Another day, another mystic, as the great thinker Meister (please don’t call me ‘Mister’) Eckhart faces off against Drogo, 12th century saintly soul and patron saint of coffee. WARNING: Don’t even try to make your choice without first drinking a hot, steaming cup of coffee — as long as this action will in no way ultimately influence your vote.
Yesterday in a tight, emotionally-charged contest, amid heavy voting, Julian of Norwich prevailed over William Wilberforce 52% to 48%. Julian will face the winner of Roch vs. Gertrude in the next round.
The SEC also released their weekly Monday Madness video in which a contest(!) was announced. Watch now to learn how you can own the cardboard cutout of 2015 Golden Halo winner, Francis Assisi (as seen at the Episcopal Church’s 2015 General Convention).
And finally, if you need to add some extra Lent Madness commentary to your day, tune in to Priest Pulse’s recent interview with one half of the Supreme Executive Committee (Tim). We suggest listening to it while on the treadmill, for that extra motivation, or during your commute, to make it speed seamlessly by.
Meister Eckhart
Eckhart von Hochheim, commonly known as Meister Eckhart, is one of the greatest mystics of the Christian tradition. After his initial schooling, he alternated between the universities at Cologne and Paris, first as a student and later as a professor. Born in Germany around 1260, Meister Eckhart joined the Dominican Order of Preachers as a young man. He returned to Strasbourg in 1314, but his popularity soon began to draw the wrong kind of attention.
Encouraged by the Archbishop of Cologne, the head of the Dominican Order in the German region investigated the soundness of Eckhart’s doctrine and cleared him of heresy. Unsatisfied with these findings, the archbishop ordered a more formal and comprehensive review. In February, 1327, despite Eckhart’s public declarations of innocence, he was called before the Inquisitors, who declared him a heretic.
Eckhart appealed his conviction to the Holy See. Accompanied by his Dominican superiors, Eckhart traveled to Avignon and submitted himself to
the judgment of Pope John XXII. Following the usual procedure, the appointed examiners did not receive complete texts of the writings to be judged, only suspicious lines taken out of context. On March 27, 1329, the papal commission upheld the conviction from Cologne, but by that time Eckhart had died, insisting to the end that he was faithful to the teachings of the Church.
Eckhart was a subtle and creative thinker. His Latin commentaries, produced for advanced Dominican students, demonstrate his mastery of the technical categories of the Scholastic philosophy. His German sermons were engaging and poetic, filled with puns and wordplay, drawing heavily on the vocabulary of courtly love, adapting it to speak of the birth of the Word in the soul.
After centuries of neglect, Meister Eckhart’s teachings experienced a revival at the end of the nineteenth century. Similarities between his thought and the mystical traditions of Asia have made him a fruitful resource for modern interreligious dialogue.
Collect for Meister Eckhart
O God, create in us hearts reconstructed by your simple goodness. Thank you for the life of your servant Meister Eckhart, who, for the love of you, put his life and honor at the feet of power to speak plainly of your abundance. Grant that we too might be awed by your marvelous depth of creativity and mystery, for Jesus’ sake. Amen.
Drogo
Near the beginning of the twelfth century, Drogo was born into a family of Flemish nobility—but his path began to change immediately. Drogo’s father died prior to his birth, and his mother died because of complications in childbirth. The newborn orphan was given over to the care of family members. When he was ten-years-old, Drogo, a sensitive child, was devastated to learn the cause of his mother’s death and held himself personally responsible for it.
Reaching adulthood, Drogo renounced the wealth and ease that was his birthright and became a shepherd in the Flemish countryside. During his time in the pastures, Drogo developed a reputation for holy living and for the spiritual gift of bilocation. Tradition holds that Drogo would be observed in
the fields praying while watching his flocks and simultaneously attending worship in the village.
After a time, perhaps still seeking to assuage the guilt he felt for his mother’s untimely death, Drogo felt called to head out on pilgrimage. Drogo traveled to Rome in order to encounter the holy places and relics there. Over the course of nine years, he traveled to Rome and back nine times.
These pilgrimages came to an end when Drogo was afflicted by an unknown malady, which caused him disfigurement and estrangement from his community. In order to protect the residents of the village where he lived from his appearance, Drogo took up a hermit’s life. He took up residence in a cell adjacent to the local parish church and lived there for the rest of his life. Stories say that when a fire engulfed his cell, Drogo refused to leave and was discovered praying among the ashes.
Lately discovered by popular culture, Drogo of Sebourg is the subject of countless listicles, thanks to his identification as the patron saint of coffeehouses and baristas. Drogo died on April 16, 1186, and was buried in the parish church in which he had spent the majority of his life. For obvious reasons, Drogo is the patron of unattractive and repulsive people. It is less clear why he has long been associated with coffee—so we will pour another cup and ponder this connection.
Collect for Drogo
God of unsearchable wisdom, you hear us praying even among the ashes of our lives. Thank you for the example of your servant Drogo, who lived a life of deep prayer despite profound suffering, who walked holy roads and prayed for worldly souls. Grant us the grace to seek your face in all things and in all places. We ask this for the love of your son, Jesus. Amen.
Meister Eckhart vs. Drogo
- Meister Eckhart (55%, 4,033 Votes)
- Drogo (45%, 3,274 Votes)
Total Voters: 7,307
Loading ...Meister Eckhart: Meister Eckhart, Skulptur in Bad
Wörishofen, Kneippstraße. Image by Lothar Spurzem
(Own work) [CC BY-SA 2.0 de (http://creativecommons.
org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/de/deed.en)], via Wikimedia
Commons
I voted for Drogo because he lost his parents.
That is reason enough, Oliver.
I know! So sad!
Excellent judgment, Oliver. Personally, I voted for him because I drink about six cups of coffee a day, but whatever floats your boat!
A better reason would be the bilocation thing. That would be an awesome skill to have. They don’t teach that in the seminaries anymore, alas. I did study it in the convent, though.
Diane, I think I knew you as Sr. MV! I was a postulant many years ago . . .
Oliver, did you fill out a bracket?
Not yet.
I’m 75 and I voted for the same reason, Oliver.
I voted for Drog.
Bilocation beats out, ‘ but I can explain’ .
Where’s a “like” button when you need it?
I voted for Drogo.
Bilocation beats out, ‘ but I can explain’ .
Whoa! Did Rhonda just bilocate?
Me too Oliver.
I voted for him because he lost his parents and because he had such humility. Hiding himself away so he wouldn’t upset others over his disfigurement is sweetly sad. I would have liked to have known him.
I did, too, Oliver.
same exact thoughts dude
Perhaps Drogo will grow on me but Meister Eckhart has been a friend for so many years, I have to vote for him. I guess I will go and make a cup of coffee.
Drogo got a bum rap in Rocky III. He gets my vote here.
I was disappointed a Rocky reference did not appear within the hallowed confines of the above commentary. Delighted it made it into early comments. Well done, Sir.
The fun things happen in the next round. The first rounds are more factual and serious than the later ones. That is probably why the Rocky reference didn’t appear in the commentary. Should Drogo go on, I’m sure the Rocky reference will be made.
