“The End is Near!” proclaims the ubiquitous sign of the doomsday prophet. In the case of Lent Madness 2018, our sign-wielding friend would be correct. Welcome to the Faithful Four. After weeks of learning and voting and debating, the saintly field has been whittled down from 32 to four spiritual heavyweights: Esther, Maria Skobtsova, Anna Alexander, and Richard Hooker.
As we like to tell our five-year-olds when they join their first soccer team (that’s football for our friends across the pond), “there are no losers, everybody’s a winner.” Of course we’re lying. Thus, while we can sing the praises of these four saintly souls, only one Golden Halo will be awarded.
Today Esther takes on Maria Skobtsova; tomorrow Anna Alexander battles Richard Hooker; and on Spy Wednesday the championship round will take place. For the Faithful Four, we let our remaining Celebrity Bloggers loose as they answer the question “Why should Saint XX win the Golden Halo?” In other words, they’ve been charged with letting us know why their particular saint is so awesome. In this match-up, we have the unique situation of Megan Castellan writing for both Esther and Maria. Oddly enough this is familiar ground for Megan who, in 2015, also had both sides of a Faithful Four matchup in advocating for both Brigid of Kildare and Egeria. Tomorrow Anna Courie is writing for Anna Alexander and Marcus Halley for Richard Hooker.
To make it to the Faithful Four, Esther made it past Lazarus of Bethany, Michael the Archangel, and Peter, while Maria bested Thomas à Kempis, Quiteria, and Martin de Porres. Here’s your chance to send one of these inspiring women off to vie for the Golden Halo.
Esther
I was introduced to Esther the same way most of us are. She was the pretty, beauty-pageant winner in the book of children’s Bible stories. She seemed glamorous and likable—like the popular cheerleader in high school. It wasn’t until later that I began to see her as a partner-in-crime.
Esther, the only popular biblical heroine who does not fit either the category of mother or reformed prostitute, somehow manages to survive and prosper in a world that sees her at every turn as less than human. Consider the story we know: the king begins his search for a new queen only because Vashti makes the (perfectly reasonable) request to not attend his dinner party so he can show her off. The king picks Esther to marry, not because he loves her, but because she’s the prettiest. So Esther becomes queen, having realized two fundamental things at the exact same time: first, that her worth consists solely in her appearance, and secondly, and most crucially, that will not protect her life from the king’s displeasure.
And yet, in this most dehumanizing situation, Esther steps up and intercedes for her people, valuing their safety and security just as highly as 
she prizes her own. In so doing, she became an inspiration and adopted patron to the countless conversos of Spain who were baptized at the end of a sword. Through her aid, they held onto their belief in their own humanity, their faith, and God’s goodness towards them. Esther remained, for them, a sign that God still acted for God’s people even when the truth was shrouded, religion perverted, and all seemed lost.
For us, Esther is an example of faithful leadership. Having made her way into power and privilege, she then uses that privilege in the service of those without it. Esther is a model of leadership through kenosis; a self-emptying leader who risks her life just as she had managed to save it, so that others, too, might be as free as she.
In these turbulent times, may we all be as brave as Queen Esther.
Maria Skobtsova
Maria Skobtsova was a simple woman, who lived a simple life. She was born in Russia, under the czar, and early on, discovered a passion for art and the life of the mind. She joined the Russian Revolution, but became disenchanted with it soon after.
She finally found what she had been searching for in the Church. She studied theology and ultimately took orders as a nun. But what set Maria apart was not her dedication to the church—it was her dedication to the world. When she took her final vows, she required the bishop to make her a promise, that she would never be taken out of the world. For her, serving the people who suffered was the true calling of Christ. That was where she found her greatest call. She frequently ran into trouble with the other nuns and priests she brought to her boarding house in Paris, because she would skip the daily prayers in order to attend to some emergency with someone off the street. She was notorious for her stubbornness, but she persisted, replying “At the Last Judgment I will not be asked whether I satisfactorily practiced asceticism, nor how many bows I have made before the divine altar. I will be asked whether I fed the hungry, clothed the naked, visited the sick, and the prisoner in his jail. That is all I will be asked.”
Maria lived such a dedicated and passionate life that it is difficult to sum it up briefly. She was, above all, clear in her calling and in her purpose, 
even when it confused and confounded everyone else, including her own Church. When she found the sick, she nursed them; when she found the homeless, she housed them. When the Nazis began rounding up Jews for deportation, Maria snuck into the Vélodôme d’Hiver in Paris and brought them food, and falsified baptismal certificates. At every point in her life, it was clear that she knew the call of Christ, and nothing, not society, not the church bureaucracy, and not even Hitler’s legions, would stop her from following.
