In the closest battle of Lent Madness 2019 to date, Nicodemus edged James the Greater 51% to 49% yesterday to advance to the Saintly Sixteen where he’ll face Martha of Bethany for a shot at the Elate Eight. See? Every (single) vote counts! But be aware that multiple voting will get you cast out into the outer darkness of Lent Madness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Remember, Big Lent is watching…
Today, we head up to the Great White North of Canada to meet Hannah Grier Coome and back down to Philadelphia to encounter the pioneering ministry of Richard Allen.
Yesterday, in addition to the nail biting Biblical matchup, we offered everyone a rare glimpse behind the Purple Curtain that is the Supreme Executive Committee. In case you missed it, you can catch up here.
Hannah Grier Coome
Hannah Grier Coome was born October 28, 1837, to the Rev. John Grier and Eliza Geddes in Carrying Place, Upper Canada, and is known as the founder of the Sisterhood of St. John the Divine in the Anglican Church of Canada.
With her father serving as rector of an Anglican congregation, Hannah had ties to the church from the beginning of her life. On July 23, 1859, Hannah married Charles Horace Coome, a civil engineer working on the railroad. When his contract was complete, he took Hannah back to his native country of England. There, Hannah was influenced by the Oxford Movement and the local Community of St. Mary the Virgin. Hannah was immediately drawn to their works of service and their strong commitment to the mission of Christ’s church in the world.
While living in England, Hannah became pregnant but lost what would be her only child after a dangerous fall. Following a lengthy convalescence, Hannah and Charles left England and ended up in Chicago, Illinois, where her husband died a year later. Hannah returned to Toronto and connected with a group of devout Christians who felt the need to establish a monastic community for women. This group of men and women began working together to raise funds and find a permanent location to establish the sisterhood. Hannah left for upstate New York to train at the Community of Saint Mary in order to gain the education she needed to lead the order.
Sister Hannah returned to Toronto in 1884 to lead the newly founded Sisters of St. John the Divine (SSJD). The sisters were called to serve as nurses to soldiers in the Northwest Rebellion and returned to Toronto to grow the ministry; the Sisters of St. John the Divine continues to this day as a thriving monastic community.
Mother Hannah died on February 9, 1921, on an Ash Wednesday surrounded by her family of sisters. The order she founded lays claim to sister houses (past and present) in Quebec, Nova Scotia, Saskatchewan, Toronto, British Columbia, and Alberta. The sisterhood is known for training nurses, providing rehabilitative care, opening hospitals, providing education and shelter, and care for the elderly. SSJD serves both urban and rural areas of Canada and founded St. John’s Rehabilitation Hospital in Toronto.
Collect for Hannah Grier Coome
Almighty God, you have surrounded us with a great cloud of witnesses: Grant that we, encouraged by the good example of your servant Hannah, may persevere in running the race that is set before us, until at last we may with her attain to your eternal joy; through Jesus Christ, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Richard Allen
Many Episcopalians have heard the name Absalom Jones; however, few know of Richard Allen, Jones’s Methodist counterpart and co-conspirator for racial justice.
Born as an enslaved man, Allen and his family were sold to a man who owned a plantation in Delaware. The plantation owner was convinced by a Methodist preacher that slavery was sinful and eventually offered his slaves the opportunity to buy their freedom, which Allen did in 1780, changing his name from “Negro Richard” to “Richard Allen.”
Credentialed as a Methodist minister in 1784, Allen eventually moved to Philadelphia to minister to the burgeoning population of free blacks. He became a minister at St. George’s Methodist Episcopal Church but was relegated to early morning services for black congregants. This segregation was a constant source of tension between the white and black congregations of the church. While at St. George’s, Allen met Absalom Jones, another minister at the church, and the two founded the Free African Society.
In 1787, Allen, Jones, and other black worshipers were pulled from their knees during prayer, and the entire black congregation walked out, vowing never to return. While Jones went on to become an Episcopal priest and lead the Free African Society toward affiliation with the Episcopal Church, Allen founded the African Methodist Episcopal Church for those who wanted to continue in the Methodist tradition. Originally, the church operated out of a blacksmith shop and had to rely on white pastors for oversight and sacramental functions, but Allen was eventually ordained as a Methodist minister in 1799; in 1816, four other churches joined with what was then Bethel AME Church to establish the African Methodist Episcopal Church as the first independent black Christian denomination. Allen was elected as the first bishop, a ministry he served until his death in 1831.
In addition to making history as a religious protestor and founder and first bishop of the first independent black Christian denomination, Allen and his wife Sarah also operated a station on the Underground Railroad.
Collect for Richard Allen
Loving God, who makes us all your children by adoption in Jesus Christ: May we, following the example of your servant Richard Allen, proclaim liberty to all who are enslaved and captive in this world; through Jesus Christ, Savior of all, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
-Marcus Halley
Hannah Grier Coome vs. Richard Allen
- Richard Allen (61%, 5,586 Votes)
- Hannah Grier Coome (39%, 3,568 Votes)
Total Voters: 9,154
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This clergyman born into slavery
Methodically fought racist knavery.
When prevented from prayer,
He established elsewhere;
So Allen gets my vote for bravery.
Allen all the way!
Thaaaaats myyyyy booiii
men with the name allen are the best
I had trouble with these two saints. I know the SSJD has been a source of support for many over the yezrs. However,the struggle and bigotry Richard endured and kept on his path because of his faith and determination for justice confirmed my choice for him.