What have flying squirrels to do with this?
or Bulwinkle?
I thought it was Ivan DrAgo, and he was in Rocky IV.
Google Meister Eckhart and read his wisdom!
“If the only prayer you said was thank you, that would be enough.”. .”Truly, it is in darkness that one finds the light, so when we are in sorrow, then this light is nearest of all to us.”
Thank you. I wondered what the heresy was about and why they didn’t tell us.
Most of it was quite technical: whether Eckhart had said that the soul could become so totally one with God as to lose its existence and ‘become’ God’ in the strongest possible sense. This is not a fair account of Eckhart’s thought, but it’s easy to see why a court might think that was what he was saying on the basis of sentences wrenched out of their context. Eckhart was a bit of a victim of the fact that he did a lot of his theology in the form of sermons, rather than writing propositional systematics, which are much less easy to understand. They’re also much duller to read…
Of course, there’s also some evidence that a lot of the problem was down to the Archbishop of Cologne’s jealousy of the Dominicans and their hotshot academic/ preacher…
Thank you for the insight Mthr Jo Kershaw. I voted for Meister Eckhart. I also love the collect written by Derek Olsen.
The gnarled and gnarly fingers of church politics were all around poor Eckhart’s fate. His insistence of his innocence and his faith despite the fact that there was no way he could win give the way power played were reasons enough to vote for him.
My thoughts as well, Kim!
Kim, Drogo’s bilocation was a strong argument in his favor, but I voted for
Meister Eckhart for just the reason you cited. Clearly, since he was later
declared a saint, it is obvious that he was no heretic. I suspect that Mother
Jo is right that the archbishop’s jealousy was a major reason he was accused.
All the best to both of today’s saints!
Now I am going to have to vote for Meistersinger Eckhart, after learning of his view of the soul.
I was wondering that as well.
Quite beautiful! Thank you.
Yes! Thanks for the quotes and explanation. I love knowing what these teachers really taught and died for. I’m have a soft spot for academics, and for martyrs…so Eckhart has my vote.
Nina, I love the quotes. Thank you for supplying them!
Great comment and just why I ores for him
Right to the heart of faith
Light over darkness
Drogo. He had me at “coffee”.
Drogo had me at patron saint of coffee – bilocation and disfigurement and angst only sealed my choice.
Yeah and bilocation. Gotta love that.
yes, bilocation and coffee. Ideally to be able to be in a coffee house and at the office at one and the same time. I can pray can’t I?
Seriously? Not biased by coffee? There is no possibility of this. Drogo for the win. i will raise a cup of Joe to Dro.
Huzzah!
Praying among the ashes…good read over my morning joe. My heart wrenched at the thought of his looks and how he must have been treated, through it all he remained faithful.
I can’t find how to vote. It doesn’t appear at the end, as it usually does.
You must go to the website itself. Can’t vote from your phone.
Had to vote through comment.
Me, too. But at least I got here.
While I’m commenting on your comment–I went for Meister Eckhart, mainly for the idea that thankfulness brings us close to God.
But I’m glad so many are supporting Drogo, not only for his life and being patron of coffee, but because he lent his name to the father of Frodo Baggins.
Oh, I KNEW I’d seen that name before, though the Saint was new to me. As a coffee fiend, I had a moment of tremulous unease, but Meister Eckhart has given me come-hither looks and gestures for years. My prayer life often boils down to “help,” “thanks,” and “oops.” I suspect Eckhart said the others, too.
I hate spelling suggestions! This stupid thing wanted to make Eckhart either a Meistersinger or just plain Moister! Argh!!!
I vote from my phone all the time.
so do I….but not today.
Me too, but I’m on the website when I do so. 🙂
Me too!
Usually vote in the AM from the tablet; didn’t work this morning, and I couldn’t even vote from my desktop this evening, either. Finally succeeded via the website with a vote for Meister Eckhardt, despite the caffeinated call of Drogo.
Yes — the email was in a different form from usual — there is no link that says “read more.” I had to get here through “more comments” as well.
Yes, the email and phone views were different today as usual. Usually at the end of the email it says “Read more” and has a button and you vote there. Not on today’s email though…..
Until today, I have been able to vote from my phone. The vote button would come up right after the second saint’s blog. Comments would not appear until after casting vote. However, today a code in brackets appeared between the blog and comments.
Can vote from your phone, but just can’t do it from within the email. Have to visit the post on the website via your phone’s browser.
Dear pilgrims, the wisdom of the S.E.C. is without blemish!
But I did vote from my phone. An iPhone of course, but a phone all the same. Perhaps because I was sipping coffee from my LentMadness mug at the same time?
I vote on my iPhone. Is that wrong?!
You can vote on your phone, a tablet, a desktop, or whatever. The key is that you have to visit http://www.lentmadness.org. Leaving a comment, sending a carrier pigeon, or telling your next door neighbor is lovely, but none of those will be an actual counted vote.
You can also write your vote on a $20 bill and send it to the SEC, and they’ll see that your vote is counted. But other than that, you have to vote on http://www.lentmadness.org.
Until Drogo goes all the way, in other words, voting is not bilocational…
Isn’t that called simony? I’m just saying . . .
I’ve been voting from my phone. Have my votes not counted?
Yes you can vote from your phone. I just did. I am still somewhat stunned that Wilber Wilberforce did not win. He ended slavery in Great Britain and the colonies. I am a doer, not a contemplator.
I can vote on my Android phone via Yahoo. No computer hookup while Snowbird ing.
Today’s e-mail reminder appears to have a formatting problem, with no “Vote” button provided. A simple workaround is to point your browser to https://www.lentmadness.org , then click “Read More” near the bottom of today’s post. Then you *will* find a “Vote” button.
When you say you are voting from your phone what is happening is that you are reading Lent Madness sent to you thru email. When you click on Read more that is opening up a browser which goes to the web page where you will vote. Today Read more was not there – what you can do is click on the saints name at the top of the email, that will also take you to the web page. What is happening behind the scene technically is that the email is bilocating to the browser.
Thank you, O Geek, not just for a concise explanation but for including today’s buzzword!
Drogo is pretty cool and I’m always a fan of people lacking in physical beauty as well as those who hang out with sheep. However, for me people convicted by church councils of heresy are my hands down favorites. Also, voted for Meister Eckhart because of his significance in modern interfaith dialogue.
ME, too! Misjudged, misread–happens to me every time I write more than a one-sentence e-mail! Perhaps Meister Eckhart ought to be the patron saint of e-mail…
I also voted for him because of his writing. He had a sense of humor… Drogo? not so sure… hanging out with sheep is a positive step, but he seemed too bent on self-torture.
See what your autocorrect does when you type “Meister.” Mine changed it to “Meistersinger ” — good thing I caught it.
The spiritual gift of bilocation? What an awesome super power! My vote’s for Drogo.
To be so misunderstood, and to be so conspired against! Most people would have gone into some attitude of ‘Whatever, it’s their loss.’ Not Meister E. A prophetic voice that speaks to us now, thank you for not giving up or giving in to those of your time.
