In perhaps the first true resounding upset of Lent Madness 2019, Marina the Monk swept aside Dominic 62% to 38% to secure a spot in the Saintly Sixteen against Ignatius of Loyola.
In the last matchup of the first full week of the saintly season, it’s Mellitus vs. Ephrem of Nisibis. Or Bishop vs. Deacon (not that we’d ever encourage the pitting of ecclesiastical orders against one another).
After a full, intense week of reading, learning, disagreeing, and hopefully being inspired, it’s time for some respite from our little competition. From here on out, there will be no contests on Saturdays or Sundays. We occasionally share some weekend posts here on the website, and you can always check Facebook and Twitter for additional content, including some saintly recipes courtesy of the Lent Madness Celebrity Chef, Maria Virginia.
After today, the next vote will take place first thing Monday morning as the round of 32 continues with Tabitha vs. Dismas. In the meantime, get to it!
Mellitus
At the end of the sixth century, Augustine traveled to Britain to establish an official Christian presence in the region, although Christianity had been practiced in Britain for approximately 300 years. With the conversion and subsequent support of King Æthelberht in Kent, Augustine was consecrated Archbishop of Canterbury. Four years later, Augustine sent word to Pope Gregory I that he needed more clergy to join the mission of converting the kingdom.
Mellitus was part of this group traveling to Britain. A Roman and son of a noble family, Mellitus may have been an abbot at a monastery before he was commissioned for the trip. In 604 ce, Augustine consecrated him Bishop of London. Mellitus established the first of many churches that would be built on the site of the current St. Paul’s Cathedral. Mellitus and his fellow missionaries also brought with them books and other items needed for Christian worship. One of those books, St. Augustine’s Gospels, is still part of the Cambridge collections and is the oldest surviving Latin Gospel book.
After several years in England, Mellitus attended a council of bishops in 610 in Italy. The early church was in many ways still a loose confederacy of liturgies and practices. Mellitus supported the Roman date for Easter rather than the Celtic date (a controversy that would be decided at the Synod of Whitby some fifty years later).
When the kings who had welcomed Augustine and Mellitus died, their sons saw little political need for alliances with the Christian bishops. According to Bede, the sons wanted to taste the consecrated bread. When Mellitus refused, they exiled him to Gaul. Mellitus eventually returned to Canterbury after the death of Laurence, the second Archbishop of Canterbury, and was consecrated the third Archbishop of Canterbury.
Legend holds that a fire threatened Canterbury Cathedral, and Mellitus diverted the fire and saved the town and the cathedral with the rush of wind brought by his prayers. He died in 624. An icon honoring his ministry hangs near the American Chapel in St. Paul’s, keeping watch over a book inscribed with the names of Americans who died in World War II.
Collect for Mellitus
O God, you have brought us near to an innumerable company of angels, and to the spirits of just men made perfect: Grant us during our earthly pilgrimage to abide in their fellowship, and in our heavenly country to become partakers of their joy; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Ephrem of Nisibis
Ephrem, a deacon, doctor of the church, and saint greatly revered in the Syriac Christian tradition, was born around the year 300 ce in Nisibis, now part of modern-day Turkey. Most sources claim that Ephrem and his family were among the burgeoning Christian community in Nisibis, while some later traditions claim his father was a pagan priest. Regardless, Ephrem grew up in an incredibly diverse city linguistically, ethnically, and religiously—on the frontier of the Roman Empire.
Baptized as a youth, Ephrem was a part of a proto-monastic movement called “Sons and Daughters of the Covenant” (think Scouts + youth group, but way more intense). Members of the movement, both men and women, lived dedicated lives of celibacy, discipline, prayer, and service to the church from within their own homes. He would eventually be appointed a teacher and then ordained as a deacon by his bishop.
After Nisibis was conquered by the Persian Empire in the ongoing conflict between Persia and Rome, Ephrem and many of his fellow Christians settled in Edessa where they encountered even more religious and ethnical diversity. In the context of various pagan, Jewish, and Christian sects, Ephrem made an impassioned defense of Nicene orthodoxy, including writing a number of Trinitarian hymns. A prolific writer, he is known as “The Harp of the Holy Spirit,” and he supported the rise of hymns sung by choirs of women, including “From God Christ’s diety came forth” (The Hymnal 1982, #443). The female choirs gave women a role in the early Syriac church and encouraged Christian formation among women and families.