What a gift you have-well done!
I loved both these candidates and feel they are both worthy to progress to the next round. After struggling to pick a candidate between earlier contestants, I wish the matchups were picked a little better.
Close match ups are the best in any competition! No one enjoys a blow out. As the SEC always point out , the Saints already have their infinite reward… advancing to the next round is simply icing on their saintly cake. I just enjoy the ride!
This poem sums up all the reasons I love Lent Madness. A poem.
I enjoy your poems every day!
Love it!
Did it again!
Great thing
John I whole hearted agree with you, the font is small, but my glasses get ne thru! I am from Canada, But did not vote for,my fellow Canadian, I also,have roots in England and Ireland! And some of my family are United Empire Loyalists, I am married to a Anglican Irish man whose mother was born in Circleville,Ohio, his father was from Hepworth Ontario’! My uncle Art Diesbourg was RUM RUNNER ! I am Irish Catholic, but choose to be Condirmed in the Anglican Church in Windsor, Ontsrio!
I think personally that what the young man had to go,thru, was most more than anyone of us would handle,!
I have had both knees and hips replaced and had an – ANEURSYM , ALL,IN FIVE YEARS,the last was in 2012, I will be 76!years young April 12,2019, and feel the need to live to,spread the word about the miracles around the world and that people, some very ordinary people like me have something to be happy to be still here! I will be married to my love Gary for 56 years June /29,2019, God willing! We are presently purging having just sold our HOUSE Feb. 14/19 that we have been infor 51 years! I don’t always get to this madness in the early hours because we are moving March 18 to,our next HOME, till GOD TAKE S US TO,OUR FOREVER HOME!
To the brief limerick above I should add that I hold the greatest respect for the SSJD’s works, as well as for Canada and Canadians (both those I know personally and the nation itself). I have always felt a close connection (both by name and by inclination) to an admirable country that must find us a most troublesome neighbor at times.
Greetings to my fellow communicants of the Anglican Church of Canada; I wish that I may have the pleasure of meeting you one day in my travels.
John Cabot, you never fail to deliver.
Today’s musical tribute is sung to the titular song (and 11 o’clock number) from Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “Oklahoma!” I hope you enjoy!
Han-nah Grier Coome was a Pastor’s Kid from days gone by.
First she wed a man –
Moved to England
Where the Oxford Movement caught her eye.
Han-nah Grier Coome fell when pregnant. What a nasty blow!
Lost her child. She cried.
Her husband died
So she went home to Ontario.
She started an order this time:
The Sisters of John the Divine!
And we can say (Yow!)
That to this very day (Yow!)
This nursing order’s spread all the way across Can’da
Due to Hannah! OK!
Ri-chard Allen: born a slave who bought his liberty.
When he heard God’s call,
He gave his all
To serve former slaves who now were free.
Ri-chard Allen met a Piskie man named Absalom.
They were in a lurch
When, once, in church,
White men said, “You black folks don’t belong!”
Not letting his faith be restrained,
Allen was Methodist Church ordained.
And then with glee (Yow!)
He starts the AME (Yow!)
And Allen was the first bishop of the first black church!
Richard Allen’s okay!
CHORUS repeats on next verse:
(Golden! Halo! Golden! Halo!)
Both saints worked and stove fervently
To found things that still thrive currently.
So when we say (Yow!)
The world’s better today (Yow!)
For Rich and Hannah. Both should wear bright Golden Halos!
Golden Halo!
G-O-L-D H-A-L-O
Golden Halos! Yow!
It’s quite the musical morning on Lent Madness!
Both so deserving to win…
I’m dead and this song killed me. What a way to start a Wednesday day! Now I’ll have this song stuck in my head all day! But tRayhank you for your wonderful talent in bringing their stories to musical life!
Yippee kid yea!
“blow”/”On-TA-rio”
“Lurch”/”church”
“Restrained”/”ordained” — These are the rhymes that really got me this morning! So funny. I think show tunes and Lent Madness are the perfect combination for this competition! Thanks again, Michael!
Loved it! Definitely an ear worm!
I’ve been hearing Oklahoma all morning, and since I joyously cast my vote for Hannah Grier Coome, here is another verse for her to the same tune:
Mo-ther Hannah is the Saint for whom to cast your vote!
For she bore her cross, in face of loss
When the world swept all her dreams away!
Mo-ther Hannah took her grief and sorrow and with faith
Formed a place of hope, and prayer and love
Where the sick and needy could know care.
She knew Christ had called her to serve.
And from that call she never did swerve!
And she sang “Yes! This life is joyful praise!”
Her Sisters still sing,
“Thank You, O Christ for Mother Hannah!
Who helps us follow your way!”
Thanks Diana. Hannah is singing too. Even with so many difficult journeys she traveled, found God and saints to lead others. West coast votes for our Canadian +Mother.
Nursing is my bond with this amazing lady, she needed care and comfort for a time then went on to provide care and comfort to many. Hannah is my choice today.
While I love them both, I too had to go with Mother Hannah!
Well done!
Wonderful!
My favorite!
Best. Parody. Ever!
Brilliant song, Michael; thank you!
Awesome!
Michael, I love it! Brilliant!!
The Seven Joys of Mother Hannah
The first good joy that Hannah had, it was the joy of one.
One love as found in singleness of heart for God alone.
