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Happy All Brackets' Day!


Following 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 2025 Lent Madness bracket. Following their Spring Retreat, held in a secure, undisclosed coffee shop where vast amounts of single-origin black coffee fueled their discernment, the SEC whittled down the field to 32 saints who will compete for the coveted Golden Halo.

This year, All Brackets' Day 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 and complaining about the quality of the coffee. Let the bracketological conversations, feuds, and smack-talk ensue!

All Brackets' Day 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). By longstanding tradition, it also marks the day that people leave comments complaining that it's "way too early to think about Lent because it's not even Advent yet!"

But enough of this preamble. Let's get to the 2025 bracket!

This year’s saints include a mix of heavyweights and lesser-known saints, all of whom followed Jesus faithfully in their own day and in their own way. Closer examination of the bracket, will quickly reveal an...alphabetical theme. Needless to say, we love all the saints, from A to Z.

2025 Lent Madness Bracket

As a reminder, or if your new to this 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. After last year's exclusively online version of The Saintly Scorecard, the printed version is back! You can place your order for The Saintly Scorecard: The Official Guide to Lent Madness 2025 as single copies or in budget-busting bulk 10-packs.

Giant Bracket Posters are also available for your parish hall, narthex, living room, or to use as wrapping paper for all your Lent gifts. Although Lent Madness doesn't officially kick off until Ash Thursday, March 6, 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. Definitely superior to lumps of coal.

We look forward to engaging in saintly shenanigans with you all in the days to come. Don't forget, Lent is right around the corner!

Emily Cooper earns spot in Lent Madness XVI bracket

Emily Cooper portraitToday the 81st General Convention of the Episcopal Church held what some say is its most important vote. Emily Cooper edged out Thomas Merton 55%-45%. With this win, Cooper will be featured in the 2025 competition of the world's most popular online Lenten devotion. The rest of the bracket of Lent Madness XVI will be chosen by the Supreme Executive Committee at their annual retreat in an undisclosed coffee shop.

Voters passed over Merton, known widely as a mystic, author, and monk. Cooper is recognized today for her work caring for orphans as one of the first deaconesses in the Episcopal Church. Both Merton and Cooper hail from Kentucky, the home of this year's General Convention.

Lent Madness is brought to you by Forward Movement. You can celebrate Cooper's victory or mourn Merton's loss by visiting the Forward Movement booth in Louisville at the General Convention.

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All is Well! Julian of Norwich Wins!

The Golden Halo

March 27, 2024: Julian of Norwich (56%) defeats Albert Schweitzer (44%)

Faithful Four

March 26, 2024: Julian of Norwich (58%) defeats Andrew the Fisherman (42%)
March 25, 2024: Albert Schweitzer (66%) defeats Henry Whipple (34%)

Elate Eight

March 22, 2024: Julian of Norwich (61%) defeats Joseph of Arimathea (39%)
March 21, 2024: Henry Whipple (52%) defeats Canaire (48%)
March 20, 2024: Andrew the Fisherman (82%) defeats Ambrose of Milan (18%)
March 19, 2024: Albert Schweitzer (69%) defeats Cornelius the Centurion (31%)

Saintly Sixteen

March 18, 2024: Henry Whipple (58%) defeats Clare of Assisi (42%)
March 15, 2024: Julian of Norwich (82%) defeats Zita (18%)
March 14, 2024: Ambrose of Milan (63%) defeats Gertrude the Great (37%)
March 13, 2024: Cornelius the Centurion (59%) defeats Adomnan of Iona (41%)
March 12, 2024: Canaire (60%) defeats Cyprian of Carthage (40%)
March 11, 2024: Joseph of Arimathea (52%) defeats Kassia (48%)
March 8, 2024: Andrew the Fisherman (55%) defeats Hyacinth (45%)
March 7, 2024: Albert Schweitzer (60%) defeats Thomas the Apostle (40%)