Lest we believe that Ephrem was all head and no heart in ministry, he died from exhaustion while ministering to the victims of a famine.
Collect for Ephrem of Nisibis
Pour out upon us, O Lord, that same Spirit by which your deacon Ephrem declared the mysteries of faith in sacred song, and so gladden our hearts that we, like him, might proclaim the riches of your glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Mellitus vs. Ephrem of Nisibis
- Ephrem of Nisibis (70%, 5,669 Votes)
- Mellitus (30%, 2,480 Votes)
Total Voters: 8,149
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One Mellitus, first Bishop of London,
By King Æthelbert’s passing was undone:
Off he fled (so it’s said)
With the sanctified bread.
You can read it in Bede, like my son done.
It’s good to have a son who reads Bede. 🙂
Err… Just a moment, officer. I know I’ve got my poetic license _somewhere_ around here…
You crack me up, John!
And don’t forget that it was just a couple years or so ago right here on LM that we learned who taught Bede to read and write.
And that was???
It seems to be John of Beverley; see http://www.lentmadness.org/2018/03/john-of-beverley-vs-martin-de-porres/
I wasn’t part of LM last year, but I like his name…
I am really impressed with John Cabot’s ability to write that AE combo for Aethelbert. very cool and impressive.
Janet Irvine: If you hold down a letter on an iPhone keyboard, you will see all kinds of (non-English) possibilities. Voilà!
Meanwhile, we have a high-energy tribute for today’s twosome: sung to the tune of “Today 4 U” from the hit musical “Rent”!
Lent Mad Ones, our saintly rivals on the Ides of March
Whose love of God helped spread the Church where our faith had been parched.
One will advance to the Saintly Sixteen. One is barred.
Ephem. Mellitis. En-garde!
Ephrem for you!
Mellitis for me!
Ephrem for you!
Mellitis for me!
Listen to get on board!
They’ve earned their just reward.
Ephrem was born in Cent’ry Three
In what’s now Turkey.
An intense proto-monastic group
Welcomed E.
They preached chastity and prayer,
Discipline beyond compare.
The bishops noticed E, ordained him deacon then and there.
Then the Romans were roamin’; E packed his box.
In Edessa, defends what is orthodox
Nicene Christian teaching –
And writes hymns.
He died while serving victims of great famine.
Ephrem for you!
Mellitis for me!
Ephrem for you!
Mellitis for me!
At the See Canterb’ry
Augustine wrote Pope Gregory.
His plea?
“I need clergy
For my ministry.”
Mellitis sailed north
In AD Six-Oh-Four.
Augustine made him bishop;
M built London’s church and more!
After a few years,
Mellitis attends a meeting,
Supports Roman Easter, but now his time’s fleeting.
Exiled for his protection of the host from sin.
Then was the third Archbishop, saved the church with wind.
Ephrem for you!
Mellitis for me!
Ephrem for you!
Mellitis for me!
Brackets be damned!
They were both great men
Deserving honor and glory
For what they did then.
The rules, as we note,
State we must have a vote,
You should click that link
And pick you fav’rite,.AMEN!
Sing it!
Ephrem for you!
Mellitis for me!
Ephrem for you!
Mellitis for me!
I said, Ephrem for you!
Mellitis for me!
Ephrem for you!
Mellitis for me!
I agree! Great saints!
Amazing! Best part of this year’s competition!
“Ephrem was born in Cent’ry Three
In what’s now Tur-KEY.” Hahhaha! I love it when you do that!
You amaze me every day with your wit and mastery with words!!! Thanks for sharing that with us!! I hope you get paid for this gift in your real job!
Terrific, Michael! Thanks so much!! I agree with Mary Pat… great wit and mastery with words.
Linda
Love your posts! As a choir director, I respect your way with great lyrics! LOL!
Both great saints. For me I voted for Saint Ephrem/Ephraim because it is Lent. The Orthodox during this time daily pray his Great Lenten Pray:
Lord and Master of my life, take from me the spirit of sloth, despondency, lust for power and idle talk. But grant unto me, Thy servant, a spirit of chastity, humility, patience and love. Yea, O Lord and King, grant me to see mine own faults and not to judge my brothers and sisters. For blessed ar Thou unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Thank you for sharing his prayer! Copying down …
Yes, thanks again for sharing his prayer. However, I think I’ll stick to Phillips Brooks prayer as published in Forward Movement. But the time to support Phillips is later; for now, I’m for Ephrem/Ephraim!