Prepared to vote for Meister Eckart but then…coffee. And patron saint of unattractive people. You didn’t even mention that he shares his name with a hobbit…Drogo it is.
The first thing I thought, Nancy, when I saw the name, “Hey, that’s a hobbit!”
as Harry said.
Good heavens, I must leap in to defend my Meister. He has long given me wisdom–and I vote for him since he had the courage to die for what his heart told him.
Voted for Meister Enchant for those who are unjustly accused.
The lovely priest and thinker John O’Donohue first drew my attention to the writings of Meister Eckhart. In remembrance of him, and for all those whose thinking and living puts them on the wrong side of the church authorities I cast my vote for Meister Eckhart.
I’m with Harry, how can you not vote for a coffee lover.
My first thoughts were Meister because of the Inquisition and being convicted of heresy. But then I read Drogo’s bio: an orphan who later develops a disease that makes him so unattractive that he becomes a hermit to spare the villagers his looks. Then there is the whole bilocation thing. How could I resist? I’m not a coffee drinker so that didn’t sway me at all.
Game of Thrones. Khal Drogo, ill-starred husband of Daenerys Targaryen. There. Drogo has my vote this morning.
I knew I’d heard that name somewhere! That seals my vote for Meister, actually (I am surrounded by Throne-o-holics), as does his standing up to men who misappropriated power.
Yours is the first GOT reference in the comments. I expected more from this bunch, but there you go.
Dragons FTW
I have to vote for Drogo. Coffee and unattractive / repulsive looking people? Sounds like my kinda guy.
Christie- took the words out of my mouth!
Unattractive people unite! Vote for Drogo. We can still read our beloved Eckhart in our hermitages.
The biographer tells us that the soundness of Eckhart’s doctrine was investigated but does not tell us what that doctrine was. If I had a better idea what the Meister was espousing it might influence my vote. Cool that he defended his ideas to the end, and was a good servant, submitting himself to the judgement of the Pope. But in the end it sounds like politics…the archbishop had some beef with him and just wouldn’t let it go.
Drogo – cool name, orphaned, lots of angst and guilt. Big faith,gave up his wealth and potential power for the shepherd’s life. BILOCATION! Disfigurement, the hermit’s existence, many pilgrimages to Rome. All in all, a classic tortured soul – tssted by God from the very beginning of his life right up to the end of it. Have to go with Drogo. AND being the patron of repulsive people and baristas/coffee drinkers? Drogo may go ALL THE WAY!
I completely agree w/Steven. I read Meister Eckhart first and was left thinking “that wasn’t written very well if I have to search for the true reason behind the heresy.” So I sat there with my coffee and read though it again. Nope, I still didn’t fully understand the magic behind the Meister. So I move on to Drogo…and I only had to read it once. He had me at bilocation, and then came the bit about coffee. No question who the true matchup-meister is today for me.
Drogo Lives!! Must have been the first speed-walker to & from Rome, perhaps he should also be the patron saint of cobblers as well as coffee.
Drogo of Sebourg is the subject of countless listicles …
Listicles? Before I looked up the word you had me wondering what a listicle could be. But now I know 10 reasons. 🙂
Heh. I had to look it up too.
Drogo. Even though I had never heard of him before just now and Meister E is a well known figure quite worthy of his halo, I think it’s awesome that the unattractive of this world have a patron saint…and coffee, my goodness! Think of the kitch round. Let us not forget that dear Drogo also appears to be the patron saint of ADHD, since he seems to have been a master multitasker.
Good reasons, all!!
Meister Eckart receives my vote because he had to deal with Pope John XXII (not be be confused in any way with saintly Pope John XXIII). Imagine, taking something out of context to prove your point. I’m glad such behavior is not evident today. I will, however, think fondly of Drogo as I sip my coffee this morning.
Kind of like contemporary (American?) political candidates, one might say.
I’m going to ponder this choice over a mug of hot tea.
Another tea drinker here, so coffee doesn’t do it for me. I’m not into tortured souls, but standing up to those accusing unjustly -that I can vote for. Meister Eckhardt!
Coffee and prayer. Drogo, a shepherd, an orphan, disfigured, praying in the ashes….how could I not vote for this Saint? I raise my cup of Java to you, Drogo.
“Listicles”???
As a note, I’ve been voting from my phone, but sometimes, in order to get the voting buttons, you have to click the Comment button first.
Drogo for those he represents!
Not that I have a problem with authority or anything like that — but go Meister!
What with the coffee and the sharing the same name as Frodo Baggins’ s father, I almost went with Drogo. But Meister Ekhart’ s story just grabbed me. So Meister Eckhart got my vote.
Thanks, Anne! My husband and I have been trying and trying to remember which hobbit was named Drogo!
He was Frodo’s father.
Meister Eckhart gets my vote because he remained true to his convictions and actively defended his position. If he had backed off, his wisdom would likely have been lost.
Drogo the underdog.
Very glad to meet Drogo and shall remember him with my daily coffee and honor his faithfulness. However, I vote for my old friend Meister Eckhart who wrote: We are all mothers of God.
Mysticism and poetry versus repulsive people? For me it was no contest. Drogo, priez pour moi, but I’m voting for Meister Eckhart. The mystics always win in my book. Speaking of books, I love the art for Eckhart above. I wondered whom he was reading with and what the book was. It is a lovely peaceful scene, perfect for a contemplative moment. (They only need a cup of coffee to complete the scene.) Mystics rule.
I have an icon of Drogo on the cupboard where we keep our coffee, so I had to vote for him.
Unable to cast vote due to some kind of glitch. I don’t feel there is enough info on the contents of Meister’s works for me to be swayed his direction. So, my vote would go for Drogo. To survive a fire by acts of faith and prayer proves Divine Intervention.
Mary, you have to click through to the website to vote: https://www.lentmadness.org/2016/02/meister-eckhart-vs-drogo/
Thanks Fr. Tim! After clicking on the link you posted, I was able to vote on my phone.
Coffee and bilocation!
Any article that contains the words “listicle” and “bilocation” deserves a vote for its subject.
You are clearly quite wise 🙂
No vote button today, so my vote is for Eckhart
Have to click through to the website to vote: https://www.lentmadness.org/2016/02/meister-eckhart-vs-drogo/
I am so done with Lent Madness! How can a community, serious about being contemporary Christians, dismiss William Wilberforce in favor of a navel-gazing hermit? OK, so I am a sore loser, but it is time for me to release Lent Madness from my Lenten schedule and go spend more time loving my neighbor. Enjoy yourselves! Good-bye.
Hey, Beth Ann, many people voted for William Wilberforce. It was a close vote. Many praised him in their comments. Lady Julian was a writer with windows on her immediate world and on worlds beyond, and touched many lives through the ages. Hope your soreness eases and maybe you give Lent Madness another try some time. Take care.
What Peg said. But also — though Julian was physically shut in, she did stay connected to community in a helping way. People came to her for counselling and prayers, and she was able to talk to them through a little window in her cell. She also, through her writings, deftly accomplished the miracle of communicating a more inclusive and forgiving God than was strictly being taught by the church of her time. Today’s Eckhart bio highlights the very real hazards she was navigating to do that – it’s not like they didn’t know where to find her if they wanted to chat about her gentle challenges to the prevailing magisterial wisdom.
