Odo of Cluny vs. Mechtild of Magdeburg

March 27, 2017 | Author: Supreme Executive Committee

We continue our march through the Saintly Sixteen this week as Lent Madness rolls on! In this round of Quirks and Quotes we’ll continue to get to know our merry band of saintly souls in ever deeper ways. Don’t forget, you can always return to the first round to refresh your memory of the basic bios by clicking the Bracket Tab.

Today it’s Odo of Cluny taking on Mechtild of Magdeburg. To get here, Odo snuck past Theodore the Studite while Mechtild trounced Isaac the Syrian. Also, if you’re in the market for a baby name, or need to suggest one to your daughter-in-law, we think “Odo” or “Mechtild” will soon wind up on the most popular list. Get ahead of the curve!

Whoever wins today will join Stephen and Florence Nightingale (who made it past Henry Beard Delany on Friday 53% to 47%) in the Elate Eight. Onward!

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Posted in Lent Madness 2017, Saintly Sixteen | 170 Comments

Florence Nightingale vs. Henry Beard Delany

March 24, 2017 | Author: Supreme Executive Committee

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 “night” or Delany without “day.” So there’s that.

Yesterday in the opening battle of the Saintly Sixteen, Stephen defeated Henry Budd 59% to 41% to become the first saint of Lent Madness 2017 to make the Elate Eight. Could this be the year of the Biblical martyr? Only time…and many more votes to be cast…will tell.

Remember, this is the last vote of the week. So, vote wisely and then consider hibernating for the next 48 hours to deal with the often debilitating effects of Lent Madness Withdrawal. We’ll be back first thing Monday morning as the Saintly Sixteen continues with Odo of Cluny taking on Mechtild of Magdeburg.

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Posted in Lent Madness 2017, Saintly Sixteen | 239 Comments

Stephen vs. Henry Budd

March 23, 2017 | Author: Supreme Executive Committee

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, you can always go to the Bracket Tab to easily find previous battles if you need to refresh your basic knowledge on these saints. This is yet another free courtesy extended to you, the Lent Madness Global Public.

Today we kick things off with Stephen, the Church’s protomartyr vs. the Canadian Henry Budd. At stake? The Elate Eight.

Yesterday in another close contest, Fanny Crosby defeated G.F. Handel 53% to 47% to claim the last remaining spot in the Saintly Sixteen. Speaking of which, the Saintly Sixteen begins RIGHT NOW! Time to vote…

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Posted in Lent Madness 2017, Saintly Sixteen | 160 Comments

Fanny Crosby vs. G.F. Handel

March 22, 2017 | Author: Supreme Executive Committee

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 in the Saintly Sixteen before the music stops? Well, that, as always, is up to you.

Yesterday, in the tightest race of Lent Madness 2017, Sarah the Matriarch barely laughed away a valiant challenge from Elizabeth Ann Seton 51% to 49%. See, what have we been saying all along? Your vote counts!

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Posted in First Round, Lent Madness 2017 | 317 Comments

Elizabeth Ann Seton vs. Sarah

March 21, 2017 | Author: Supreme Executive Committee

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 outspelled Nikolaus von Zinzendorf 69% to 31% to advance to the Saintly Sixteen where he’ll face Martin Luther.

If you missed yesterday’s Limerick Edition of Monday Madness, you can still redeem your entire week by watching it here. Tim and Scott share some limericks (both on air and in print) and, despite some amazing rhymes throughout yesterday’s comment section, have officially decided NOT to turn Lent Madness into one giant penitential poetry slam.

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Posted in First Round, Lent Madness 2017 | 301 Comments

Monday Madness: Limerick Edition

March 20, 2017 | Author: Supreme Executive Committee

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 a great way to honor St. Patrick whose feast day we ignored on Friday.

Of course, today is Monday, and that means it’s time for everyone’s beginning of the week ritual, Monday Madness. Tim has chosen two limericks to read aloud to you, the Lent Madness Global Viewing Public. But that’s not the only big thing in this week’s episode of Monday Madness. Scott has some big ideas to market Lent Madness during this bracket-tide season. And Tim and Scott talk about the final three battles in the Round of the 32, including a Lent Madness first!

So watch the full episode, including (a mercifully brief) Saintly Poetry Slam. Here are some selections from limericks submitted by viewers, and you can read the whole lot of them in the comments section for today’s contest.

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Posted in Color Commentary, Lent Madness 2017, Monday Madness | 8 Comments

Joseph Schereschewsky vs. Nikolaus von Zinzendorf

March 20, 2017 | Author: Supreme Executive Committee

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 kicking off the Saintly Sixteen on Thursday. The field is narrowing, folks! In case you missed it, on Friday Scholastica schooled Macrina the Younger 64% to 37%. But that’s old news. So let’s get on with it, shall we?

But first, check out this article about Lent Madness written by Emily Miller of Religion News Service that made its way into various secular newspapers over the weekend.

Oh, and we challenge you to write a limerick based on today’s matchup. Just because. Leave your best attempt in the comment section.

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Posted in First Round, Lent Madness 2017 | 263 Comments

Scholastica vs. Macrina the Younger

March 17, 2017 | Author: Supreme Executive Committee

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 sibling rivalry as Scholastica was St. Benedict of Nursia’s twin sister while Macrina had a plethora of saintly siblings. Read on for details…

Yesterday Amelia Bloomer yanked down Phillipp Melanchthon by a wide margin of 74% to 26% to advance to the Saintly Sixteen.

As you prepare for a full 48 hours of saintly voting deprivation, we wanted to point out that you don’t have to wait until Monday morning to discover the results of this matchup. After the polls close in 24 hours, simply click on this post and scroll down to see the results. You can also click on the Bracket tab for all the current results.

We’ll see you bright and early on Monday for the Battle of the Consonants aka Name-a-Geddon as Samuel Isaac Joseph Schereschewsky faces Nikolaus von Zinzendorf. Now go vote!

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Posted in First Round, Lent Madness 2017 | 230 Comments

Amelia Bloomer vs. Philipp Melanchthon

March 16, 2017 | Author: Supreme Executive Committee

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, is up to you!

Yesterday, in what may well be considered the biggest upset thus far, Franz Jägerstätter narrowly took down Joan of Arc 52% to 48%. Ladies and gentlemen, we have an official Cinderella of the 2017 bracket — and rather than a glass slipper he’s wearing double umlauts.

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Posted in First Round, Lent Madness 2017 | 242 Comments

Franz Jägerstätter vs. Joan of Arc

March 15, 2017 | Author: Supreme Executive Committee

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 the Saintly Sixteen.

The Supreme Executive Committee also released its annual (unless we forget) saintly analysis of the NCAA bracket. Yes, some people apparently pay attention to another bracket-based tournament with “Madness” in the name that takes place this time of year.

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Posted in First Round, Lent Madness 2017 | 331 Comments