After the heady days of Nominationtide, and the submission of hundreds and hundreds of saintly nominations, the Supreme Executive Committee is pleased to release the highly anticipated 2020 Lent Madness bracket. Following their Spring Retreat, held in a secure, undisclosed coffee shop where Herculean amounts of single origin coffee was consumed, the SEC whittled down the field to 32 saints who will compete for the coveted Golden Halo.
This year, All Brackets’ Day just happens to fall, appropriately enough, on All Saints’ Sunday. Which means that people everywhere will have something to talk about at coffee hour, besides critiquing the preacher’s sermon. Let the bracketological conversations, feuds, and smack-talk ensue!
All Brackets’ Day also completes the Autumn Triduum (which will surely appear in subsequent Prayer Book revisions) consisting of All Saints’ Day (November 1), All Souls’ Day (November 2), and All Brackets’ Day (November 3).
But enough of this preamble. Let’s get to the 2020 bracket!
This year’s saints include heavyweights such as Patrick, Harriet Tubman, Clare of Assisi, Hildegaard of Bingen, Joseph, and Jude, along with many lesser known yet equally inspiring people of faith. Here’s the bracket (click for a bigger version).
As a reminder, or if your new to this wacky online devotion, here’s how Lent Madness works: on the weekdays of Lent, information is posted at www.lentmadness.org about two different saints. Each pairing remains open for 24 hours as participants read about and then vote to determine which saint moves on to the next round. Sixteen saints make it to the Round of the Saintly Sixteen; eight advance to the Round of the Elate Eight; four make it to the Faithful Four; two to the Championship; and the winner is awarded the Golden Halo.
The first round consists of basic biographical information about each of the 32 saints. Things get a bit more interesting in the subsequent rounds as we offer quotes and quirks, explore legends, and even move into the area of saintly kitsch.
Unlike professional and collegiate sporting events, there is no admission cost for Lent Madness, but souvenirs and study aids are available in the Lentorium. The Saintly Scorecard: The Official Guide to Lent Madness 2020 is now available as are Bracket posters. Although Lent Madness doesn’t officially kick off until Ash Thursday, February 27, you’re encouraged to order your Lent Madness materials now while supplies last (seriously, we tend to run out of these things in the run-up to Lent). Plus they make AMAZING stocking stuffers. With just 114 shopping days until Ash Thursday, it’s not too soon to start loading up!
Twelve “celebrity bloggers” from across the country have been tapped to write for the project: the Rev. Amber Belldene of San Francisco, CA; the Rev. Laurie Brock of Lexington, KY; Anna Fitch Courie of Columbia, SC; Dr. David Creech of Moorhead, MN; the Rev. Megan Castellan of Ithaca, NY; Miguel Escobar of Brooklyn, NY; Neva Rae Fox of Somerville, NJ; the Rev. David Hansen of Woodlands, TX; Carol Howard Merrit of Chattanooga, TN; Emily McFarlan Miller of Chicago, IL; Dr. Sandra Montes of New York, NY; and the Rev. David Sibley of Walla Walla, WA. Information about each of the celebrity bloggers and the rest of the team is available on the Lent Madness website.
As you revel in the joys of All Brackets’ Day, join Tim and Scott for a special Facebook Live Bracket Release Party at 8:00 pm EST on the Lent Madness Facebook page. Happy Lent!
You all are the best!
Wonderful bracket! Thank you.
Awesome!
One question please? Could Sr. Thea Bowman be considered for a possible name in a later Lent Madness?
I look forward to seeing and participating!
Thank you,
Thanks you make Lent prayerful and FUN
I so agree.
I can’t wait for the madness to begin!!!
What, still no St. George??!
Waiting for the yearly Madness to begin: the humor, the Monday videos with our Fearless Leaders, the coffee reports… I could go on! Seriously, as a Presbyterian, I’ve learned a lot about the saints and looking more deeply into each day of Lent. Keep up the good work!
I thought that Eustace was a character from the Chronicles of Narnia. What gives? What are they teaching the Supreme Executive Board these days?
Now that we have All Brackets Sunday, are we officially in Pre-Lent?
Let’s hope the need to win does not cause the cheating and multiple votes.
Last year the contest was forever shamed.
Finally it is almost time! I do look forward to the learning and the fun I have each year!
Please SEC, Lent Madness is not whacky!! It has been the best Lenten discipline I have ever participated in for many years. I have a learned more about the ordinary and extra-Saints ordinary Saints over the centuries. This practice has deepened my personal prayer life and, besides, it is fun!!
Yet another wonderful madness! Great fun!
Looking forward to this coming year’s Lenten Madness. I recognize some names and want to learn about others. Lenten Madness really adds to my Lenten discipline. Thanks to all who develop this and to all the great comments that also are so informative.
Who would like to form a secret cabal that will try to ensure an all Elizabeth final four?
Yes! (shhh)
I’m in
Woohoo! Junia – how exciting this relatively unknown disciple is included! And Evelyn Underhill too – yippee!! What a terrific lineup – thank you for the great work that will lead us in our observance of a holy Lent 2020.