What an inspiring prayer. It goes in my prayer notebook.
Oops, put the reply in the wrong place. Just mentally move this up a few lines to Br.Thanasi.
This prayer might well be adopted by the other troubled members of my own United Methodist Church, as we struggle with differences among us. I shall pray it daily.
Thank you.
Ephrem’s constant exposure to multiculturalism is an inspiration to me. And a composer for a women’s chorus? Unheard of back in the day, so, Ephrem for the win!
Ephrem today – he encouraged women’s participation in worship and allowed their voices to be heard in Church. And he lived in a non-gender-exclusive community. God bless him.
Thanks, I could not make up my mind and your post helped!
Exactly why I voted for him, too.
For the deacons.
Yes!
I’m singing for Ephrem today! Who’s with me?
Women singing!
at 86 still singing in the choir even though i now have turned into a tenor so must vote
for Ephrem
It is interesting to learn about the history of the competitors. But of course voted for Mellitus in the end.
“Of course”? Why? I feel like I missed something somewhere!
Ephrem – deacons gotta stick together
It’s Ephrem of Nisibus for me, who loved to sing in the choir starting in Junior High (that’s Middle School to you younger ones), and who returned to the church and later the choir because of the pull of the music which continued to touch my soul. I’m glad we also have the tenors and the basses, though.
I too loved the story of Ephrem, his choir work and hymn writing. Many of us attend churches which are large buildings with massive organs, buildings set aside to praise God through song. I am grateful to learn that this early Christian was already focused on communal musical and some of his work remains with us in our hymnal today–another moment to experience the Communion of All Saints.
Ephrem. Because women. And music.
Exactly this.
Hear hear.
According to Bede, the sons wanted to taste the consecrated bread.
Were they requesting this apart from attendance at Holy Communion?
Or was the practice of using monstrances already in existence and it was that ibread they desired to taste?
Mellitus’s Wiki article says that the sons didn’t convert to Christianity. So, at a guess, it was because they were pagans.
I doubt that like David they were simply hungry.
That’s funny
Ephrem, in tribute to those ancient Christian communities from that part of the world who are so beleaguered today. That was enough to tip my vote, but also liked that he was part of a dedicated Christian community that stayed in the secular world.
A tough choice for me. I went with Mellitus as having most influence on me. I see this weeks’ voting tended toward the less prominent or well known saint. Perhaps that God’s purpose in making Lent Madness a part of our religious life.
As a deacon I had to vote for the deacon. Besides he found a role for women
This is the most difficult choice for me, so far. Before reading Ephrem’s posting, I was voting for Mellitus for his work in Britain and his icon in the American Chapel in St. Paul’s. But then the women’s choirs raised their voices for Ephrem. As a lifelong chorister, I cast my vote and voice for Ephrem.
I wonder how many Lent Madness voters are choristers? It seems to come up a lot! (I, for one, am also a lifelong chorister.)
Me too, though not lifelong. I only found out that I could sing in college.
Close enough!
This prayer might well be adopted by the other troubled members of my own United Methodist Church, as we struggle with differences among us. I shall pray it daily.
That’s funny
I was a choir kid and currently sing in a community choir. I’m also voting for Ephrem because of his contribution to early sacred music.
Honestly, singing and learning hymns are what kept me compelled in church and school chapel as a kid, and still do!
Me too, singing is one of the best ways to pray…(psalms)
Many, I would think. I sang in the Junior Choir in elementary school, spent 15 years in charge of the toddler room and occasionally singing with the choir for Christmas or Easter services, now have been a stalwart second soprano in the parish choir for the last 7 years. I love singing.
So did I! I sing in two choirs and am fascinated by early Christian music.
I voted for Ephraim because his order included both men and women. Even so I am disappointed in the lack of modern Saints on the slate this year.
Those of English Kings bred
Asked to taste Holy bread.
Mellitus said no and fled
He later died upon his bed.
Famished people were starving
To feed them he was striving.
Therefore it is no question
Ephrem died of exhaustion.