She was baptised, and married too,
Was widowed: free to heed God’s call.
Praise Father, Spirit and the Son, through all eternity.
The next good joy that Hannah had it was the joy of two.
When Jesus taught the ten commands were summed into just two.
To love God and your neighbour too
And this is what she strove to do.
Praise Father, Spirit and the Son, through all eternity.
The next good joy that Hannah had it was the joy of three.
To sense her call was amplified to found community.
The Sisters of St. John today
Give thanks for willing hearts that say,
Praise Father, Spirit and the Son, through all eternity.
The fourth good joy that Hannah had, ’twas grace’s joy to be,
To have her time as Novice with the Sisters of Mary,
She went to Peekskill, honed her skills,
Then made her vows with strengthened will.
Praise Father, Spirit and the Son, through all eternity.
The fifth good joy that Hannah had it was the work of prayer.
To start the new community whose first work was its prayer,
All other work proceeds from it
But prayer comes first no matter what.
Praise Father, Spirit and the Son, through all eternity.
The sixth good joy that Hannah had it was the joy of love,
To found a woman’s hospital where there was none before.
The poor, the sick, the unloved too,
Were nursed — their troubles handled too.
Praise Father, Spirit and the Son, through all eternity.
The seventh joy that Hannah had it was the joy of sight,
To watch her small community grow onward true and bright!
And here today we love and pray
And serve the world in our own way.
Praise Father, Spirit and the Son, through all eternity.
Mother Hannah gets my vote — for the community she founded and for all the people she and the community she began has helped and goes on helping yet today.
Awesome hymn Sister Elizabeth Ann. Cheering For Mother Hannah today!
Thank you Sister Elizabeth Ann,
Wonderfully written hymn,
Cheering for Mother Hannah.
Where is the like button for Sister Elizabeth Ann’s tribute to Mother Hannah
I want a “like” button (more precisely, a “love” button) for Sr. Elizabeth Ann’s tribute, too. How beautiful! I’m also cheering for Mother Hannah. Anyone who could start such a profoundly important, loving, creative, significant, active order as the Sisters of St. John the Divine deserves all the votes we can muster. Yay, Mother Hannah!
Good question! Hannah has my vote.
Hard choice, but the Good Sister has my vote.
Well done, Sr. Elizabeth Ann!
Thank you, Sister, not least for the reminder that the life of prayer is at the heart of your community’s life and ministry.
I’m curious to know what (if any) is the relationship between the SSJD and SSJE communities. As I’m sure you know, the latter had a house in Ontario for many years. The similarity in names suggests some connection…
There was no formal connection. Indeed, the SSJE Canadian House at Bracebridge wasn’t even near any of the SSJD Houses. However, I happen to be aware that one of the last brothers at Bracebridge had been an Associate of the SSJD prior to pursuing his monastic vocation.
Well done, Sister!
My vote for Hannah!
Beautiful, thank you.
Oh, that’s lovely, Sister Elizabeth!
LIKE. Thanks, Sister Elizabeth. I’m casting my vote for Mother Hannah in honor of my Canadian biological mother, Isabelle!
As a long-time member of the Associates of the Sisters of St. John the Dive, my vote goes to Mother Hannah. I honour not only Mother Hannah this way, but all the devoted Sisters of St. John the Divine who have served our Lord in unstinting service to others.
Not ‘Dive’! Divine! (Sorry about that, Mother Hannah, Sister Elizabeth Ann – my mind works faster than my fingers.)
Add me to the list of those wanting a “like” or “love” button for Sr. Elizabeth Ann’s tribute to Mother Hannah! And I agree with Michael that both Mother Hannah and Richard Allen should have Golden Halos. A tough choice today, but as an Associate of SSJD, I have to vote for Mother Hannah! 😉
As as Associate of the Sisterhood of St. John the Divine of 30 years, my vote is for Mother Hannah! Thank you Sister Elizabeth Ann for posting the “Seven Joys of Mother Hannah”, so divinely inspired and reflective.
Cheering and Voting for Mother Hannah!
Amen!
As an SSJD Associate Priest, I offer prayers daily for the community Mother Hannah founded – in gratitude for their devotion to a Rule of Life in response to the love of God, and which fosters their continued ministry of prayer, healing, and hospitality within this fractured world. “Deo gratia!”
Thank you Sister Elizabeth Ann!! A wonderful tribute to Mother Hannah – Thank you for posting the “Seven Joys of Mother Hannah
My love to all of you!! Marilyn Kennedy
Thank you for this wonderful hymn, Sr. Elizabeth Ann; am proud to have voted for Mother Hannah, the first Canadian woman to be included in this competition!
A beautiful poem! Thankyou Sr. Elizabeth Ann
! My vote is for Mother Hannah!
vote for hannah she amazing
Richard Allen for me. He founded a sect that has brought public spirituality to millions along with education, child care services, etc., etc. when those were not available generally to African Americans. Plus, I teach in Delaware and there are so few historical figures with Delaware connections.
Most difficult choice thus far! But I had to go w/ Hannah: Canada, nuns, woman.
This is a hard choice as both did many good works, without any indication of negative side effects. And both are from oft ignored groups. It is not fair to pit them against each other. I want BOTH to move forward.
This was a hard one but I chose Richard Allen. Both did wonderful works.
Despite the fact that “credentialed” was used as a verb I amgoing for Richard Allen.