Sadly, there were not many following Maria’s path during the Nazi occupation. Far too many Christians chose silence and denial to survive, rather than courageous resistance for the sake of the gospel. Yet Maria shows us just how powerful one person’s act of sacrifice can be. While in the moment, it may seem to have been in vain, if Maria’s life can shine a light for us in our day, then she will have accomplished something magnificent.
Esther vs. Maria Skobtsova
- Maria Skobtsova (73%, 4,888 Votes)
- Esther (27%, 1,844 Votes)
Total Voters: 6,732
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Two saintly women, both deserving! I went w/ Maria but Esther may win — and that’s OK.
FIRST OF ALL: Ms. Catellan, OMG!!! You are amazing
Agree! She’s gone to the final post w/ two amazing women~ Thank you
And she has a new church besides.
I third the motion. This can’t have been easy.
I concur: Megan is the ne plus ultra of CBs….
Matthew 25 carried the day for me. St. Maria of Paris, pray for us!
I agree! What an example for today!
I’m with John and Terie… Maria followed Jesus’ words exactly.
Exactly! When she found the sick, she nursed them; when she found the homeless she housed them. It wasn’t just one opportunity, but every one she could find.
Maria for the Golden Halo! Eastern conference bracket hasn’t got anything on this lady!!
And this year, a beer glass instead of a coffee mug!
I’d still rather have a mug. I’ve got a collection to maintain!!! Theyre like “icon cups”!
I’m running out of room for coffee mugs. I have a few collections… But my glasses are running thin.
Our Lord said the first shall be last and the last should be first. Just wondering if that means our Golden Halo winner should be considered the last place finisher and all the first round losers are actually the winners?
AARRRGGGGGGGGGG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Go Girls, right up there on the podium together. Don’t back down now, either one of you.
Esther and Maria,hand in hand
Oh my goodness ‘twould be so grand.
Yes, it would be!!!
A very hard vote I wanted to vote for both
Maria had neither beauty nor a position of favor with those in power to save her, and still she acted anyway. We can’t all be pageant winners , but we can all follow Maria’s example.
Another difficult decision; went with Maria today.
New Delaware bishop mandated Passion Sunday instead of Palm Sunday. I cannot get my mind ready for Holy Week now. This matching unfortunately did not help. Voted for Esther.
Oh, I’m so sorry about your Palm Sunday! What is that about? No “All Glory, Laud and Honor”? No “Ride On, Ride On In Majesty”? No palm fronds in the courtyard?
We treat Palm Sunday as both! Palm and Passion Sunday! I feel that helps people really prepare for Easter Sunday. Especially those who are unable to attend any of the other Holy Week services.
Same with us. The first half is all palms and joy. The second half was a dramatization of the passion. Plus communion. We lost the creed somewhere and the spot where I count everyone.
I agree. We also have both. Palm Sunday begins with a Samba parade (excellent choice for the “frozen chosen). It is so joyful. Then Bang! we enter church solemnly. It helps me enter into Holy Week–with the sense of how quickly happiness and hope were dashed for those hailing Jesus with Hallelujahs and palms. This year, after the March for Our Lives on Saturday, it was especially meaningful knowing there will be disappointments and times of despair ahead. But we know how the story ends.
How appropriate that the Marchs for Our Lives happened the day before the reenactment of that very political and extraordinary march we observe on Palm/Passion Sunday.
Yes! And that is what the 79 BCP calls for, bishop or not.
Maria for the Golden Halo! Can we correct the spelling of her name on the bracket poster?
Skobtsova – Yes!
Skobstova – No
Thanks!
Robin, thanks for the spelling correction! I blush to admit that I had not looked up the actual spelling. In the case of Мария Скобцова (Mariya Skobtsova), of course, the TS is a single consonant.
I am imPRESSED! Very cool!
For me it’s Esther all the way…
I voted for Maria simply because of an erroneousstatement in Esther… Esther, the only popular biblical heroine who does not fit either the category of mother or reformed prostitute…
there are others so Maria got the vote.
Deborah, Miriam, Lydia, Priscilla, Dorcas…. But maybe they don’t fit the label ‘popular’? Your turn!
Don’t forget Ruth. Neither mother (until the end of the story) nor prostitute. AND she allied herself with her mother-in-law.