Round of 32

March 6, 2024: Clare of Assisi (58%) defeats Rafqa of Lebanon (42%)
March 5, 2024: Julian of Norwich (62%) defeats Brigid of Kildare (38%)
March 4, 2024: Gertrude the Great (63%) defeats Gertrude of Nivelles (37%)
March 1, 2024: Cornelius the Centurion (53%) defeats Piran of Cornwall (47%)
February 29, 2024: Henry Whipple (71%) defeats Jackson Kemper (29%)
February 28, 2024: Zita (79%) defeats Rita (21%)
February 27, 2024: Ambrose of Milan (65%) defeats William Byrd (35%)
February 26, 2024: Adomnan of Iona (68%) defeats Joseph Vaz (38%)
February 23, 2024: Cyprian of Carthage (56%) defeats Pachomius (46%)
February 22, 2204: Joseph of Arimathea (72%) defeats Lazarus (28%)
February 21, 2024: Andrew the Fisherman (72%) defeats Polycarp (28%)
February 20, 2024: Albert Schweitzer (75%) defeats Henry Mühlenberg (25%)
February 19, 2024: Canaire (54%) defeats Barbara (46%)
February 17, 2024: Kassia (89%) defeats Casimir (11%)
February 16, 2024: Hyacinth (74%) defeats Rose of Lima (26%)
February 15, 2024: Thomas the Apostle (57%) defeats Thomas Cranmer (43%)


Review the 2024 bracket in advance, make your selections, and then come here every day of Lent to keep up with your favorite saint.

Clicking on the bracket will bring up a larger, up-to-date, printable one (get a blank bracket to print at home HERE).

You also can buy your very own Bracket Poster from Forward Movement! These posters are excellent for churches, families, and business to keep up with Lent Madness each day of Lent!

Download the free Digital Saintly Scorecard right now!

2024 Calendar

Download a printable matchup calendar HERE.

Round
of 
32

February 15
Thomas Cranmer
vs
Thomas the Apostle
16
Hyacinth
vs
Rose of Lima
17
Kassia
vs
Casimir
18
FIRST
SUNDAY
IN
LENT
19
Canaire
vs
Barbara
20
Henry Muhlenberg
vs
Albert Schweitzer
21
Polycarp
vs
Andrew the Fisherman
22
Lazarus
vs
Joseph of Arimathea
23
Pachomius
vs
Cyrprian of Carthage
24
25
SECOND
SUNDAY
IN
LENT
26
Adomnan of Iona
vs
Joseph Vaz
27
Ambrose of Milan
vs
William Byrd
28
Rita
vs
Zita
29
Henry Whipple
vs
Jackson Kemper
March 1
Piran of Cornwall
vs
Cornelius the Centurian
2
3
THIRD
SUNDAY
IN
LENT
4
Gertrude the Great
vs
Gertrude of Nivelles
5
Brigid of Kildare
vs
Julian of Norwich
6
Rafqa of Lebanon
vs
Clare of Assisi
7
Thomas C 
or 
Thomas A
vs
Henry M 
or
Albert S
8
Hyacinth 
or
Rose of Lima
vs
Polycarp 
or
Andrew 
9
Saintly
16
10
FOURTH
SUNDAY
IN
LENT
11
Kassia
or
Casimir
vs
Lazarus
or
Joseph A
12
Canaire
or
Barbara
vs
Pachomius
or
Cyrprian 
13
Adomnan
or
Joseph Vaz
vs
Piran
or
Cornelius
14
Ambrose
or
William Byrd
vs
Gertrude G
or
Gertrude N
15
Rita
or
Zita
vs
Brigid
or
Julian
16
17
FIFTH
SUNDAY
IN
LENT
18
Rafqa
or
Clare
vs
Henry W
or
Jackson K
19
Upper
Left
Quadrant
20
Bottom
Right
Quadrant
21
Bottom
Left
Quadrant
22
Upper
Right
Quadrant
23
Elate
8
24
PALM
SUNDAY
25
Faithful
4
26
Faithful
4
27
Golden
Halo
28
Maundy
Thursday
29
Good
Friday
30
Holy
Saturday
Icon style image of various saints.

About

Lent Madness is an offering of Forward Movement. Best known as the publishers of Forward Day by Day, a daily devotional published since 1935, we offer many print and digital resources to support spiritual growth and vitality in your church, home, and heart. Follow us on Facebook and sign up for email updates from Forward Movement to find out more about how we can support your faith journey.

Also, follow @ForwardDaybyDay on Twitter and Facebook for daily inspiration, or sign up for our daily email in English or Spanish.

Oh, and since you are in the mood for Lent, why not check out Forward Movement's excellent array of Lenten material?