She was physically confined, but her spirit was free and in touch with God who sustained her, and who gave her a message to convey. As a woman she was not permitted to teach or preach…but she wrote. Different circumstances and different oppression than what Wilberforce worked to overcome, but still in the cause of freedom and God’s love for all (IMHO).
Lady Julian did teach those who came to her for counsel. And, through her writings, she continues to bless us to this day with her wisdom and God’s revelations to her. She wasted no time navel-gazing! That term was devised by those who have no idea who mystics are and what they do!
Hmmm, I see this as a contest between two mystics. Drogo lived in a cell, like our friend Julian, and stayed there till it burned down around him.
I agree – today is very much a mystic mashup. Good insight.
After reviewing today’s choices with my daughter, I asked her opinion. Her reply, “Like this one’s hard. pffffft! patron saint of baristas, of course!”
The wisdom of youth!
Voting for that poor tortured soul, drinking my coffee, and praying for the spiritual gift of bilication. And it’s his feast day today! Go Drogo!
Drogo is also the father of Frodo Baggins! Has my vote today!
LOL! I wish I’d seen your post before I voted for Meister Eckhart. It might have changed my mind.
Clearly, carrying a bilocator to term is dangerous to one’s health. Teleporters would be much safer.
Oh great, now you’ve got me thinking about the mechanics of how giving birth to a bilocating infant could cause maternal death. Thanks a lot. 😉
How could I not vote for the patron saint of coffee shops!!!! Drogo it is. (Oh – and I like his ability to be in two places at once – I’d like that ‘gift’)
I owe Meister Eckhart a great debt. I studied Zen for a number of years before returning to the Church (I still draw inspiration from it). Professor D. T. Suzuki wrote a book on Mysticism East and West, and the West was represented primarily by Eckhart. Rudolph Otto wrote a book with almost the same title, and there was Eckhart again. When I read Thomas Merton’s Mystics and Zen Masters, and yet again I found Eckhart, I knew I had to find out more about him. I read the some Sermons and a few of the more Scholastic writings. I was hooked. Most importantly, he showed me that the transcendence that I was seeking in Eastern religions could be found right here in the tradition that raised me. I went back to church – Unitarian, then Quaker, and finally Episcopalian – all the while seeking that Word inside me. I still am. I have many people to thank, but Meister Eckhart is near the top of the list.
I identify a lot with this, Mike; I have a similar spiritual story. It wasn’t Meister Eckhart specifically, but the mystical tradition generally – and Evelyn Underhill, I guess, now that I think of it – that influenced me.
But I do love Eckhart.
Ah, Mike, thanks for representing the serious side of this for pur church! I, of course, offered a less than serious response and voted for Drogo. Though, like you, I came across Eckhart early in my formation. I used to keep a journal of inspirational quotes by Christian thinkers (in high school, nonetheless!) and two of the earliest one in my journal were Eckhart and E.B. Pusey. That probably explains a lot about me, actually…
Well said, Mike – ! Love the story of Drogo, perhaps because i can certainly have a more empathetic understanding of the human experience of feeling unattractive,, lonely and misunderstood – as well as a love for coffee – but Meister Eckharts works help my soul open to the more transcendent and mystical heights that are possible- when feeling unattractive, lonely and misunderstood isn’t even a thought or consideration! When times are tough, the recalling of the glimmers of love, radience and inspiration are what I need.
Wow~I was all set to vote for Drogo because of coffee. Your thoughtful comment made me rethink my choice, partially for the opportunity to learn more about him in later rounds. However, after a difficult night dealing with the mental illness of a family member, and upon learning that Drogo is also patron saint of the mentally ill, I’m going with him.
“God of unsearchable wisdom, you hear us praying even among the ashes of our lives.”
And coffee too? Plus I learned a new word today -listicle. And I do love my bulleted lists. Drogo for me.
I must vote for Drago as I drink my coffee and make my to do list for the day!
Did a college project on Meister Eckhart, so it’s surely got to be him. That said I love my coffee.
My gratitude goes to Meister for wisdom/reminder to be thankful and when in darkness, look for the light!
I voted for Meister Eckhart, because I’ve always loved what he thought and wrote. But now I’m a bit sorry I didn’t vote for Drogo; I really love that collect.
I guess this means I won’t be sorry, no matter who wins the round.
(And I’m surprised to find that coffee doesn’t enter it at all, for me….)
So, I Googled Meister Eckhart and found a listicle of some of his quotes. https://www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/73092.Meister_Eckhart
I will be reading more about him.
Not knowing much about either one this morning, and not having had sufficient coffee to do my own research… I followed up on Carol’s link above. My vote for Meister Eckhart as many of those quotes spoke to me.
Another tough one. I’m voting for Drogo in solidarity with young people who don’t fit in, who are afflicted by nameless guilt, who have no family, who cannot find their way to a conventional productive life, who undertake one journey after another yet never find what they are looking for, and who self-isolate out of what they perceive to be their own worthlessness and repulsiveness. I don’t know where the coffee association comes from, but I’m reaching out to Drogo as the patron of teens and young adults with mental illness and “failure to launch.”
Thank you, Gretchen. Well said!
Gretchen, you have convinced me for more reasons than I want to say here.
How can I say no to coffee? Also, there’s something comedic I love about a saint so horrible to look at that he locked himself up to “protect” the townspeople.
“Subtle and creative thinking” “sermons poetic… filled with word-play and puns…adapting vocabulary to speak of the birth of the Word in the soul” That’s where he caught me. What’s not to like? I’ve got to go with the Meister. Besides, I prefer chai latte to coffee.
I was all set to vote for Eckhart, but I was touched deeply by the image of Drogo praying in the ashes, reminding me that God hears our prayers, even when we cry out from the ashes of death or despair, and raises us to new life.
“Priez pour nous…” and coffee – Drogo for the win! “Priez pour nous” is a line from the Hail Mary in French, which we were taught the first week of French 1 in our all-girls Catholic High School. To this day, thanks to the nuns from elementary school, I ‘break out’ in the Hail Mary every time I hear an ambulance/fire engine’s siren – mais, en francais, bien sur. Savoring my first strong cup of joe of the day — aaah! Maybe the illustration of Drogo will, miraculously, appear in one of my favorite local coffeehouses 🙂
I’m such a fan. Drogo lives! And his brother Frodo too!
What are those torches and pitchforks about people?
As a tea drinker I still had to go for Drogo. Is that where Tolkien got the name for Frodo’s father?
Drogo. Coffee and bilocation.
Okay, so I voted for Drogo. Not because he is the patron Saint of coffee, although, coffee keeps me sane and keeps me from wearing Prison Orange! But, Drogo was so selfless…. He renounced his birthright, became a shepard, traveled to Rome 9 (NINE) times as a poor shepard, then protected his community from his illness at his own cost of exclusivity…… God expects us all to be selfless (and drink coffee, I might add), and Drogo is an excellent example of this!