Yeah, where did that come from? Miriam, Deborah, and Jael, off the top of my head. And three cheers for Vashti for refusing to be exploited in the first place. Also, I’m not sure where the idea came from that Mary Magdalene was ever a prostitute. Sounds suspiciously like a fabrication approved and put in place by the early Church patriarchy because they needed a fallen woman as a foil for their Madonna.
Bingo! Pope Gregory I in the 6th century started that bit of slander. Here’s a good article on how people have conflated all the Marys in the Bible as well as rolling all the people named John into one. http://www.uscatholic.org/articles/200806/who-framed-mary-magdalene-27585. This is a pet topic of mine; can you tell? 😀
Although we could just stop thinking of being ‘accused of being a prostitute’ as slander. It is an honourable and ancient profession.
I’ve never understood the “outrage” against prostitution. For some it has been the only way to survive. And it seems as though it’s a fairly popular activity, from heads of state on down to the little johns. Not to be confused with Little John. Maybe.
Thanks, Susan for the interesting article.
It comes from Pope Gregory in the 6th century
Exactly. That Gregorian slander against Mary Magdalene was much discussed the year she won the Golden Halo.
Oh, don’t remind me that I missed the chance for that mug!
While not explicited stated, Esther definitely did prostitute herself to win the beauty contest to replace Vashti.
“Esther, the only popular biblical heroine who does not fit either the category of mother or reformed prostitute”.
Into which category does Judith fit? Yes, I know Judith is part of the Apocrypha, but still…
Also Shiphrah and Puah, the midwives to the Hebrews who misled Pharaoh to save the Hebrew baby boys. A midwife is not necessarily a mother.
Marija’s activism to aid Jewish people during the Nazi occupation of France swung me to vote for her. To use the modern vernacular, “she walked the talk.”
I must vote for Maria. I read Sarah’s Key with my students, and we discussed the roundup of Jewish families in Paris, and their imprisonment in the Velodome d’Hiver. I continue to be in awe of the individuals who risked their lives to live out Christ’s message during those years of depravity and devastation.
This was the most difficult decision yet! Both women lived in their own time and with their own resources served God’s people well. I also chose Maris. She answered the mandate of Mathew 25 as does everyone who serves throughout Episcopal Relief and development.
It does not get easier, but we have to vote, abstention is not an option.
When I read: “I will be asked whether I fed the hungry, clothed the naked, visited the sick, and the prisoner in his jail. That is all I will be asked.” That was sufficient, add her enjoying a beer was an additional positive note. Maria is a blessing
They both saved Jews, didn’t they? And risked their lives doing it. Esther arguably saved more heads, but Maria sacrificed her life. Esther has a whole book and a holiday for herself, but I had never heard of Maria until this Lent. So, Maria for the halo.
left out of these accounts about Esther is the ending of the story in which all sorts of innocent people were killed in revenge for the plan to kill the Jews – Maria gets my vote.
Actually, Sharon Kilpatrick, this is not the case. The Jews were allowed to kill in defense, not “in revenge.” Since Haman’s decree to slaughter the Jews had already gone out, Esther pleaded with the king to rescind the order. The king allowed Mordecai to handle the situation, in the king’s name. See Esther 8:10-12 (all capitals indicate my emphasis):
“…Letters were dispatched…to this effect: The king has permitted the Jews of every city to assemble AND FIGHT FOR THEIR LIVES; IF ANY PEOPLE OR PROVINCE ATTACKS THEM, they may destroy, massacre, and exterminate its armed force together with women and children, and plunder their possessions — ON A SINGLE DAY…”. (Later, Esther requested that permission be extended to a second day, to prevent revenge killings of the Jews, presumably.)
NOTE: this was how the letters were written, NOT what was done. Permission was granted for the Jews to plunder and kill women and children, but there’s absolutely no indication that they did so. See chapter 9 for what actually occurred (if one takes the text literally).
In 9:2, we read: “Throughout the provinces of King Ahasuerus, the Jews mustered in their cities TO ATTACK THOSE WHO SOUGHT THEIR HURT.” This was in defense only. Notice that further along in the chapter, as details are described, the text specifies that MEN were killed. Furthermore, the text notes three times (by my counting) that “…they did not lay hands on the spoil.” In other words, the Jews defended themselves but DID NOT PLUNDER, despite getting specific permission to do so in writing. (Earlier in the chapter it described Jewish defenders as striking at “their enemies,” not innocents, and without looting.)
People frequently assume that there were innocents killed and revenge taken, but there’s absolutely no evidence of it in the book of Esther.
Thank you for that thorough explanation, Belle. I hadn’t taken the time to read it myself.