Is there some connection between Mellitus and Diabetes? (One of the technical names for Diabetes is Diabetes Mellitus)
Hmmm
Good question
“mellitus” is Latin for “honey-like”–i.e., sweet, which is the characteristic of urine in diabetes mellitus.
Me, I’m for Ephrem today; a deacon, a teacher, a writer of wonderful hymns (and a prayer I didn’t know); a supporter of women’s voices; one who helped fill the hungry with good things. Been blending with altos since 1990 and wish I’d had opportunity before that.
The word “mellitus” means”of or pertaining to honey. ‘
I had to look because I wondered the same thing. I doubt that the saint is related to diabetes. More likely he was a sweet heart.
Diabetes mellitus: Having to frequently “void” sweet urine
Sure…Mel/mell means honey, sweet
Mellitus: Sweet (tempered?)
Both deserve my vote but Ephrem
Caught my heart
A true 16 vs. 1 match up.
Voting for the underdog today. My ancestry is in the British isles so I had to go with Melitus.
Toughest one since Mary and Martha, but it was the music and women’s choirs that decided me, too. There IS a tune named Mellitus, isn’t there? Both so worthy!
In the Hymnal 1982, there is Mellita, but no Mellitus. Couldn’t find it in Hymnary.org either….
Mellita–Mellitus’wife–little-known fact (unknown fact), she brought coffee to the Germans.
But I’m for Ephrem because of the women & choirs aspect.
Voting for Ephrem the Deacon for several reasons. First, I think deacons are too much overlooked and compartmentalized and it would be awesome to have one win the Golden Halo. Second, Ephrem had such a gentle heart and loving spirit. Third, the pressure Rome put on the Celtic Churches to knuckle under and do things the Roman way or the highway has irked me for years. The miraculous turning aside of fire notwithstanding, Mellitus was just a bit too rigid and absolutist for my tastes.
I have to get for Efrem. Deacons rule!
By the way my iPad keyboard turns purple when I visit the site. Neat effect!
Harp of the Holy Spirit…how could one resist?
A deacon and doctor of the church? As a deacon in training I had to go with Ephrem. An inspiring commitment to worship and service.
Why do the authors of Ephrem say at the end “we believe he was all head and not heart” seems you should have said he was all heart as he died ministering to those in need. Comments should be left out.
It actually says “Lest we believe…” which means just the opposite. (Maybe this got edited after you made your comment but that’s what it says now anyway.)
Look again. The blogger writes, “LEST we believe he was all head not heart…” so the blogger is saying, “We should NOT believe he was all head and not heart.” And the blogger goes on to provide an example of Ephrem’s loving actions.
I had to choose Ephraim, because he was a deacon at the beginning of the “Golden Age of the Diaconate,” so-called by James Barnett–the time when deacons held a respected leadership role in the church, before the church minimized them and made them a stepping stone on the road toward priesthood. I am glad to learn of another deacon saint!
How can I not vote for Ephrem who ministered alongside women and gave them a voice.
This was a great line: (think Scouts + youth group, but way more intense)
I don’t want to think about that.
As a female chorister, I cast my vote for Ephrem of Nisibis (who I’d never of before this!)
I have voted for the winner about 60% of the time. This is disturbing! Have I sold out? Am I running with the “in” crowd all of a sudden? Maybe the Rapture is here. Hmmmm….
I wanted to vote for Mellitus–England, sacred books,St. Paul’s and all. But he messed with the Celts’ Easter (why did they have to be on the same schedule as Rome anyway?), and wouldn’t let the guys taste communion bread, and ….
Then along came Ephrem:
1. I’m a sucker for supporters of female choristers–in the 4th century, no less!
2. I’ve always been intrigued by Edessa…
3. How can you not vote for someone with the moniker “The Harp of the Holy Spirit”?
4. And I adore Hymn 443. It’s not often we get to sing about Melchizedek!
I’m in with Ephrem’s crowd!
Hymn 443 is a nice discovery for me. Unfortunately I’ve never sung it. The greater misfortune is that so many congregations avoid new hymns and especially new tunes.
The little New Hampshire congregation with whom I sometimes worship is absolutely fearless: they use all three authorized hymnals and will try anything!
No good choice today in the Lenten Madness vote . Both of these men were part of the Roman domination of Christianity-the beginnings of turning Jesus’ gospel of love and acceptance into the rigid hierarchy that is strangling the Christianity of today. The early Celtic Christians blended the old with the new. Priests an nuns married, women were equal partners in worship. The had been peacefully practicing their faith for centuries until Mellitus and his henchmen dictated that there was one way to worship, and they knew it. The Council of Whitney sealed the deal.