As the music from the local AME church gets carried to the nearby public school, I must vote that Richard Allen deserves a halo that shows sainthood to all around.
As a member of the Diocese of Pennsylvania, I have to vote for Absolom Jones’ companion in faith.
I look forward to the great limerick and song parody every day! They put a smile on my face and give my heart a lift. Thank you!!
Richard Allen is very brave he gets my vote
NO VOTE FOR HANNAH MAGGIE YOU ARE WRONG!!!!!!! Gods blessings to you though…..for everyone who sees this we are friends and i know her
hmmm……..
ok i will jk
Tough one. Normally, I would go with any woman foundress of a religious order. Rebels all, even if the narratives don’t say that. But this Philly girl could not say no to the founder of Mother Bethel AME. Richard Allen.
Clever reply, Irene!
Hannah!!!!!!!!!!!Vote PLEASE!!!!!!!
My vote is for Hanna Her work is very alive yet today
A tough call!
Being Canadian, this one was an easy choice.
This was the toughest choice yet!
The decision on who to vote for is so difficult this year!
Vote for Hannah she is a very holy and wonderful women. She stuck through the task God gave her and completed his will for her. God’s blessings everyone
Sorry – couldn’t vote for anyone bearing the name of my ex.
Allen set precedence
With boycott attempt
Little did he know
Not so long ago
His brothers did the same
With Civil Rights fame
Touché! And wouldn’t they be proud!
Excellent, thank you
I found this vote harder to make than the one between Mary and Martha of Bethany. Both holy and qualified candidates with outstanding reasons to earn our votes. Good Job!
Love the musical tributes, and poems and hymns…but today i am agonizing!! Was disappointed that John lost yesterday and that Chrysostom won before that…I’m not doing great this year in my choices. But i am being true to my beliefs, which is why Hannah vs. Richard is so darn tough!! Let me ponder further. I enjoy reading the comments so perhaps i shall be inspired!
Why was Mother Hannah not included in the monastic quarter of the bracket?! Voting for her today, and sending all good blessings to SSJD.
Richard Allen, “lesser known?” Not to us whose hearts are strangely warmed. Founder of the AME and a true hero of the faith.
Hannah all the way! She had no desire to start a religious community, she just wanted to join one (in England). She tried to resist the entreaties of a pesky bunch of Toronto Anglicans to form the first Canadian-made community of sisters, but in the end, she decided the choice was God’s, not hers, and invoked the words of Mary: “Do whatever He asks of you.” Hannah bravely took the torch without any idea of what lay ahead of her. That takes guts, and faith.
Voting for Richard Allen. Overcame so much as a former slave and gave hope and dignity to fellow African Americans in the Methodist tradition. The Methodists could use reminders of positive action just now.
Agreed! As a Methodist I concur.
And let it be noted now, in case Hannah does not survive here for another day, that her community, SSJD, welcomed women of color as Sisters at a time when Religious communities in the USA would not do that.
That is history I was unaware of. Thank you.
Thank you for this additional information, Sister Mary Winifred. I was compelled to vote for Hannah, since I am a Canadian, born in Toronto.
This is the kind of match-up that causes me to really examine my own biases, known and unknown, intentional and subconscious – Anglican v. non-Anglican, contemplative v. active (though Hannah was an active contemplative), monastic v. parochial, male v. female, and yes, person of color v. European ancestry. While I’ve voted, it’s something I will reflect on for the rest of the day, and I won’t be unhappy with either moving forward. They are both commemorated, so both have something to offer us and teach us! Most importantly, I hope I will learn from both of them.
Well said – may we each examine our hearts in like manner and reflect and learn from each of these precious saints!
Dirk, I am enjoying your comments; they have given me something to ponder all day. Thank you!
Ahh, there is the real meaning in Lent Madness! I will follow your example and do the same.
Hi Dirk.
I’d planned on oting for Richard. I kew him. Hannah I didn’t but reading Hannah’s write-up I had no choice. I am blessed to work at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine soooo Hannah You Go Girl!
This has been a tough day — I planned on VOTING for Richard. I KNEW him, etc.
Hi, Dirk. I would argue that contemplative vs. active is a false dichotomy. I am learning that many if not most contemplatives by their seeing God in everyone and everything feel drawn to activism. Once you see God in your neighbor or in nature, you are pained by their pain or harmed by their harm and want to do all you can to help or change the situation.
If you’re talking about desert monks or anchorite nuns, their activism may be limited, but modern contemplatives such as Thomas Merton and Thích Nhất Hạnh have done a lot to change the world.
But I know what you mean.
Thank you for this, and I totally agree. I wrestled with that!
I voted for Hannah. The idea of germinating and growing an order of women in Canada, a beautiful field of service, is too charming to resist. I cannot help but see that as a type of women’s empowerment, through organization and service. An Anglican house of women would be a powerful force for good. Hosannah Hannah.
I kept thinking of “Call the Midwife” and sure enough, the Community of St John the Divine in England is indeed the inspiration for the book and the series. The Sisterhood of St John the Divine in Canada “has been active in liturgical renewal and unequivocal in its acceptance of the Book of Alternative Services” (Wikipedia). I must go visit St John’s House in Victoria, BC. The women will be very distinctive; they wear bright blue habits!
I’m glad to know that habit is blue; it looked like Victorian funereal habiliment! Blue is much better, I think.