I love both of these saints. Maria served the poor and persecuted and died for it; Esther saved a nation, could have been killed, but lived to remain in a life of luxury. To be fair, she was forced into this marriage with the king, and may have been miserable the entire time. However, weighing all this, since I must choose, I vote for Maria.
I, too, must vote for Maria. She continued to work in disastrous times to save people’s lives, in spite of the threat to herself, she persisted. Her example sets the tone for us who weary of fighting impossible odds, Maria all the way!
I chose Maria. She shows me how I might make a difference as a Christian in my world. Feed the poor, shelter those who are persecuted.
Maria. I discovered her a few years ago, and consider her an inspiration. I love Esther too, and find it interesting in these times that we are voting one of two women who advocated for the Jews in times of danger, but… Maria because she is such an interesting, well-rounded person besides being a great protector who paid the ultimate price.
Difficult choice. I chose Maria but wanted to vote for Esther too.
Nevertheless she persisted !
Bravo Maria!
Who is Sister Jean of Loyola-Chicago fame backing in the Lent Madness Final 4?
Hahaha! Good question!
Some gremlin has set the dashboard authorizations in WordPress so that we cannot paste images into the text box (what could possibly go wrong?). But here is a link to James Martin, SJ’s Twitter site, where he has posted an icon of Loyola for the (wrong) final four: https://twitter.com/JamesMartinSJ/status/977766166629371904. Hopefully this link takes you directly to the tweet with the terrific icon of Loyola. I’m guessing Sister Jean would vote for whoever had an icon resembling this one.
It works! I would like to suggest to the dashboard gremlins that they set the controls so that all links open into new windows. That’s a very minor miracle.
That’s a hoot!
Hint for desktop/laptops (though it is not recommended to actually place them in your lap): Control+Click in Windows & Command+Click in Mac OS will open a link in a new tab.
For iOS: 3D Touch gives you a menu which includes the option to open in a new tab.
#TheMoreYouKnow
[rainbow emoji should proceed hashtag]
Ah, there’s a thought: If we could only do emojis! [monkey-see emoji]
Re: 2013 — Is there another Frances Perkins aside from the former Labor Secretary???
Not when it comes to Lent Madness. Yes, well-know Episcopalian laywoman & Secretary of Labor, Frances Perkins is the only former cabinet member to win Lent Madness.
Saints’ Brackets look better than my Basketball brackets.
Both of these ladies were my picks w/Anna Alex. that means
today’s vote will be like casting lots-a roll of the di-
Based on brackets-Hi = Esther, L = Maria…..
Boxcars! God Save the Queen
Voted for Esther knowing that it will be near impossible for her to defeat a saint who stood up to the Nazis. Everybody hates the Nazis, and “Modern” saints nearly always win the day in this contest, because I think it is just so difficult for us to put ourselves in the shoes of those who lived so long ago. But Esther too found power in a position of powerlessness, and used it to also save her Jewish family and neighbors. It is the conversos who ultimately swayed me, though. They chose Esther to be their saint, and so do I.
Thank you Megan for wonderful write ups for both of these saints. Maria’s focus on the obedience to Christ as opposed to church bureaucracy really brought it home to me – Inquisition, segregation, homophobia……..
By the way, Maria Skobtsova died in Ravensbrück on March 31, 1945. Wouldn’t the Golden Halo be such a fitting tribute for her so close to the anniversary of her death?
I agree. I’ve been pulling for her for the GH since I first read her bio.
Yes, and [Liturgical nerd alert] according to page 882 of The Book of Common Prayer 1979 she was martyred on Holy Saturday, as Easterday 1945 fell on 1 April that year too.
Interesting.
Be it a coffee mug or a beer mug, I just hope her surname is spelled correctly.
(Note: This year is only the second time Easterday has fallen on 1 April since then, the other being 1956.)
My 12 year old grandson started laughing when he heard Easter was on April 1 this year. He said “Jesus can say ‘April Fool!! I’m alive!'”
LOL –wonderful mind!
Like. I also agree that the Golden Halo would be a fitting tribute for Maria. Saint of The Open Door. She got my vote, but I liked learning more about Esther.
On Good Friday…
Huh? March only has 31 days.
Multiple sources tell me March 31st, the day on which she was martyred, ifell on a Saturday in 1945 and does so again this year. Easterday fell on Sunday the First of April in 1945 and does so again this year.
I voted for Maria. Although it was a difficult choice. Maria’s dedication through her faith touched my heart.
What a hard choice so early in the day for me. I have voted to both woman to get to this point but having taught religion to Preschool-5th grade in my past life, Esther was and is still a shining example for girls in the OT in my 3rd grade class. So, though I truly admire Maria I must go to Esther even thou I know she will probably not win. Please bring her back an other year!