And Ephraim’s insistence on the orthodoxy of the Nicene Council effected the same end. He encouraged women to sing in the choir? Well that’s a good thing, I suppose, but how about women in the priesthood or the ranks of bishop and archbishop?
Sent from Yahoo Mail for iPad
My immediate reaction to the two men matched up today. My Celtic sympathies are with you. What a loss that they were marginalized for centuries because of Roman insistence! (Curious that I am also a Barrett – no connection that I know).
We may not be related genetically, Suzanne, but we do share an attitude. If you are interested in the early Celtic church, I recommend the Sister Fidelma series of novels by Peter Tremayne. Under his real name, Peter Berresford Ellis, the author is a renowned Celtic scholar. The Sister Fidelma series begins at the Council of Whitby, and follows the sad story of the Romanization of Celtic Christianity in the 7th Century. Readers learn a great deal about the early Irish church, and the early culture of Ireland. The main character is a royal princess, a married nun, and a judge.
Sister Fidelma is terrific!
Yes for Ephrem writing hymns and allowing women opportunity.
Ephram for me, because I like it when LM raises up saints from other Christian traditions. An easy cop-out from an otherwise Lent-maddening decision.
Today’s decision was easier than those of the past few days. A non-misogynistic writer of hymns for women? In the fourth century CE? Who dies while ministering to victims of a famine? Ephrem get my vote. And I’m not even a deacon.
I voted for Ephrem, mostly because of the Sons and Daughters of the Covenant. Except for the celibacy, the following description would also be true of my own religious order; TSSF (Third Order of the Society of Saint Francis) “Members of the movement, both men and women, lived dedicated lives of [celibacy,] discipline, prayer, and service to the church from within their own homes.
Had to go with Mellitus here on account of a family connection: my oldest first cousin, Billy Farnsworth, volunteered to join the fight against the Fascists in World War II and died during the conflict, not in combat but at a base for test pilots outside Southampton. Billy was in a new type of fighter plane, one whose controls responded more sluggishly to its controls than he expected, and he took a vertical dive into the runway, killing him instantly. Oddly, the base was named the HMS Icarus! How British to give that name to a base for test pilots, eh? So by the American Chapel in St. Paul’s Cathedral St. Mellitus stands guard, watching over the Book of Remembrance where Billy’s name may be found. So yes, Mellitus for me!
Hymns for female choirs gets my vote today. But this was a challenge.
PLEASE VOTE FOR MELLITIUS
Anna I, that line struck me, too! . . . ministering from their homes (as we all should!) Yep! It’s Ephram for me, today. (How in the world did the pseudo-monk get all those votes last week??! Methinks there’s a conspiracy afloat!)
Mellitus for me.
I voted for Ephrem because his story strongly spoke to my feminist self to support women as whole persons, etc., etc., etc… But my heart follows Mellitus and the eternal symbolism standing guard over the names of the American dead who gave their lives during WWII. The allegory of turning the fire by distant winds is not lost on me; it just took my morning brain a little extra time to “get it”.
Had to go with Mellitus, the saint whose statue overlooks the book of the American dead who gave their lives during WWII at St. Paul’s. My uncle’s name is included in that book.
I voted for Ephrem because he made it possible for my mom to serve in the church.
That is certainly an excellent reason, Pailet. I really liked that he wrote hymns for women choirs to sing.
Ephrem gets my vote for his hymns and women’s choirs. Upset because Mellitus did not like the date of the Celtic Easter.
Especially for those whose first Lent Madness this is: you are about to be subject to the dread condition known as LMW (Lent Madness Withdrawal). No saintly smack-up for two whole days. How to survive until Monday? You can drive your family crazy by wandering around the house singing all the wonderful songs composed for this year’s contest (not omitting, of course, the Official Hymn). You can seek out everything purple in your environment, maybe make a centerpiece or other work of purple art. You can try to figure out what the heck to do now that your bracket has been smashed to bits. Or, as Tim and Scott would recommend, binge watch Monday Madness. Deep breaths — Monday will finally be here.