If I’d known about “Call the Midwife” I definitely would have voted for Hannah. This is what comes of voting early, before the additional information starts to flow.
But if you wait too late, then few people will come back to engage with your comments! 🙁
I’m thinking it’s well past time for the admins to generate Lent Madness 2.0 with more robust software. This old WordPress jalopy is definitely clanking and dripping oil and throwing rods right and left. The laity have been demanding “like” buttons for–like–forever. And we need textboxes that auto-populate (they did up until this year), and a system of alerts to know whom to respond to in order to stimulate discussion. Also what is this font size? 3? Is reading through the pious commentary to become a method of self-mortification during Lent? I’m agin’ it! I vote for a technological upgrade for next year. Perhaps dedicate all the proceeds of the Lentorium to an ad hoc committee with tech support to come up with a new and improved software package for next year. This is social media as it should be. When the saints come marching in, they need to find vibrant, user-friendly discussion threads!
Hear, hear, St Celia! Surely the great and powerful SEC can make these things happen! Whatever encourages conversation should be done!
I must respectfully disagree with St Celia, Susan and others who advocate for “like” buttons, for the following reasons:
First, what makes Lent Madness special (to me, anyway) is not the voting. It’s the heartfelt and often deeply personal discernment that takes place both before the voting starts, and when we (sometimes) choose to share that with others here.
I believe that to add “like” buttons and other social media widgets would not add anything meaningful to our Lenten meditation as we engage in this discourse with each other; rather, it would act against such discourse, by removing an essential threshold of engagement: stating we like or dislike a comment.
It takes no intellectual or spiritual effort to issue a quasi-anonymous “like”. It is, to be honest, a short cut, a desire to be part of a group. As such, it is contrary both to our chosen path as Christians (a stony path in this world of mental, physical and spiritual shortcuts), and to our personal walk through Lent.
Likewise I see no added value in auto-populating fields, alert systems and other ways to “streamline” our participation. That’s not what Lent’s about! It’s about taking our time, thinking it through, learning from others and from ourselves.
St Celia, I concur that the small font size is sometimes hard on my aging eyesight. On my Mac, I just zoom in on the page; I assume that’s possible on Windows as well. On phones and tablets, one can choose to increase text magnification; WordPress will respect that setting.
One improvement I can join you in supporting, however: the “comments feed” link referenced at the beginning of each post’s comments section does not seem to work (at least for me). I believe it is meant to point to a chronological (rather that threaded) list of comments, making it easier to catch up with the last hour’s posts. For now, I just search for “3:” to find all posts made from 3:00 to 3:59 PM, etc. It works just as fast, to be honest — and it gives me the context as well.
Please feel free to reply to me with your comments, suggestions, improvements, rebuttals, etc. Over the last week I have come to value your thoughts, as well as those of the other participants here. But please: no “likes”, dittos” “dislikes”, etc: they won’t tell me .
Thank you so much for saying what I’ve thinking and trying to say in far less gracious terms. We do not need a “like” button. We do need thoughtful comments.
For some reason, WordPress stripped out some key words from my comment above.
The last part of the third paragraph should read “rather, it would act against such discourse, by removing an essential threshold of engagement: stating _why_ we like or dislike a comment.”
The final paragraph should read:
“Please feel free to reply to me with your comments, suggestions, improvements, rebuttals, etc. Over the last week I have come to value your thoughts, as well as those of the other participants here. But please: no “likes”, dittos” “dislikes”, etc: they won’t tell me _why_.”
John, I think you make a good point about the “like” button. I can live without that, and I can try your search strategy. I don’t mind spending time on LM at all, but there’s time and there’s TIME. I would truly like not to have to type in my name and email every time I comment on someone else’s comment. I really like to converse about things, but I wish I didn’t have to sift through all the comments from beginning to end to find new responses to my comments. Capiche? The comments section is far and away the best part of LM for me. I learn so much, and I love the community that is built–even if for a short time.
Toughest choice yet for me, still will vote for Hannah as I was until now unaware of her brave choice.
I guess it wouldn’t be Lent “Madness” if it were easy! Both Hannah and Richard are worthy of votes, but how do I decide to cast mine? Btw, the songs and poems are wonderful and put each candidates’ qualities/accomplishments in perspective. Thank you to all those creative writers (I especially love the show tunes!)
Hannah and Richard took their ‘adversity’, Hannah’s being female with the loss of both infant and husband, and Richard’s being African American in the 18th century, and used that to energize them into performing good works for their faith. They BOTH are deserving to move on to the next level! Such a quandary!
What a conundrum! Who to choose? I voted for Hannah because I also lost a child.
Very sorry for your loss.
Hannah gets my vote today. She might have become victim to self pity given the loss of her child and her husband, but she chose a life of service to others and established a powerful network of devout people dedicated to training nurses, providing rehabilitative care, opening hospitals, providing education and shelter, and care for the elderly. A life of service to others gets Hannah my vote.
It’s Hannah for me: prayer, education, including the latest medical diagnostic technology at the time (x-ray), expert care of the sick. She was a Strong Woman indeed, strong in her love of God and of neighbor, and of course, determined!
Hannah founded a religious order, but Richard founded a whole church. An absurd (and maybe typically male) basis for a vote, but the alternative would have been a coin toss.
SPOILER ALERT
After voting I looked at the current results and was surprised. Sarah doesn’t deserve to be down by so much. I’d reverse my vote if I could.