As a parish priest, I have always wanted and needed to develop the spiritual gift of bilocation. Knowing now that Drogo should be my spiritual mentor for that, I have to vote for him!
Meister Eckhart taught that the incarnation happened not just once, but continually. The Son of God was being born continually in our souls. When that happened, we became one with Christ- we became Christ and Christ became us. For this to happen, we had to undergo deep emptying of all attachments, hence the connections with Buddhist thought. The Church has always been suspicious of any mystic who claimed that spiritual union/spiritual erased (or seemingly erased) distinctions between the soul and the divine.
Again we voted in sync, this time for Drogo, because he persevered in the midst of great suffering and rejection from his community. May we love well those who are rejected by the world, in the love of Christ, who loves each one perfectly
Wasn’t Drogo Frodo’s father? Or was he Danaeris’ husband? Anyhow, despite the cool name with great associations, it’s unclear from the writeup what Drogo did to help others besides somehow become the patron saint for coffee…and I’m a tea drinker. Meister Eckhart seems to be much more of an inspiration, as well as an early reformer (unintentionally), who suffered from flaws in the judicial system. I’m going with him.
For having been twitted about my looks when I was in school (I don’t know why, since looking back at photos, I was a rather cute kids even if on the heavy side), and for wishing that I could be in two places at once…
I vote for Drogo
Not a fan of coffee, though.
My screen is not allowing me to vote today, but if I could I’d vote for Meister Eckert.
John, you need to get to the website to vote: https://www.lentmadness.org/2016/02/meister-eckhart-vs-drogo/
Thank you for answering the same question a dozen times. Very patient of you.
It’s why I get the “big bucks.”
Perhaps the SEC could admit that the email format was different today?? There was no vote button as on previous days…
There wasn’t a “read more” tag. It did take one extra step to cast a vote. But fear no. No one is trying to trick and/or disenfranchise anyone.
Like others, I was struck by the irony………John XXII condemned Meister Eckhart because he caved in to the prejudice of others…..contrast that with his namesake, the great John XXIII, responsible for Vatican II and all the ensuing reforms that opened the Catholic Church to the world in the latter half of the 20th century.
I’m also embarrassed to say that, when I first read Drogo’s name, the first thing that popped into my mind was Draco Malfoy, the not-so-nice guy from the Harry Potter stories. Forgive me Drago, and also because I voted for Eckhart…..
The name sounded to me like one for a hobbit. Drogo, Frodo, . . .
Voted for Meister Eckhart, rather than Drogo the underdog. I’m still amazed that Wilberforce lost in yesterday’s LM voting. But I will soldier on and hope the pairs for voting get better as we approach the Saintly Sixteen.
I hope the S.E.C. will reconsider the placement of the vote button for the rest of the voting and commenting, to what it’s been. Or is this a move to confound the scoundrels who try to stuff the ballot box?!?
Meister Eckhart because I like mystics.
While I love Meister Eckhart, I must vote for Drogo – although I had never heard of him before. I googled him and found that as an anchorite he offered spiritual advice to those who asked. As one who lost my mother at an early age, I identify with him in many ways. I love that he is the patron saint of the unlovely (and coffee)!
Many of the Angels that came to the men and women in the Bible said ” Do not be afraid” . This tells me they may might have been ugly. Drogo was not lovely. Was he an Angel? I vote for the the one I think may have been an Angel.
A prayer of Meister Eckhart that I use in meditation:
Gracious God,
thy whole creation
shines forth
with thy splendor.
May I breathe that glory
in and out
so that I am
transformed by thee,
and totally drowned
in thy splendor.
I sympathize with Eckhart for being tried and killed for something taken out of context. Patron Saint of the misquoted, perhaps?
He got my vote.
As a busy mom who would give her left leg (note, NOT the one needed for driving her kids around) for the gift of bilocation, I feel compelled to vote for Drogo. Also, coffee. I feel like those are connected, somehow. SEC, perhaps that’s how he became known as the patron of coffeehouses? 😉
Anyone who has ever had something they’ve said or written taken out of context can surely identify with Meister Eckhart, and that alone should earn him my vote. However, Drogo’s story is more compelling to me this morning (as I drink my coffee, I’ll admit), and so I have cast my vote for the orphan child who blamed himself for his mother’s death.
BTW, here’s a really good article about Drogo: http://www.crisismagazine.com/2015/rediscovering-saint-drogo-sebourg
It includes this paragraph about the coffee thing:
———————————-
“Most notable in the contemporary popular culture of the English-speaking world, however, are the surprising identification of Drogo as the patron saint of coffeehouse-keepers and his association more generally with coffee. This might be dismissed as an apocryphal invention boosted by the coffeehouse boom of the past few decades, were it not historically attested. A Belgian almanac from 1860 shows that in Mons—just across the present-day Franco-Belgian border from Sebourg—Drogo had already been claimed by the city’s cafetiers (coffeehouse-keepers) as their patron.
Nevertheless, the origin of St. Drogo’s association with coffeehouses remains mysterious; coffee was not introduced into France and Belgium until the seventeenth century. Some have ventured, tongue in cheek, that harried baristas might fittingly invoke a saint reputed to possess the mystical gift of bilocation. A more plausible connection may reside in a minor detail from some biographical sources: during his years of reclusion, Drogo took no drink but warm water. Perhaps also, the early coffeehouse-keepers of Hainaut marveled at how the properties of the coffee bean are transformed by fire without being destroyed by it, and were reminded of Drogo’s miraculous survival of the destruction of the church at Sebourg.”
I, too, was set to hang my hat on Eckhart, but then felt such a pull toward Drogo and all he had suffered.
Feeling unwanted is the most painful of life’s hurts. I am sure Eckhart felt that, too, in his battles with the Church, but I somehow suspect he was able to rise above it in great mystical fashion. It’s Drogo for me today. May he feel loved and appreciated, and may we all learn a bit more about his gift of bilocation. Sure could use that spiritual gift though if it meant keeping up with more sets of keys, I’d be doomed.
P.S. Could some tech-savvy soul tell me how to add my picture to the profile here. I’m sure I’m overlooking a settings link somewhere.
Allison, I think the only way is to set up a profile at Gravatar: http://en.gravatar.com/ . That’s where the images come from, as far as I know.
Yesterday’s match-up was a very tough choice, and today’s is no easier. But what really got me was this statement: “Eckhart was a subtle and creative thinker.” Boy, is that needed today! And the collect, too, was a statement of his own grace-filled courage to speak to power. I hope we see Drogo and William Wilberforce again.
Ummm. Does it ever say why Eckhart was accused of heresy? What did he say, think, write? This one isn’t explained….
Hmmmm. This one’s the toughest so far for me as I feel an equally strong affinity for both these fine men. But choose we must. So I will let myself be swayed a little more by the man of words … the man who said: “If the only prayer you ever say in your entire life is thank you, it will be enough.” Meister Eckhart
SEC–why did I have to vote today via comments? Voted for Drogo and have no good reason. He apparently did do some teaching before his disfigurement? He just seems like a sad and lonely ssaint:)
Seriously? Bilocation? That doesn’t do it for me. As a tea-drinking lover of mystics, I gotta go with Meister Eckhardt.