While we have voted for Esther in the earlier rounds, the vote now goes for Maria. Esther is well known throughout biblical history, but we’ve just learned of Maria’s considerable contributions in this season of Lent Madness. We also think Maria has a better chance against either Anna Alexander or Richard Hooker. Go Maria and Anna!!!
Marias story resonated with me but I thought Esther s resonated with the current times when women are standing up for themselves and others. Kinda a.Saint for the Times up and Enough is Enough moments
Interestingly enough, I just got an alert from Amazon about the Queen Esther Squad tee-shirt. Go Esther.
A very tough choice, since they were both leaders who risked their lives to help others.
I love Esther. Purim spiels and festivals are lots of fun. I mean, there’s nothing like an opportunity to make a bunch of noise at the name “Haman” and enjoy some Hamantaschen while doing it. That said, Megan’s write-ups about Maria have captured my attention throughout. And this quote was perfect: “At the Last Judgment I will not be asked whether I satisfactorily practiced asceticism, nor how many bows I have made before the divine altar. I will be asked whether I fed the hungry, clothed the naked, visited the sick, and the prisoner in his jail. That is all I will be asked.” Esther has my love and admiration; Maria gets my vote.
Both beautifully written profiles. Thank you, Megan. I also am torn, going back and forth between the two. In the end, I vote for Esther in honor of my dear friend Eva, who loves her so much. I also think modern figures tend to do better than ancient ones, so I make my feeble attempt to turn the tide. Help me, Canute!
Maria, fierce and fearless, believed nothing could or would or should separate any of us from God’s love. Nun better!
Today’s edition of “Vision and Viewpoint”, a weekly e-newsletter from Sr. Joan Chittister, includes a brief write-up of Maria for the date of March 31, the date of her death in 1945. Was this a sign? This was a hard choice but tomorrow’s won’t seem easier.
I like Esther.
Totally agree Cormac-Should be closer
Russian beer — BLECH! Israeli wine in a nice class — Esther
This is perhaps the most difficult one I’ve seen. I voted for Maria because she was so right in knowing what was asked of her in this life – action that was more important than obedience. I suspect most of us would choose to judge her for the lives she saved rather than the fact that she forged documents. Esther also saved many lives and she speaks so clearly to me today in that she recognized her privilege and used it to help those who were oppressed. I believe Maria also used her privilege (as a nun who could sneak in to the Vélodôme d’Hiver and help others). We, too, are called to recognize our privilege and to use it in the service of those who are oppressed.
Agreed, Pat! Recognizing our own privilege and using it to help the oppressed!
So hard! But Maria is closer in time to this century so her sacrifice seems more relevant.
Since I couldn’t vote for both, I voted for Maria, but please bring Esther back if she loses!
Megan’s write ups made this a very difficult choice. Well done!
Sorry, but this is wrong! Miriam, Deborah, Judith are all biblical heroines and neither mothers nor reformed prostitutes!!!!
I’m voting both for Maria and against Esther. If Esther’s story ended with her defense of her people, that would be great. But it doesn’t. “Wherein the king granted the Jews which were in every city to gather themselves together, and to stand for their life, to destroy, to slay, and to cause to perish, all the power of the people and province that would assault them, both little ones and women.” Little kids were assaulting the Jews. Right. I’m afraid I would not have known about this except for Lent Madness! But Maria…she’s amazing, and I’m so glad to know about her!
Exactly, Barbara. So often when we are told the story of Esther it stops when she saves her people but what she does next is not something that I want to vote for!
Little ones don’t carry bombs and stones and assault “their enemies”?
Sure they do if led on by adults – but is that a good reason for killing them?
Are you deader if the bomb is thrown/carried by an adult?
Nevertheless she persisted and defied the Nazis. I choose Maria over the cheerleader beauty queen.
I will never vote for Esther and I don’t ever understand why she is held up as being an example to follow. In my mind, Vashti is the hero here. Esther on the other hand makes herself pleasing to the King and so is indeed able to save the lives of her people, but once she has power she encourages the King to allow those people who have been saved to kill thousands in revenge. For me, Esther is an example of much of what is wrong with our world; that when vulnerable we appeal for mercy but if the tables are turned we offer no mercy ourselves. Maria is a far, far more worthy candidate today.
Amen. Turn-about retribution is not the way forward… Grace and compassion and integrity are.
