the name .. yes, author of MASH .. oh, no .. *this Richard Hooker is one of the founders of Anglican thought, the 3-corner stool of ” revelation, reason and tradition” .. the wiki bio is one thing, but I’d love more in next year’s LM!
I like one more, but I see Margaret of Scotland is on the ineligible list. That’s okay. I can wait and follow the LM guideline, nominate her when again eligible.
Columba of Iona could fill my Scotland fix for LM ’15. 🙂 Cheers.
I second Patricia’s nomination of St. Melangell of Wales, “the Patron Saint of Hares, Rabbits, Small Animals & the Natural World.” There are dozens of others I could list, but Melangell’s story is “simple” and profound.