Lent Madness absolutely invigorated our Sunday School last year!! The kids voted to chose one of the current saints each week, read aloud selected the write-up in class, and discussed. Yes, there were a few questions raised that had the teachers squirming a little bit, and one or two “You probably better ask your mom about that!” responses, but the kids loved the entire process and got incredibly involved in it. By the end of Lent, they were digging out Christmas Pageant costumes to suitably dress up as the saints in question. On their way into church from Sunday School, they carefully checked the bracket posted outside the Rector’s office to see how “their” saint had done. THANK YOU!!
Why, of why? the agony is again upone me of having to agony of having to decide between 2 of my all time favorites.!
I’ll need more time to mull it over and there’s lots to learn about the entries, but from the onset I’m seeing Saint Patrick and Saint Florian as the Finalists for the Golden Halo. The winner will be Saint Florian. What other saint has put out a raging fire with a pitcher …. of beer!? I’ll be spreading the Golden Halo bracket news on my blog and can’t wait for the season to begin! I love your work! Thanks. rob
So I am already praying for guidance as I have to choose between esteemed role models. Looking forward to Lent!
I introduced my father to Lent Madness. Each day’s voting brought out his inner crotchy old guy “get off my lawn” side, yet he faithfully voted each and every time. Dad now votes with the rest of the Heavenly host, and is, I’m sure, very pleased that the bracket gets announced on his birthday. Thank again to all.
What a great idea! Christmas shopping for my Methodist mother DONE
Love this. Thanks for sharing. And blessings to you and your family.
Can’t wait for this insane learning opportunity.
This is a fantastic list of saints from every walk of life and stature. I’m excited!!!
SEC, I love your humor!
Did Lentorium crash? Could not find the giant poster. I am taking that stocking stuffer crack to the bank, Baby.
Bracket poster at https://www.forwardmovement.org/Products/2589/lent-madness-bracket-poster-2020.aspx
I used last years book as a reference during Morning Prayer service today.
Will get my scorecard ASAP Can’t wait for all March Madnesses.
St. Thomas’ Episcopal, Wharton, TX, is looking forward to the competition. Thanks for making it so enjoyable.
I’ve been putting the Saintly Scorecards in my family’s stockings for years. I don’t think they all follow and enjoy Lent Madness as much as I do but maybe one day. I’ve learned so much about so many saints that I’d never heard of before. My favorite is still Saint Brigid of Kildaire but I’ve come to appreciate them all. Can’t wait for the madness to begin.
SEC, please think about putting together a book of the wonderful songs, poems and limericks that have been gracing the comments for the last couple of years. Last year’s were especially wonderful.
Do we get to sing “Hey, Jude”on his bracket day? Or might one (or both) of last year’s lyricists write some new lyrics to encourage people to vote?
And I second Michelle C’s motion to have “a book of the wonderful songs, poems, and limericks….”
Third! Thanks again for a wonderful bracket. Looking forward to the madness! Happy All Brackets’ Day!!
Is there a Collect for All Brackets Day?
No. But somebody should write one and send it to us!
O Lord our creator, who has called us all to be saints, make us this All Brackets’ Day to be good neighbors to one another; grant us, we beseech Thee, comfort when once again our favorite Saint, who asked us all to be his neighbor, is once again not on the Lent Madness Bracket; and give us the grace to see everybody on this fragile Earth our island home as our neighbors, through Christ Jesus our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, forevermore. Amen.
It was a pleasant surprise to see an email from Lent Madness – such a great old friend.
Thank you for going through all that coffee and work!!! Don’t forget we are watching you both closely – your (possession); you’re (you are)
Love this and can’t wait to start anew! One problem though: You listed Ash Thursday….we celebrate Ash Wednesday here in Maine! Is this something new????
Just a nicer way to refer to “the Thursday after Ash Wednesday.”
Looking forward to the 2020 bracket! Also- Is big lent still watching? Hope so! I had left-clicked on “comments feed” and the HTML page for this particular page that I am leaving the comment on came up instead of the comments feed which was quite strange. Hopefully, the SEC doesn’t have anyone out there headed into Lenten purple darkness already due to hacking and it’s only a bug! That might be something that needs to be checked out though. Also- although I had gone to the Facebook page at 6:05 Mountain Time which would have been 8:05 Eastern there wasn’t anything live.
As the times they did change yesterday
To my ears came a distant “Hooray!
Let us scream! Let us shout!
The new bracket is out!”
So I hid in my bed ’til today.
Good one! I am sure I am not the only one looking forward to your Saintly Limericks again this year!
I know that “mostly” is an important modifier, but how did James the Less end up in “Mostly Modern?” That’s a pretty expansive view of modernity!
That’s obvious, eh? The Supreme Executive Committee could not resist pitting More against Less.
I must say I’m disappointed my suggestion of Aelred didn’t make the cut, but I’m sure it will still be a wonderful cast of characters!
Battle of the ‘Beths! Awesome!
This is going to be a tough Lenten season. Some of my favorites will be vying for my vote.
I order one $3 bracket for myself, and I greatly enjoy the whole adventure with the saints. But your automatic postage figuring in the checkout costs three times what the bracket does. I complained last year and was charged a more reasonable fee. Can you please build it into the system?