“For me, Esther is an example of much of what is wrong with our world; that when vulnerable we appeal for mercy but if the tables are turned we offer no mercy ourselves.” Exactly! Thank you for expressing this so succinctly and eloquently!
I love your gravatar!
Esther — as a call out to all of us who have yet to make use of our privilege or power.
!!
Esther, because life is not simple, and when lives are on the line, the Right & the Good are hard to discern!
Many times the grey is the more reasonable way to answer a dilemma.
Torn…I voted for Maria because her story, while strikingly similar to that of Esther, takes place in events within the memory of a few still living and the collective community memory. Esther, while no less relevant, has taken on the veneer of legend; a historical technique that memorializes history without all the messy business of factual data retention. Why can’t we be like the Japanese and feel most satisfied with a well-won tie. Best to all from Santa Barbara
I started reading today’s blog entries thinking how can I ever choose between these two amazing women. But Maria’s words “At the Last Judgment I will not be asked whether I satisfactorily practiced asceticism, nor how many bows I have made before the divine altar. I will be asked whether I fed the hungry, clothed the naked, visited the sick, and the prisoner in his jail. That is all I will be asked.” secured my vote.
I’m wondering, is this the first time a celebrity blogger has competed against herself or himself?
How do you solve a problem like Maria? She’s the one for me!
I vote for Maria. Her story is inspiring and challenging, and I bet she’d be great company too. I cannot vote for a woman complicit in the slaughter of her enemies. She may have saved her people, but in doing so, opened the way for them to kill their oppressors.
We don’t know if any of the Blessed Virgin Mary’s ancestors were among those saved by Esther, but we do know that the more modern Maria faithfully followed in the teaching of Mary’s son, and like Him was executed by an oppressive authoritarian regime.
If Christ-like-ness is a requirement for the Golden Halo, Maria should have her mug on the Lentmadess Mug soon.
Another painful choice. But I do like Maria’s courage to stand up against religious authorities for the sake of discipleship. Very Jesus-like.
I really, really love the story of Esther. Both of these women chose right over convenience. But, in the end, Maria won me over. I think I am the real winner, because today I was challenged by two courageous women to never back down from my faith and beliefs.
For her clarity and stubbornness: Maria.
A vote such as this for a time such as this.
This was a tough decision. Finally went with Maria because of her willingness to oppose evil (in the form of Nazism) and her clear understanding of Jesus’ call to love and serve one another above all!
Maria took seriously her vows and served those in need one by one whereas Esther used her looks and wiles to save her people. The spectre of danger was one element that influenced my final decision. Maria was not a destroyer no matter the sins of the oppressors as was Esther.
This was so hard to choose in this last round. Both authors did an excellent job of describing why “their” saint should receive the Golden Halo. Kudos to both bloggers! I am so conflicted; but because I, too, had a childhood book featuring Esther, I am casting my vote today for the lesser know Maria that her good works and life may shine. Thank you for the wonderful writeups!!
Megan Castellan wrote both posts today!
Voted for Esther but Maria may take the Golden Halo.
I love Esther, and she is the saint for me, but Maria is also awesome.
onward….
Esther for the Halo.
I read “Esther” first and figured she has taken me with this: “Through her aid, they held onto their belief in their own humanity, their faith, and God’s goodness towards them.“
But then Maria….we should all strive for such bravery of heart and soul.
The writing for both was superb, Megan!
Maria for me since she followed Jesus’s example so dearly.
This was undoubtedly the hardest Lent Madness choice for me in two years of participating. Both are completely deserving of winning the Golden Halo. Either way it goes, I’m happy. Thank God for both of them.
I loved them both. Both were brave and stubborn and did not fear death. I ended up going with St. Maria because she defied and challenged the entire idea of what was acceptable to do as a nun. Her truth was strong and clear and that’s what she followed. Not rules made by man. A true rebel, a warrior and a superstar in my eyes.
“But what set Maria apart was not her dedication to the church—it was her dedication to the world. ” I love this.
Maria is amazing, but Esther has captured my imagination this year and got my vote again. I wish it were a closer race at least.
I agree 100%. I kind of want Esther for the Golden Halo. The funny thing is these two women are sort of one and the same. I’m surprised the race isn’t closer.
Sadly, it’s a good year for women who brandish crosses in fascists’ faces.
If Esther was reincarnated, she would have been Maria.
Ugh, I wish this were the final match up! Both of these women risked their lives to save people.
I should have said, I wish this was the final match up.
Maria’s going to look awesome on my mug this year!
Maria was more courageous than Esther because she had less power but still perserver.