I voted about Epham. To tell the truth I wasn’t excited about either of these saints, but when I saw that Ephram died taking care of famine victims my little caretaker heart softened!
Another difficult choice. I voted for Ephrem because I was ordained as a Deacon on his feast day. I knew he wrote hymns, but the detail about women’s choirs was new to me.
This was such a hard choice, but I finally went with Mellitus. His prayers moved God to save Canterbury, so that was pretty important.
Where is Oliver?
I thought that I would vote for Mellitus, because the opportunity to connect to the first archbishop of Canterbury was so powerful (and I too want to taste the consecrated bread, and I thought of the icon above the American servicemen’s names). But I feel a strong pull to support any Christian church in Syria. I love the idea of the women’s choirs. The Roman Catholic church suppressed women’s choirs. (James Joyce writes of the women’s anguish at being excluded in favor of boys’ choirs.) Boys and castrated men were allowed to sing in church, which is a sort of offering to the lord, even though Leviticus 22 states: “You must not offer to the LORD an animal whose testicles are bruised, crushed, torn or cut.” And Deuteronomy 23 says: “If a man’s testicles are crushed or his penis is cut off, he may not be admitted to the assembly of the LORD.” So the western, Roman church really really did not want women. So for the glorious choir of women’s voices and for support for Syrian refugees today, I vote for Ephrem. May the darkness that enshrouds our country’s immigration policies be lifted and we be granted grace to admit refugees of diverse ethnicities and religion to this backward and racially ignorant nation.
http://www.womenpriests.org/tradition/women-and-girls-were-not-allowed-to-be-singers-in-church/
Amen, St. Celia! And thank you for your post.
Though I often like to vote for the under dog (or saint, as the case may be), today I’m joining the crowd of Ephrem admirers.
Both great saints. For me I voted for Saint Ephrem/Ephraim because it is Lent. The Orthodox during this time daily pray his Great Lenten Pray:
Lord and Master of my life, take from me the spirit of sloth, despondency, lust for power and idle talk. But grant unto me, Thy servant, a spirit of chastity, humility, patience and love. Yea, O Lord and King, grant me to see mine own faults and not to judge my brothers and sisters. For blessed ar Thou unto the ages of ages. Amen.
For this prayer, and the gift of music (my lifelong pursuit, even after I was ordained), and all his gifts to his contemporaries and to us, I vote for Ephrem.
Oh, St. C, I love your digressions. I remember giggling as a teenager over “He that is wounded in the stones, or hath his privy member cut off, shall not enter into the congregation of the LORD.”
A fourth-century supporter of women’s involvement in sacred rites who died of exhaustion after tending the sick during a famine versus a missionary who seems to have been more engaged in ecclesiastical politics than in actually spreading the gospel? Well, that was easy!
I voted for Ephrem because he supported women choristers and wrote hymns.
Gosh, I drifted to sleep reading about Mellitus, but loved learning about Augustine in England. I did not know that.
Loved that Ephram!
Ephrem for me. He supported women’s choirs! I like that he was part of a movement that encouraged intense spiritual practices and service to the church in the context of people’s daily life. I found a couple of lines on Wikipedia that further appeal, showing that he both absorbed and appreciated the multicultural milieu in which he lived: “Ephrem combines in his writing a threefold heritage: he draws on the models and methods of early Rabbinic Judaism, he engages skillfully with Greek science and philosophy, and he delights in the Mesopotamian/Persian tradition of mystery symbolism.” And he was a hands-on helper, too, even at the cost of his life. He’s the whole package!
While I can’t say Ephrem’s poetry speaks my language, it clearly DID speak to the people of his day. A Christian whose creativity with words and music carried the gospel to those who might not otherwise have listened – love it!
I am truly shocked that the founder of the Dominican Order did not win yesterday’s match up. I hope there is no anti-Roman bias at work in our group, as we were all good Roman Catholics until Henry VIII cast the Pope aside.
I was surprised by Dominic’s loss as well, but hardly suppose it due to anti-Roman bias: Marina was Roman Catholic, too. Not surprisingly, since of our thirty-two saintly challengers this Lent, there are:
1 Eastern Orthodox (Tikhon)
3 early Christians (pre-Constantine) (Apollonia, Tabitha, Zenaida)
5 Protestants (Allen, Brooks, Grier, Ramabai, Wilberforce)
7 contemporaries of Jesus (Ananias, Dismas, James, Martha, Mary, Nicodemus, Photini)
16 Roman Catholics (Damien, Dominic, Ephrem, Gobnait, Hrotsvitha, Loyola, Chrysostom, Marcella, Margaret, Marina, Mellitus, Nicholas, Paula, Rudolph, d’Youville, Zhao)
I do not perceive any anti-Roman bias here, either.