Tough choice today – both inspiring saints – but I went with Hannah because she founded an order that cares for the elderly and provides shelter. Plus she overcame great grief (losing an only child and a husband) to do great good in the world for the glory of God.
Hard choice, both such worthy candidates, but I had to go with Hannah. Fellow Canadian, plus a big fan of the SSJD!
Most fitting that Anna Fitch Courie wrote about a nurse. Good job.
Delighted to make the acquaintance of two inspiring saints. My vote goes to Richard Allen who knew great injustice yet strived for good, took great risks to help others, and for his great faithfulness.
Here in the Diocese of Pennsylvania, I honor the witness and ministry of both Absalom Jones and his colleague Richard Allen; Richard gets my vote. But I also served in New York for several years, and must point out to Hannah’s biographer that even back in the 19th century, Peekskill, in Westchester County, where Hannah sojourned with the Community of St. Mary, was not in upstate New York! #AManhattanitesViewOfTheWorld
Voted for Richard Allen, though Hannah was quite compelling. We are also enjoying the limericks, poems, musical takeoffs, and hymns along the way. They help lighten the load of choosing between two very worthy folks.
A Canadian! Hurray for the SSJD – may their work long continue – prefer to vote for active service. Their retreats and spiritual development for women who are seeking, enhancing or developing their faith lives are well known in Canada – especially the Companions program. Such ongoing richness and vitality – a living faith!
Here in the southern US, AME churches are scattered across fields and urban street corners throughout. I’m very impressed to have learned that Richard Allen is the reason! And even though I desperately wanted to be a nun as a child, and even though my heart goes out to Hannah for losing both her child and her husband, I’m voting for Richard for overcoming so many obstacles to start the AME.
I was crushed to read that Allen’s plantation owner had a conversion experience to free his slaves, but only if they paid him for it. Nevertheless, Richard persisted. and housed a station on the Underground Railroad to boot!
Not in any way to justify slavery, of course, but I imagine that many conscientious folk were trapped in the system — in the economy of the time and place they couldn’t afford not to own slaves, and then they couldn’t afford to free them. The practice of allowing slaves to buy their freedom over time, which would have entailed allowing them to earn and save money, seems to have been not uncommon and preferable to George Washington’s solution of freeing his slaves by his will and so kicking the can to the next generation. So I’m not without sympathy for Allen’s Delaware master, who likely suffered from the blindness that prevented most whites, South and North, from appreciating the true horror of the “peculiar institution” and the Jim Crow era that replaced it.
I think of my Italian grandfather, who was in Mississippi during the Civil War and according to family tradition had a grocery business and owned a few slaves. With the Emancipation Proclamation and the fall of Vicksburg they were free to leave; “some did, and some didn’t” (to quote my father quoting his grandpappy at first or second hand) and continued to work for him for pay until 1868, when he pulled up stakes and went back to Genoa.
Speaking of blindness, as a young man I received that information as a quaint family curiosity and am grateful to have lived long enough for my eyes to be opened enough to appreciate my and family’s complicity in our country’s original sin. Sadly, I don’t expect a complete cure in this world; but I pray that I may receive one in the next.
You make an interesting point, and I understand why they did it. But the plantation owner still would have been a lot better off having simply freed them, than the slaves who had to save their wages to buy their freedom, and then probably had nothing to start on… But, yes, we all have our blind spots, for certain.
So happy to know about your family history. “Grandpappy” is a word I haven’t heard in a while. My mama talks about her “Pappy Todd” (really her “grandpappy”).
The US could have solved a lot of problems by giving the former slaves some variant of “40 acres and a mule” after the Civil War. Even small stakeholdings and assistance in finding their family members would have gone a long way toward preventing today’s strife over the very concept of “reparations.” But then Reconstruction would have needed to be much more robust and longer lasting. And we would have needed to invest in public education and (no “separate but equal”) a reformed legal and judicial system. It’s dismaying even shocking to see how entrenched racism is in our culture still. I’m afraid that the concept of “federalism” has become so perverted (by parasitical eponymous societies, say) that we will have to revisit the constitution itself or we’ll never cleanse ourselves of the nation’s original sin. Peculiar exceptionalism, indeed.
If only . . . and if only there were some easy way out of the morass.
Proud to have been raised in the AME church. Team Allen Richard all the way. “God our Father, Christ our Redeemer, Holy Spirit our Comforter, Humankind our Family”. AME motto
The songs have enhanced the site. Hannah for her rehab committment.
Richard Allen’s story is certainly worthy of a vote, but as a patriotic Ontarian Anglican I have to cast mine for Hannah Grier Coome. As a sidebar, I must comment on how much I appreciate the many informative and insightful comments that are posted on Lent Madness. This is my first year as a Lent Madder, and I regret missing the previous nine.
The Rev. Allen for me — what courage in the face of so much racism. And my vote is also in honor of the struggles facing the US Methodist Church today — may God’s love for all prevail.
I voted for Mother Hannah, as the founder of the first religious order for women in North America that welcomed sisters of colour when they were not allowed to join any of the US communities.
Where is Oliver?? Anyone know?
I’m missing you!
And Pailet, seven years old and voting on the first day! Ou est Pailet?
Richard Allen a true Hero for all times! He endured the degradation of slavery and than being Free endured the inequality in trying to have a life!
