Category Archives: Lent Madness 2017
Florence Nightingale vs. Henry Beard Delany
The Saintly Sixteen continues with an intriguing matchup between two fascinating figures: Florence Nightingale and Henry Beard Delany. To make it this far, Flo bested Anselm of Canterbury while Hank dispatched Aelred of Rievaulx. But really, the choice between Nightingale and Delany is like night and day. Or at least you can’t spell “Nightingale” without […]
Stephen vs. Henry Budd
Welcome to the Saintly Sixteen! From 32 saints we have narrowed the field to 16. For this round, rather than the basic biographical information we enter the realm of Quirks and Quotes. Our Celebrity Bloggers will provide unusual information or legends surrounding their saints along with quotes either by or about their saints. Don’t forget, […]
Fanny Crosby vs. G.F. Handel
We started this little competition on Ash Thursday with 32 saints. After today’s vote, the field will have been whittled down to 16 remaining saintly souls. But in order to get there we must first make it through the Battle of the Bands as Fanny Crosby faces G.F. Handel. Who will retain the last seat […]
Elizabeth Ann Seton vs. Sarah
Today we make Lent Madness hist0ry. While Old Testament figures are considered saints in some traditions, we have never before had one participate in the Saintly Smackdown. That ends today as Sarah the Matriarch faces Elizabeth Ann Seton in a pairing that spans many, many generations. Yesterday, in the Battle of the Consonants, Samuel Isaac […]
Joseph Schereschewsky vs. Nikolaus von Zinzendorf
Thirty-four consonants between them! That’s what we’re talking about in the long-anticipated Battle of the Consonants between Samuel Isaac Joseph Schereschewsky and Nikolaus von Zinzendorf. You have 24-hours (or 10 fewer hours than consonants) to decide this tongue twister of a matchup. With only three battles left in the Round of 32, we will be […]
Scholastica vs. Macrina the Younger
OF COURSE we finish up a full week of saintly action by ignoring the cultural phenomenon of St. Patrick’s Day. No green beer for us — we’re all purple all the time anyway. No, today in Lent Madness it’s Scholastica vs. Macrina the Younger with nary a shamrock in sight! This contest is chock-full of […]
Amelia Bloomer vs. Philipp Melanchthon
Today in Lent Madness it’s a 19th century reformer taking on a 16th century Reformer (see what we did there?). It’s an intriguing matchup between an educator on the forefront of the Women’s Rights movement and a theologian on the forefront of the Protestant Reformation. Who will advance to the Saintly Sixteen? That, dear friends, […]
Franz Jägerstätter vs. Joan of Arc
Another day, another tough matchup. Today it’s Franz Jägerstätter (double umlaut!) vs Joan of Arc. One, a little-known (until today) conscientious objector and opponent of the Nazis; the other, a well-known if often misunderstood saint from France. Yesterday, Martin Luther overwhelmed the upstart David Oakerhater, despite a valiant showing, 58% to 42% to advance to […]
Lent Madness takes on March Madness
Here at Lent Madness we were shocked to learn that there is some other bracket competition that takes place this time of year. Apparently it involves an orange orb referred to as a “basketball.” Not ready to leave brackets to the whims of others, we have done a saintly analysis of this other March endeavor. […]
Monday Madness: Limerick Edition
In today’s post introducing the long-anticipated Battle of the Consonants, we put out a call for limericks. I mean, don’t the names Samuel Isaac Joseph Schereschewsky and Nikolaus von Zinzendorf just scream “poetry?” We were pleased to see that many heeded the call and wanted to share a few of them with you. Plus, this is […]
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