Next, I would say that prior to Henry VIII” we were all good Roman Catholics”, with the exception of:
a) bad Roman Catholics
b) good and bad Eastern Orthodox (after 1054 or so)
c) good and bad Lutherans, Calvinists, and other Protestants (after 1521)
d) good and bad Jews, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists and other faithful
e) good and bad “heathens”, heretics and others who weren’t deemed Roman Catholic enough (e.g. Cathars)
f) good and bad followers of Jesus’ teachings who lived before the fourth century CE, when Constantine I and the Edicts of Milan and Thessalonica made the Church “Roman”
g) anyone else I may have forgotten
Mellitus sounded pretty good until we got to the part where he sided with the Roman date against the Celtic date for Easter. Boo Hiss. And Ephrem like women singers Yay!
You had me at “choirs of women.” Ephrem for the win!
Ephrem for me, because I revere the good works of deacons…and I really like saying “Nisibis”!
” and a Trinitarian”
Agree with TJMannion re: Ephrem (and JustMeJo – ‘Nisibis’ is quite fun to say) and how could I not… my husband is a Deacon!
Anyone who was called “Harp of the Holy Spirit” and created female choirs (proud alto here!) has got to have my vote!
OK, you got me – I must vote for folks who encourage singing in church, particularly girls & women…. though I dislike hymn #443, I am a member at Trinity-Indianapolis…
Nicene Orthodoxy, author of hymns, supporter of women, a successful evangelist in a diverse culture….AND a deacon! Mellitus’ ministry is inspiring for any 21st century Christian, but especially for those discerning a call to the Diaconate.
Voted for Ephrem today, as singing in choirs is very important to us in expressing our faith. Praying for the people of Christchurch, NZ today in the tragic losses of life there by the hands of terrorists. And if that’s not dastardly Lent Madness!
Amen, Nancy.
Ephrem, of course, because I love hymns and where would we be without women in the choir
Ephrem because today especially we need to give thanks for living in communities of great diversity!
I’m voting for Mellitus. I’ve stood at his grave, which I can only say for a couple of people on our Calendar, so there’s that. I’m also fascinated by the way that Christianity developed in England, both from the Celtic and Roman angles. It strikes me as something that has really shaped our Anglican DNA to be a via media, and I look to Mellitus’ place in that mission as part of that. Again, both have something to teach and inspire me.
Interesting that so many people voted from Ephrem because he was a deacon. That’s totally neutral comment; I simply found it to be an interesting theme.
Ephrem, “The Harp of the Holy Spirit,” who supported women’s choirs, wrote Trinitarian hymns, and died caring for the victims of famine…how could I not vote for him?
As a deacon I had to vote for Ephrem
choir did it for me. Also the Syrian connection, as that country is going through such difficult times.
“diety” or “deity”?
Several years ago, I had the privilege of doing a night time candlelight walk through Canterbury Cathedral with the Dean of the Cathedral and members of my parish. It was deeply moving and I had to vote for Mellitus for helping to save this venerable center of worship. Given that Mellitus was a Roman priest, I am not surprised that he chose the Roman date of Easter over the Celtic date; nowadays, our better spirit of inclusion allows us to celebrate all the dates. I I had to vote for this Archbishop of Canterbury, but am very happy to learn about Ephrem and his choirs of women as well.
While both may have done great deeds, Mellitus and his fellows attempted to extinguish the existing Irish and British Christian churches (and suceeded). The Irish church was much more humane and not in the punitive mode of the Roman church that Mellitus represented. I believe they did great harm in the name of the church.
Yes indeed! We all would have been SO MUCH better off if they’d followed the Celtic way.
The Harp of the Holy Spirit ……’nuff said!
Two great options today, but having gone in pilgrimage to London and Canterbury within the week before my confirmation I have to go with Mellitus.
Neither of these fine folks will make it to the golden halo. I doubt they will survive the next round, but I voted for Ephrem over the Italian missionary to the English because we sing his hymn, I can even hum its curious tune from memory.