Richard never gave up on his personal aspirations. Richard remained true and walked the talk of Jesus Christ. Amen
This is a tough one, but as a Canadian I have to vote for Hannah!
Scott and Tim, you must compile a Lent Madness hymnal from the best of the commenters — truly inspired this year.
I voted for Hannah today. Love them both, but a good friend of mine is an Episcopal nun, and as the descendant of railroaders, I liked that connection as well.
I like the way Allen maintained a spiritual path throughout the ordeals. Working on the Underground Railroad was far preferable to send freedmen to Canada because of the Black Codes of many Northern States that forbade free blacks to live there, than the violence which many abolishionists were advocating and some initiating in the South
such as Lysander Spooner and others.
First of all, I cannot believe James the Greater was defeated ! He always seemed to get a bad rap anyways.
I am reading The Invention of Wings, a novel about slavery in the early 1800s.
Such atrocities did occur to these poor black families, and one cannot even conceive of the mindset of slavery.
I voted for Rev. Allen
I Voted for Mother Hannah. She visited my mother on her death bed in September 1987. I put Hanna’s picture up at the foot of the bed and my mother’s eyes lit up. I know she came to take my mother to heaven.
Having been schooled by the Sisters of St. Mary at St. Mary’s in Peekskill, New York, Hannah gets my vote.
I’m touched by Mother Hannah’s story but am voting for Bishop Allen. God used him mightily both to preach his Word in the pastoral ministry and to fight for social justice.
Hannah for me. When in Alberta in the late ’70’s I would go to the SSJD convent in Edmonton for Retreats where we would be joined by the Sisters’ 2 Standard Poodles as we prayed and meditated. Now living on Vancouver Island, BC I enjoy retreats etc. lead by the Sisters in Victoria. Sadly no poodles attending.
I’m deeply respectful of Richard Allen’s journey but I’m a Canadian girl born in Toronto. Bravo Sister Elizabeth – even if Hannah doesn’t go forward – thank you!
I must say the Sisters did a great job campaigning for Mother Coombs. I had an article about her almost every day for the last two weeks on my facebook page. Bravo, good Sisters. Keep the faith, dear Babes!
A a nurse I have to vote for Hannah! I do admire and respect Alien but, without nurses healthcare would crumbles they are the first line of defense for patients!
First time commenter.
I have to vote for Mother Hannah because I know first hand of the wonderful work the SSJD continue to do to this day. From the prayers for my son’s best friend’s recovery from a catastrophic injury, and the comfort the Sisters gave me during those first few horrific days after the accident, to the nursing care given to so many, and to the peaceful and meditative retreats they offer for the healing of the soul, the Sisters give so much in terms of physical and spiritual healing. Thank you, Sisters, for all that you do. Thanks be to God.
It took 220 years for St. George’s Methodist Episcopal Church to say they were sorry for segregation.
Tragic.
Two wonderful saints whose lives continue to witness to the Gospel in our day.
But may I point out the trivial but annoying grammatical error in the collect for Richard Allen? The peroration begins: “Loving God, who MAKES us all your children.” Since God is being addressed, the verb should be in the second person, i.e., “make” instead of the third person singular “makes.” If that sounds awkward in modern English, then rephrase the opening sentence of the prayer, please. Thank you.
The solution adopted by the 1979 Prayer Book is “you make.”
That makes much more sense–we are praying to God, after all. Still, I’ve never seen “God” as the antecedent for a plural pronoun. Maybe that’s right theologically, but not grammatically.
I loved reading about Hannah and would likely have voted for her against many other saints. But being a Detroiter, where the AME Church is vital, I had to vote for Richard Allen. I’ve had a fondness for him for a long time, and loved when the USPS issued postage stamps in his honor a few years ago! (I can’t bring myself to use them up.)
I have framed stamps occasionally in the past. You might consider doing this with one of yours.
I really want to vote for both, unlike Monday where I voted based on who the last comment made at the time supported because I really didn’t want to vote for either.
Sister Elizabeth tipped the scales for her Foundress with The Seven Joys of Mother Hannah.
Being a Methodist clergy myself, my vote is for Richard!
Cheers for Mother Hannah!
Hard to choose between these two. Chose Hannah.
Pitting two immensely worthy people from different oppressed groups against each other? I’m crying foul!
The sisterhood originated by Hannah is known for training nurses, providing rehabilitative care. This very close to my heart. Broken, sick mentally, emotionally people receive gods care through the work done by the sisterhood. God bless their work done on opening hospitals, providing education and shelter, elderly care in a many yeas to come.
Methinks the statisticians for LentMadness may have goofed: On the the page “Bracket 2019” in “Round of 32”, the following is listed: March 11th: John Chrysostom (47%) defeats Margaret of Cortona (47%)
6% abstained in protest over the extreme asceticism modeled by these saints.
Boy, these matchups are not getting any easier! I admire Richard Allen and his congregants for their dedication and perseverance in the face of prejudice and segregation. Yet I am pulled to Mother Hannah, who suffered the loss of her child and het husband, yet turned her strength to God and to the service of God’s people. And she is a fellow nurse, so my vote goes to Mother Hannah today
Go Richard Allen! Avenge Richard Hooker’s loss last year!
Hannah gets my vote today – I identify with her being widowed at a relatively young age, yet she persevered and continued pursuing a life of faith and service in the name of Jesus. My kinda lady!