Given a choice between a mystic and pretty much anyone else, I’ll go for the mystic every time. So, Team Meister Eckhart today. Extra points for use of the phrase “modern interreligious dialogue.”
Since I don’t drink coffee, that makes me a suspected heretic, like Meister Eckhart. And so I cast my vote for him.
I love coffee, and feel strong support for those whose physical appearance is a handicap in society. However, I vote for Meister Eckardt who continued to speak out as God gave him utterance and did not just withdraw from the battle for righteousness.
Meister Eckhart, of course!
I’ve some vague recollection of a 70s cult where people endured harsh confrontation in search of peace and light. I forget what it was called, but I associate that thing with the name Meister Eckhart, wrongly, I’m sure… but when I started hanging out with folks who like things like Lent Madness and Medieval mystics, the mention of his name would trigger associations with 70s. I forget when I learned, years into it all, that he was someone quite different — but still kinda similar. Drogo is my patron saint for several reasons, coffee the least of them. I think I’d enjoy his kitsch (previous comments I’d called swag), especially if they’ve got an action figure.
Difficult choice today. Drogo breaks my heart. But I’m Team Mystic. Go Meister Eckhart!
Drogo is giving this musical theater geek serious Phantom vibes. I bet he was much nicer then the Phantom though. “Saint Drogo of Sebourg is there, praying for your soul.”
I had a life much like Drogo. I am glad to hear of and will further learn about him. However, I love Meister Eckert and his work and couldn’t NOT vote for him!
As I read about Drogo, with whom I was not familiar, I more and more thought perhaps I would vote for him, fond of Eckhart as I am. However, when I read of Drogo’s affiliation with coffee, I had to return to the old friend. I have no tolerance for coffee, neither the taste nor the smell (which sometimes gives me a raging headache and other discomforts). I may be allergic to Drogo’s patronage, alas.
What beautiful sheep Drogo looked after, it didn’t actually say that Meister Echart was martyred in the matchup, I assumed he had died of old age!
I’m sure that all the saints are watching the voting and the comments on a giant heavenly screen and having a good laugh as well, possibly holding mugs of coffee (purple or sainted) or St Brigid glasses of beer.
Go Drogo
While I have great compassion for orphans, I love my coffee, and I revere pilgrims, I must give my vote to Meister Eckhart because of his early understanding of the importance of honoring the Creation. A Creation-Centered Mystic!
Anyone who can actually be in 2 places at the same time has my vote. And coffee. Lets not forget the coffee. Is it possible one is connected to the other? Today a vote for Drogo, no disrespect to brother Eckhardt intended
The spiritual gift of bi-location appeals to me. Drogo gets my vote. I also like ugly saints and find them strangely appealing.
Meister Eckhart is definitely the one I’d rather share a beer and a prayer with; but I am voting for Drogo as proxy for the true patron saint of coffee, Tim Schenck. Another century or two will have to pass before Fr. Tim’s patronage is recognized by the Holy Church Universal; but his cult already flourishes at the Parish of St. John the Evangelist, where he maintains a branch Rector’s office at the notorious local caffeine dive, Redeye Roasters, and on more than one occasion has been surreptitiously observed turning tea into coffee lest the eponymous after-church hour run out of propellant. (Ha, Tim, and you thought no one was looking!)
Tradition also holds that on one occasion, when whole beans were mistakenly delivered to the parish hall, Fr. Tim rushed to the scene (via the vestry, where he donned his beloved cope) and extended his hand over the hapless container saying, “In the name of all that is holy, be ground!!” Unfortunately this had the effect of turning the beans into dirt, but it shows he’s working on his game. Perhaps bilocation will come in its turn.
This comment is amazing. Well done 🙂
Thanks, and thank you for the excellent Drogobio and for teaching me, and it appears many others, a new word.
Turning tea into coffee? What a sacrilege!
The patron saint of my life blood! Go Dro!!
I first thought Drogo had me at “coffee”, but then I read Eckhart’s bio. How could I, as someone whose saecular hero is Eleanor of Aquitaine, not vote for someone who adapted the language of courtly love? Add to that the charges of heresy for thinking outside the box, and yeah…Meister Eckhart for me.
Very interesting pairing, SEC! I enjoyed pondering the lives of these two saints. I was touched by Drogo’s sensitive spirit, and by his dedication to prayer and pilgrimage. I was even more impressed by Eckhart’s combination of academic honesty and humility, his willingness to recant any writings found in error, and his undeniable contribution through works that have stood the test of time. One vote for the Meister here.
Am of 1/4 German Heritage and 1/2 Irish and with no pairing from the Irish side I must therefore vote for Meister Eckhart
Bilocation must be Drogo’s top skill. His Wikipedia article claims he is the patron saint of the following and no one knows what ties him to coffee!
Patronage: those whom others find repulsive, unattractive people, Baume-les-Messieurs, bodily ills, broken bones, cattle, coffee house keepers, coffee house owners, deaf people, deafness, dumbness, Fleury-sur-Loire, gall stones, hernias, illness, insanity, mental illness, mentally ill people, midwives, mute people, muteness, mutes, orphans, ruptures, sheep, shepherds, sick people, sickness
If Drogo makes it through, someone needs to tell Jason Momoa (and his legions of fans).
#DROGOLIVES #GAMEOFHALOES
I voted for Drogo because I felt like Meister Eckhardt would garner the majority of votes. Besides, he was so painfully separated from society that he deserves to be honored by winning a round in Lent Madness!
Oh dear, another tough choice. As a Nashotah House graduate and our marvelous coffeehouse is named after St. Drogo, I thought, for sure, that would be my choice. But the mystics have always intrigued me and I feel a kinship with Meister Eckhart – he too broke some new and unfamiliar ground with the accompanying difficulties with church hierarchy. So, the Meister it is.
Another two wonderful folks. I love Drogo’s selflessness, and his whole bilocation thing. I kind of wonder if the bilocation made it easier to live in a hermit’s cell, though. Personally, I’d have gone off on walks with my second self while my first self was safely locked up for the protection of others’ sensibilities. Meister Eckhart has my vote though, for expanding the imagery with which we perceive God and sticking with it despite the narrow-mindedness of his judges.
I voted for Drogo because he is the patron of unattractive and repulsive people. Besides, his name is so Hobbitish!
Saints representing the unattractive and the unjustly accused. Surely both appropriate for this superfine and cynical age.
As Abraham Lincoln said,”God loves common people. That’s why he made so many of them.”
Ps. Voted for Drogo because I love Hobbits.
I voted for Meister Eckhart, because I have some German Heritage in my blood. PROST!
Drogo’s collect won me over. plus coffee.
According to http://www.loyolapress.com/the-patron-saints-of-the-culinary-arts.htm: “As far as we know, St. Drogo never drank coffee. He lived solely on barley, water, and the Eucharist until he died. His connection to coffee is that he was said to “bilocate,” working in the fields and going to Mass at the same time. Bilocation would require enormous energy, and coffee is an energy booster.”
