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.
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!
Today 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.