Tough job for Megan this morning, writing on behalf of both candidates. Unfortunately, the first painting for Esther reminds me too much of George de la Tour’s painting, Le Tricheur à l’As de Carreau (The Cheater with the Ace of Diamonds). Esther looks as if she’s helping to set up the disconcerted pigeon in a card game. And the second looks melodramatic and fleshy, like Delacroix’s Death of Sardanapalus. There are a lot of flesh pots in Esther’s story. I am swayed by the icons in Maria’s defense. And I love her determination to live out her call on her own terms, disconcerting her church at every step of the way. Vive Marie.
Good matches to the paintings! The second one made me think of Cleopatra…
I wonder about Maria: If she didn’t like the details of being a nun, why did she continue in that vocation?
I have to go with Maria. A woman who stood up to the Nazis when many Christians in her day turned a blind eye or were even complicit with them. The Sunday School stories of Esther were nice, but somehow Maria’s contemporary witness strikes more of a cord with me in our current tumultuous world. Who among us may be the Maria of our day?
While Esther is a worthwhile example of courage and knowing how to pull the levers of power, Maria had a life long service to others. In a time when churches in the West are facing membership and attendance decline, a turn to more service to others without regard to statistics is refreshing.As she said what will be asked of us on the day of judgement, is did we feed the poor, clothe the naked, etc., not how many were in church in a Sunday.
So often these past few years, the winner is a modern figure brought forward from spiritual oblivion. This year, we should remember those classic heroes who paved the way for people like Maria. Go, Esther!
Voting for Maria in honor of Lent Madness, which has introduced me over the last few years to several revered and inspiring people (saints) I had not know about before participating in this somewhat wacky Lenten devotion. And bravo to Megan Castellan for both profiles today.
I picked Maria to win it all, and I’m so excited that so many others have fallen in love with her as well!
Now what I’d really love to see is Anna crush Richard tomorrow for an all women Golden Halo face-off!
For Esther: for all those forced to convert at the tip of a sword or a gun.
Maria, you had me at “At the Last Judgment I will not be asked whether I satisfactorily practiced asceticism, nor how many bows I have made before the divine altar. I will be asked whether I fed the hungry, clothed the naked, visited the sick, and the prisoner in his jail. That is all I will be asked.”
Amen, Loretta
Good job Megan. I’d like to vote for you. (but voted for Maria.)
I will probably lose my bracket – I changed my vote and went with Maria – proud of both of these ladies!
I voted for all four of these from day one. Queen Esther has never seemed saintly to me, but she was better than her opposition. Until now. I’ve tried to give her careful consideration, lest I fall into the modern saint category. So, I pondered who would Queen Esther be in modern times–living like–well, a queen. That’s not working for me. I’ve always been a Mathew 25 nut. At this particular time in history, it seems all too clear to me that now is the time to act like Maria. Our only excuse is fear. Most of my Episcopal friends, and then some, marched Saturday. My home page was filled with my people marching. There is work to be done. Maria. I can’t wait to see what Marcus Hailey and Anna Courie write! Thanks for fantastic blogs today.
How to choose? They are both women who put their lives on the line to save Jews, so it seems like a balanced bracket. I cannot articulate why, originally, I felt compelled to vote for Queen Esther. Does she carry more importance because she’s in the Bible? Is Maria too modern and contemporary to carry the same weight? Does that make Queen Esther more unique? I don’t know.
However, after reading all of the objections to Esther in the ‘comments,’ I realized I’d overlooked the dark side of the Esther story. I’d always assumed the mass murder of the Jewish enemies came from the King, which, of course, it did. But Queen Esther had requested such a slaughter!
I doubt Maria would have killed anyone.
Thank you, fellow commentators, for prompting me to look more deeply into the Esther story. Like many, I’d stopped at her saving the Jewish people without looking at the atrocity that followed.
So, my vote will be for Maria.
How many other times are the stories told, in the Bible, of “good” people like prophets ordering the slaughter of their enemies?
Both risked their lives for the sake of the Jewish people, but Ester took a lot of prompting from Her uncle, and the kn while Maria went out apparently against the will of those who should have been supporting her.
I”m a bit surprised that no one seems to have mentioned [or did I miss it?] that Esther is widely considered as an example of historical fiction, while Maria’s historicity is well attested. I have always loved the story of Esther anyway, and so am voting for her, but should be neither surprised nor disappointed if Maria wins this round.
Someone did mention that about Esther in an earlier round, but I imagine no one wants to believe it . . .I voted for Maria.