I voted for Drogo because of his affliction and I felt sorry for him.
Interesting group of comments today. I think of this pairing as a confrontation between the erudite and the simple (not in a bad way.) Since I am not erudite, I will vote for Drogo. Most of his suffering was imposed.
I’ve read some accounts about contemporary Greek orthodox monks/mystics who seem to have the power of bilocation. Bilocation in their case seems to involve a warp in the space-time continuum: a wrinkle in time, so they are observed here, and then (almost) simultaneously there.
However, if Drogo had that ability, did he just pop back and forth to Rome, or did he walk? And if he walked, who was tending the sheep?
. . . After all that coffee, one would hope he could just pop back and forth between sheep tending and Rome!
Drogo living as a Flemish Shepherd and zipping to Rome 9 times, shows he looking for God in his life. Meister Eckhart went into the clerical life to show others how to find God, and he got done in by the evil side of church politics. Meister Eckhart gets my vote.
Drogo gets it today because of his compassion for the outsiders in many categories. In addition, being linked in any shape, form, or fashion with coffee, helped the push to vote for him. I don’t get to moving around and about ’til the cuppa joe is placed where I sit for each meal. Good blogs today.
Drogo is inspiring, of course, but Meister Eckhardt has been feeding me with much more than coffee for decades. My vote goes to him.
Had to vote for Froyo. Because of the way he felt about the death of his mother, and that he never knew his father. Also I’m a coffee phanatic and my daughter is a barista so that needs no further explanation. No I have not entered the Mug shot contested butvplsn too.
“mug shot” – play-on-words of the day. Love it!
I had to redo my comment because spell check destroyed the original one.
Had to vote for Drogo. Because of the way he felt about the death of his mother, which seems to have motivated his religious life. Plus, that he never knew his father. Also I’m a coffee fanatic and my daughter is a barista so that needs no further explanation. No I have not entered the Mug shot contest yet but plan to. Love the bilocate aspect also. Who hasn’t ever wanted to do that.
Meister E got my vote.
Do not let Julian be far from your mind!
Somewhat of a listicle for today!
1.) Feedback: So much to love about Lent Madness! Great writing. Wonderful humor. Lots of learning. And, the visuals and collects supplied are inspirational! Bonus learning today: I found out what a “listicle” is. I share this feedback with gratitude to the Supreme Executive Committee leading most fruitful collaboration that gives us a blending of ancient stories and contemporary culture. I love reading comments from which I also learn or get a giggle. So, it’s all good! Thanks everyone!
2.) My vote today: I knew I’d vote for Meister Eckhart as soon as I saw him in the Round of 32. I’ve long been a reader and fan of theologian Matthew Fox who was also a Dominican, silenced by the Vatican three times! Last thing I heard, he left his beloved Dominican order and was embraced as an Episcopal priest. (Anyone know about this?) Only today did I grasp the significance of Fox’s and Eckhart’s shared Dominican connection along with severe papal admonishments.
3.) Suggestion: Given Matthew Fox’s tawdry, in-our-lifetime treatment by Rome, and in anticipation of 2017 Lent Madness, I humbly submit him for consideration if Lent Madness offers voting if one remains among the Saints of God on earth.
Blessings!
JudyB
I actually studied Creation Spirituality when I worked on my masters in Theology back in the early 90s when Fox was still a Roman Catholic – love that he is now an Episcopal priest.
Laurel — I have been an ardent Creation Spirituality adherent for a long time, and my claim to fame as such is that I actually danced with Matthew Fox at the Episcopal Diocese of RI day-long retreat years ago. He led us in a beautiful and worshipful dance, and I thought I’d feel odd doing it, but it was quite wonderful! Love that man!
As a school mouse and lover of languages, I voted for Meister Eckhardt. Note that I did not call him “mister,” although that’s what we Episcopalians in the Diocese of West Texas called our rectors back in the day.
I went with Eckhart. Drogo brought thoughts of Lord of the Rings “Drogo Baggins”. and as much as I enjoyed that tale I was not real impressed with St. Drogo. No real theological gleaning from this gentle soul. Although I do admire his ability to bilocate. Yet there is no explanation of what he did to grow the kingdom or enlighten the people of God. So, I went with Eckhart. Even though I may not completely agree with his teachings I love how he challenged the satus quo of then and now.
Laurel – Perhaps not a bad thing to connect Drogo with “Baggins” since CS Lewis and fellow writers in his group, including JRR Tolkien, wrote in deeply Christian metaphors, and even The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings were typical of such. I think it was actually Bilbo Baggins though, but there must have been a Drogo in there somewhere. LOL!!
Note — actually got your name — Laureli — correct but darn old auto-correct turned it into Laurel! Keep wishing there was a way to do more with editing when we post. Sorry to get your name wrong.
While I was tempted to vote for Drogo simply because he is the Patron Saint of Coffee (really do you need any other reason?), alas I did not. I ended up voting for Eckhardt because I’ve ready a few of his texts and because of this line: “Following the usual procedure, the appointed examiners did not receive complete texts of the writings to be judged, only suspicious lines taken out of context.” How often does this continue today, where we take thing out of context to decide who’s in and who’s out? Lord have mercy!
After much struggle (I’m on my 3rd cup of coffee ) I voted for Meister Eckhardt because he was condemned by quotes out of context?
Coffee? Did you say coffee? Drogo got my vote!
How about we vote off both if these “saints” and restore yesterday’s “loser” ,The great and wonderful William Wilberforce?
As much as I love coffee and learning the (presumed) origin of Khal Drogo’s name in Game of Thrones, I’m going with the scholar, writer of Latin, and falsely accused.
I have to vote for the patron saint of coffee and ugly people.
Had to go with Meister because that whole anchorite thing that Drogo did leaves me cold, even with bilocation. I know, Julian did it yesterday, but still…Community is where it’s at and Meister lived in community, so I lift my bilocational cup of coffee to Meister Eckhart!
Received my daily email, but no place to vote?
Drogo, because who doesn’t need to learn how to be in two places at once? Also, coffee.
I voted for Drogo because he is the patron saint of the unattractive. Saintliness of the soul is deeper than beauty of the form! Also, his name reminds me of Khal Drogo of the Dothraki, sun to Danarys’s moon. (That’s a Game of Thrones reference.)
Oh Wow, We have a time-traveler! Perhaps I should have voted for Meister after all as my faithful church secretary Helen Crosby pointed out that Meister leaped forward in time from the 1300s to sometime before 1963 to speak to Pope John XXII who died in 1963!
So, does someone else know the ‘rest of the story’?
Marissa Wight- I believe that was Pope John XXIII….
I have prayed mightily for the power to bi-locate, but since the Lord hasn’t seen fit to bestow that gift upon me (yet!) I choose Meister. Besides, I’ll always identify more with word lover like him.
I voted for Drogo because I too want to bilocate and I am asking him to intercede to the Lord for me to that end. Also, anyone who can be the patron of ugly coffee drinkers is my friend.