I appreciate and celebrate the comments about Mother Hannah. However, Rev. Allen, from former slave to Underground Railroad host and Founder of the AME, has my vote. Anyone who has fought against “America’s original sin” (J. Wallis).
I wish you would explain the initials “sjv” again. I thought you said “jesuit volunteer,” but I do not know what the “s” is: “Society of Jesuit Volunteers”?
Minister Allen has it for the dedication to moving forward with worship for those who were marginalized by slavery. To guide those for their spiritual development. He received my vote.
Both have compelling stories, but I chose Richard Allen for his faithfulness and determination to serve God in spite of the ignorance and inhumanity of his fellow humans.
Lent Madness challenges my already indecisive nature every day. This is no exception. I vote for Richard Allen. Such inspiring saints. Are they really just “folk like me”?
Don’t know much about Hannah Coome
Know less about Richard Allen
But I do know God loves them both
All halos should be tossed aside
Both had compassion and cared for all
There we find the eternal vote
What a wonderful world God has made
Thanks, Karen.
Allen’s persistence and courage has always been a beacon for me. Her could have become an angry man; instead he persisted and tended to the needs of his people.
My sentiments exactly
I will always vote for those born on October 28 !
Scorpios are a tight-knit bunch.
Richard’s story is very worthy but voting for Hannah today in happy remembrance of the wonderful SSJD women I’ve met over the years.
where is OLIVER? is he ok? maybe he’s too cool for Lent Madness?
He’s still here.. There are just so many comments it takes a bit longer to find him. We’re an expanding community, in so many ways.
I am a Canadian nurse with great appreciation of the work of the SSJD. I guess I could not vote any other way!
I had never before heard of Mother Hannah and the SSJD. Thank you, Lent Madness!
Nurse to Nurse – Hannah Grier Coome!
It was too difficult to chose today. They are both wonderful in there own way.
I was born and raised a Methodist in Lewes, Delaware. Many people, places, jobs and spiritual experiences connect me to both Mother Hannah and Richard Allen. I was confirmed in the Episcopal Church in 1976 as an adult. I wrote them here and deleted them for I had sinned and name dropped. I voted for Richard Allen.
I need some buttons too. Like. Edit. Delete.
I truly wish that the word “like” could e removed from the English language!
Have enjoyed the wonderful sisters for many years!
Blessings,
Jane Morton Brandon, MB
Another hard choice, but it is so much better to agonize over which of two attractive saints I will vote for than the recent matchup in which only the dog appealed to me. I recently re-connected with an old friend who is the son of an AME minister and the grandson of an AME bishop, and I am impressed by Richard Allen. But somehow Mother Hannah is the one who speaks to me heart right now. Besides, I am happy to be able to vote for a Canadian! I’m an American who lived in Canada for 25 years. (We came back because our children live in the USA; people often wonder why anyone would do so.) I fervently pray that we never get “Like” buttons on Lent Madness.
This was a tough one for me. I really admire Richard Alan and his ministry yet I would like to be Hannah.
As a Canadian and a visitor to the wonderful SSJD in Toronto, my vote is for Hanna.
I was born, and raised Methodist then became Episcopal as an adult after college graduation. With that in mind in some ways was kind of torn but in the end my choice had to be Hannah. She was a nurse serving soldiers in the military, plus founded the SSJD which I thought was very admirable. Also, an aside- the marriage to civil engineer with the railroad was something I identified with a little in that I had an uncle who was an engineer for many years until his retirement for Union Pacific in its early years until the early 60’s. The same gentleman also helped in the building of Sun Valley ID ski resort which Union Pacific had large part in and helped build, and put in the first chair-lift on Bald Mountain, which is a very well-known peak at the resort. One very lucky aunt who had also had known many years of living in the caboose of the early steamers like many couples with the railroad did, got to take the first ride up it.
Richard Allen is an old friend of mine; I learned about him in seminary, and revere him as part of the Methodist story. I am and always will be United Methodist, and grieve the current disagreements and hurtful things being said and done. In retirement, my husband and I returned to the congregation that is our church home, Christ Church United Methodist at 60th St. and Park Avenue in New York City. This is a church with people from all over the world, with every imaginable opinion, but all are welcome and loved. Nobody is excluded. We will remain so, with God helping us.
Gotta vote for the nurse. Besides, who are we as Episcopalians doing, trying to vote for a Methodist? C’mon.
Lent Madness: it can drive all denominations crazy with tough choices! (Go, SEC!)
I did want to vote for Richard Allen, but Sister Hannah got my vote not just for the work she did, but in remembrance of the Roman Catholic sisters who schooled me for 12 years in Salem, MA and who also served in Canada. They are the Sisters of Ste Chrétienne, with missions to the Cree in Alberta, as well as missions in Rwanda, Democratic Republic of Congo, and Tanzania. In this country they are in New England and in Florida.
I was blessed with a great education, and was delighted in more recent years when they accepted me with joy and understanding when I told them that I was now an Episcopalian.
I admire his stamina. He never gave up and his life was not easy. God showed him what he designed for.
I support Mother Hannah whose gift of herself in the founding of an Anglican order of sisters has given the Anglican Church and Canada itself the gift of healing, education, and spiritual care up to this day. Like Hannah, I too am married to a civil engineer.
I forgot to vote last week, but after reading I definitely would have voted for Richard Allen. My hometown was a stop on the Underground Railroad and I did a lot of research about my town’s involvement and the people behind it. Richard is my kind of guy!