You missed it! It was widely circulated in the earlier rounds. As Christians we are exposed to and expected to believe so many myths and legends and truths that are not facts, I fail to see what the problem is with the Esther truth if Esther is indeed not “real” but I guess I’m just funny that way.
Who cares who wins – they are both great. It is Ms. Castellan who speaks for them both who I find so admirable.
Mother Megan – could you have made the decision any harder??? This is closer than the KU-Duke game…
“At the Last Judgment I will not be asked whether I satisfactorily practiced asceticism, nor how many bows I have made before the divine altar. I will be asked whether I fed the hungry, clothed the naked, visited the sick, and the prisoner in his jail. That is all I will be asked.” LOVE THIS! Maria gets my vote today.
From my childhood, I loved the story of Esther. She was (and is) an inspiring presence.It’s only in recent years that I’ve been introduced to those like Maria, saints in our own age who stood up to unimaginable evil. Daily carrying out Christ’s commands, she showed us the way. Wish she could be here in the midst of the turmoil in our world right now. But then again, there are so many saints among us today. We don’t always recognize them. Maria’s got my vote.
Maria it is – “At the Last Judgment I will not be asked whether I satisfactorily practiced asceticism, nor how many bows I have made before the divine altar. I will be asked whether I fed the hungry, clothed the naked, visited the sick, and the prisoner in his jail. That is all I will be asked.” Yes!
This was one of the most difficult choices — I admire them both!
Maria in her first round and Maria today. Both very worthy but, my heart said Maria. It has been a wonderful discipline for Lent and I will miss it. Can’t wait for tomorrow.
Such beautiful and moving blog entries today – Congratulations and many thanks, Megan Castellan. I wanted to vote for each candidate. But at last, I had to choose Maria for many reasons but principally for living the call of Christ. How I wish I had that courage and faith.
Sorry, pretty Esther. You can’t compare with this:
“At the Last Judgment I will not be asked whether I satisfactorily practiced asceticism, nor how many bows I have made before the divine altar. I will be asked whether I fed the hungry, clothed the naked, visited the sick, and the prisoner in his jail. That is all I will be asked.”
Amen.
Maria Skobtsova for the win!
Maria’s quote challenges me where I live. I remember being a little child during WWII, going to Bond Sales, preceded by Community Sings led by my mother, seeing newsreels of the Nazi soldiers goose-stepping through the streets of Europe, listening for Big Ben on the radio as proof that London still stood, but knowing little of what was really going on. Since then, I have met survivors of the Holocaust whom I admire deeply. I wish I were physically able to join my sisters and brothers in marching in our own streets, calling for peace and freedom from fear in our daily lives. However, there are things I can do, and will. I vote for Maria.
I voted for Maria because of her kind charitable works around the world.
Uhhhh …. Much as I respect Esther, I have to say: It wasn’t a beauty contest. Viz. 2:13-14. Let’s stop propagating that childish fiction. The maidens went in and came out to continue living in the harem. Only 1 was chosen to be queen, i.e. Esther. It needs close reading. But! that said, it’s not history. It might even be parody.
The “childish fiction” is more family-friendly than the adult truth of what she was doing with Ahasuerus when she “went into the king” overnight. I would say this was more of a “talent” competition than a beauty one, though being pleasing to the king’s eyes didn’t hurt.
As to the aftermath what some see as two days of revenge, I have long taken as if you are attacked, you may fight back and won’t get in trouble because you fought back and defended yourself. But I haven’t gone back and reread Esther all the way through for a few years.
That’s my 2¢, your exchange rate may vary.
Oh my goodness! I voter for Esther purely because I was confident that Maria would carry the win… but how to choose between two such strong women of faith?
Esther, whose story of faith and courage I have always loved, is at a disadvantage because there is so much more information on Maria. Nonetheless, I voted for Maria because the clarity of her faith was so compelling. She was really put to the test, and she definitely passed it. Both women are an inspiration and excellent examples of women speaking truth to power using the resources they had at hand. Sorry to have to choose.
Megan, what an outstanding feat! Your summation of these two incredible women’s lives and importance made today’s voting all the more challenging! Either one is a worthy champion!
Had to go with Maria in this round. As much as I like Esther’s story, she is a fictional character. Inspiring, but not quite a saint for me. Maria made a real difference in real people’s lives by her courageous and stubborn actions.
Megan, your words are inspirational: “…a model of leadership through kenosis; a self-emptying leader who risks her life just as she had managed to save it, so that others, too, might be as free as she…” Both saints are inspirational, but today I lean in toward Esther.
Maria, Maria, I just met a saint named Maria!
Oops…missed voting on this one, but I would have gone with Maria.