A hard choice today. I went with Drogo to thank the heavens for the coffee I love every morning. But I am sympathetic to Meister E. and all the quotes taken out of context.
Meister — for all those who have been condemned for comments taken out of context. I am happy that he finally was heard in full.
Another very tough choice. At one time, I was drawn to Meister Eckhardtl; and Jakob Boehme in a first study of the Western mystical tradition, and I’m aware that decades later it’s time for me to tread that path again, but I was very deeply moved by the story of Drogo, which calls attention to the active side of his piety. He’s earthy, he’s practical, and he’s been beloved of what St. Augustine called “the holy common people of God” (plebs sancta Dei). I decided to go with Drogo. And please note: the numbering of Popes named John was complicated by the reign of Antipope John XXIII (Cardinal Baldassare Cossa (1370-1419). This causes the anomaly of numbering. The saga of Meister Eckhardt exemplifies the trials (literal and metaphorical) that arise when the Church takes up the role of administrator. (signed) Johannes non Papa
I didn’t get to vote. No prompt on my email. 🙁
You have to vote on the website: https://www.lentmadness.org/2016/02/meister-eckhart-vs-drogo/
Voted for Drogo because I was pretty sure Meister E would prevail–and finding out he’s the patron saint of ADD, I am glad to have done so. Not to mention coffee and protecting the Khaleesi! 😉
As a Lutheran and mother of a barista, I have to vote for Drogo. I thought Episcopalians drank only sherry.
Usually after Evensong.
Episcopalians, otherwise known as the denomination where the typical church kitchen has one can opener and five corkscrews? Our parish, known for the post-Great Vigil chocolate and champagne feast? Sherry, yes, and anything else we can get our thirsty little hands on.
Coffee. Giving up his birthright. Bilocation. An awesome trifecta!
really….PATRON.SAINT.OF.COFFEE. no need to continue reading –vote done.
Admiring Drogo for his loss of both parents, and feeling much for the suffering that ensued,
(I am just now reading a moving/horrifying book about children who suffer extreme losses:
The Boy Who Was Raised as a Dog, by Bruce D. Perry, M.D. and Maia Szalavitz, subtitled
And Other Stories From a Child Psychiatrist’s Notebook, What traumatized Children Can Teach Us About Loss, Love, and Healing), I am suspicious of anyone who reputedly bi-located.
Thinking highly of Meister Eckhart for years, I think he can handle it, if he’s isn’t voted in.
So I’ll vote for the underdog and lesser known, Drogo.
I am ultimately suspicious of anyone who bi-locates.
On the origin of Drogo as the patron of baristas:
The alternate spelling/pronunciation is Dreggo, which comes from the Latin for “bottom of the coffe pot”. Traditionally, the baristas were allowed to drink whatever was left after customers were served. Therefore, St. Dreggo (aka Drogo) became the patron saint of baristas, and by extension, coffee .
I’m guessing “dregs” comes from this word.
Ugly people have a patron saint? Who knew? I tend to vote for the fascinating saint that I never heard of before, so Drogo gets my vote. But years ago I wrote a book on caffeine, so his coffee connection cemented the deal.
No ballot was included so could not vote.
You have to go to the website
https://www.lentmadness.org/2016/02/meister-eckhart-vs-drogo/#more-5623
This tea drinker votes Drogo, who really should be the Patron Saint of Multi-Taskers.
Well, since Lent starts with Ash Wednesday…..
When I was a hospital chaplain, on call for 24 hours Sun. AM-Mon. AM, I could have surely used the ability to bilocate, or more. There was one day when there were codes going on in the ER, ICU, and on another floor as well. Families present at all, etc., etc. But Meister Eckhart is one of my old friends, thanks to Rev. Evelyn Newman. I could not fail to vote for him, if I can find a VOTE button.
Look here: https://www.lentmadness.org/2016/02/meister-eckhart-vs-drogo/
Just so you know, “listicle” is not in the dictionary on my Mac!
I voted for DROGO, a kind of “pity” vote because he was orphaned, but also because of his energetic patronage in various areas: Patron FOR coffee stuff, patron FOR people who are not gorgeous, patron FOR people who have mental illness (as I discovered on another website) and deserve all the patron saints and allies they can get, AGAINST bodily illnesses and broken bones and hernias and more….GO DROGO!
Though I am impressed with Eckhard’s ability to bilocate, I just have to give my vote to Drogo after reading of his life of devotion despite his many traumas. And being the “patron of unattractive and repulsive people” just make me want to lift him up even more. Thanks for informing me about Drogo. I had never heard of him before today!
Actually bilocation was attributed to Drogo.
Despite Drogo’s many positive virtues,especially his love of Rome (do you think he threw coins in a fountain or maybe just cooled his feet in one?), I have to vote for the mystic who ran afoul of the hierarchy.
Two haiku for Drogo:
Behind ugly face
Drogo prayed grace and beauty
into a harsh world.
Drogo knew we’d need
coffee when called to be in
two places at once.
Thank you, Mary W. Cox.
Heavy on mystics this year, aren’t we? I’ve already stated my fondness for mystics, and I also have a lot of sympathy for people accused of heresy (who often aren’t heretics), particularly by such poor judges as an Inquisition. Puts Eckhart right up there with Copernicus and Galileo (although he was three centuries earlier than them).
I see someone else thought of a possible LOTR link with Drogo. It was the first thing that came to my mind. My husband and I are consistently voting for the opposite saints. His reasoning is this:He is a contemplative Christian and I am an active one. I have been searching my mind for a diagnosis for Drogo and a number of things come to mind that Iwill not bore you with. I lost my father at an early age and blamed myself. This was in a time, the 60’s, when children were not included in discussions of cancer afflicting their parents. Left on my own, I remember praying in our backyard to God to beg forgiveness for my sins which caused my father to become ill and to please cure my father. I wasn’t even privy to what disease he had, lymphoma and later leukemia. Drogo, I feel your pain and I voted for you. I also have worked with children with disfiguring disorders, making it another reason Drogo was my choice.
Listicle? I did a double take. I thought someone misspelled “popsicle.” Or other things…
Frodo lives!
I read about these two saints this afternoon. It was such a tough choice, so I decided to wait on voting, until tonight. I have chosen Eckhart: because he was a Dominican. One of the most helpful, healing people to come into my life is a Sinsinawa Dominican Nun. Meister was a mystic and valued the arts. It’s sad that he lost his battle to prove he was not a heretic. Thank goodness we are not under The Inquisition today: I’m pretty sure I’d have already been toast.
I liked Drago too. But to feel that responsible for your mother’s death?? I think he had psychological problems. He needed a therapist. :-). Or did he???
Several days ago, I passed up the opportunity to vote for a saint who was actually swallowed by the earth to avoid an uncomfortable decision, something I often hope for. I cannot vote against someone who is able to be in two places at once. I voted for Drogo.
Drogo’s bilocation must have been real. If he was drinking coffee in the 12th century CE, he wasn’t doing it in Europe..
My vote has to go to Meister Eckhart, who was condemned based on quotes taken out of context – I immediately thought of Sr Dr Elizabeth Johnson, and how this is still happening today.