Yes! I can sing it from memory too!
“I sing a song of the saints of God”…children’s choir way back when. Yes, girls in the choir. Thanks, Ephrem. You got my vote.
Mellitus diverted the fire and saved the town and Canterbury Cathedral with his prayers. Now that’s my kind of prayer!!! But, I don’t like the name Mellitus. So I read what comes up when you click on Laurie Brock’s name. Loved it all. Had to do some real life things. When I got back to it, I scrolled down to read who wrote the blog on Ephrem. Oh yes, my favorite blogger–“Sons and Daughters of the Covenant-think scouts and youth group but way more intense.” That line is SO good! Had to ponder a while. Laurie had this story about waiting, being silent and letting the real issue show itself. More real life happened. Then, Aha. I’ve had some negative issues with deacons. Blah, blah, blah. Now it is evening and I’ve voted for Ephrem of Nisibis. I like both those names. I’ve also prepared a fantastic dinner.
Mellitis contributed to the squelching of the Celtic understanding of Christianity at Synod of Whidbey, hiss boo. The dominance of Rome over the more egalitarian and creation-oriented Celts. Whereas Ephtem was far more inclusive as far as I can see.
Boo Hiss truly!
Hello,
Not sure how to play Lent Madness, I have been read and voting, thus far I have pick picking the winners maybe it’s just luck. My choir director gave me the book and I was intrigued and began reading and learning information about people I never knew had since an impact.
If you’re reading and voting, you’ve figured it out. Beyond that there’s no more “how to” about playing the Madness. Welcome to the community!
Ephrem today, because too often we overlook the diaconate as a critical and potentially transformative ministry in the church.
With St. Patrick’s Day coming up, I can’t support someone who voted against the Celtic tradition. Sorry, Mellitus! Also, Ephrem’s participation in a co-ed proto-monastic order is truly cool. Finally, I admire Ephrem for ministering to famine victims. That’s a tragedy that’s still with us, all these years later.
I voted for Mellitus because my husband is making a pilgrimage to Canterbury cathedral this summer. Thank you for saving it for us!
After lots of real life happening today working out of the home doing study after study for Amazon Mechanical Turk all day long I finally was able to enjoy Lent Madness this evening. after dinner. This was then interrupted again by my little Pomeranian I have demanding a little more real-life action outside before I was finally able to sit down with an after-dinner cup of tea, read, ponder, enjoy and add in my own vote! For me it was Ephrem today because during the time that involvement was very much male dominated he was supportive of women becoming involved in the music ministry of the church working side by side with them as well. When I also thought about it this was also a start to their involvement in the church in general. He also died due to over-exhaustion while helping victims of a famine- showing how deeply devoted his heart was to serving Christ and helping others.
I had to go to the piano and sound out #443. I don’t remember ever singing that one, and I mark up my hymnal every week noting the date for each of the hymns in our service. Funny how some made the 1982 hymnal and are not all that popular, whereas others got dropped from the 1940 hymnal and are still missed.
This was a tough choice for me, as each candidate was a courageous missionary in his own right. But I have to go with “The Harp of the Holy Spirit” today. Music is such a wonderful way of spreading the Word.
Harp of the Holy Spirit! How could I not?
https://gaudetetheology.wordpress.com/2012/02/27/lent-madness-vote-for-ephraim/
“The Harp of the Holy Spirit” and a proponent of women’s choirs. This is no contest!
Sorry to write this here, but don’t know where else to go – how do you get a picture with your name? I don’t see a FAQ page or other instruction tab.
I’m experimenting, to see if your question about photos relates to mine about how to avoid having to re-enter my name and email for each comment. I’m going to click on the “notify me of new posts…” option, and maybe that will provide a way to upload a photo and get in the system.
No dice. Back to the drawing board.
Love being introduced to such a great variety of saints
I am a Deacon, I vote for a Deacon!!
Hey – you have Ephrem of Nisibis on the wrong line of the updated bracket!
Ephrem of Nisibis is listed on the wrong line in the bracket.
It’s been fixed as of Sunday morning; Ephrem has ascended to the right place.
This means that Ephrem will be the one to take down Chrysostom. YES!!!!!!
Fantastic! I didn’t really care who would be taking down Chrysostom but Ephrem is someone I really like so that’s do much better.