After two gut-wrenchingly close battles involving saints named Thomas, the week's final match-up features an evangelical 18th century Anglican and a man closely linked to Ireland and Scotland.
Thomas the Apostle and Enmegahbowh faced off in an epic see-saw battle that wasn't decided until the wee hours (or early hours depending on your global location). In the end Enmegabowh prevailed 52% to 48% and will head to the Round of the Saintly Sixteen.
One note on our least favorite topic here at Lent Madness: Voter Fraud. Those who closely monitored the vote totals late yesterday will have noted the disappearance of some votes for both saints. This was not due to Lenten hackers but the keen eyes of the Supreme Executive Committee who noticed some irregularities and quickly acted to remedy the situation. It turns out someone from Overland Park, Kansas, voted 100 times for Thomas. Then someone else voted 50 times for Enmegabowh (equal opportunity cheating!). Scott deleted the repeat votes and banished the rogues into the outer darkness of Lent without Lent Madness. We are completely confident that the end result is fair and reflects the will of the non-cheaters. We will remain ever-vigilant and are even considering hiring Jimmy Carter on retainer as an election monitor.
We'll all need the weekend off to recover and prepare for Monday's oedipal match-up between Augustine of Hippo and his mother Monnica! But in the meantime, enjoy today's election and let's keep up the spirit and goodwill of keeping a holy Lent Madness.
William Law (1686-1761) was an 18th century theologian and evangelical writer. He was widely known for his book A Serious Call to a Devout and Holy Life, which was a best-selling handbook on pious living and is still available today. Charles Wesley once said that William Law taught him all he knew about religion.
Educated at Cambridge University with plans to become a clergyman, Law would not take the oath of allegiance to George I, so he served as a private tutor to the children of Edward Gibbon (yes, ‘The Rise and Fall…’ Gibbon). Unable to use the pulpit or lecture hall, he preached through his books. This is when he penned, A Serious Call. It was Gibbon who said, "If Mr. Law finds a spark of piety in a reader's mind, he will soon kindle it into a flame."
Both peasant and preacher found inspiration in William Law’s writings. Not only Charles Wesley, but William Wilberforce, and George Whitefield described reading Law was a major turning point in their lives.
Law eventually retired to his hometown of King’s Cliffe where he lived frugally, gave generously to the poor, helped to open homes and schools for the needy, and spent generous portions of his days in prayer. This is where Law wrote his second-most popular book, An Humble, Earnest, and Affectionate Address to the Clergy, which is still available today under the title, The Power of the Spirit. He died just a few days after this work went to the printer.
Collect for William Law: O God, by whose grace your servant William Law, kindled with the fire of your love, became a burning and shining light in your Church: Grant that we also may be aflame with the spirit of love and discipline, and may ever walk before you as children of light; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
-- Chris Yaw
Columba (521-597), was an Irish monk and founder of monasteries in the rough and tumble dark ages. He was born to royal lineage in the Clan O’Donnell in County Donegal. He entered the monastery at a young age where he distinguished himself as a serious student and devout Christian.
Columba is best known as a founder of three monasteries in Derry and Durrow, Ireland and Iona, Scotland. It was 563 when Columba traveled to the isle of Iona, with 12 companions, which, quickly became home base for the conversion of the natives, the Picts and Scots. Columba spent 32 years there, serving as abbot, and preaching the Christian faith to the local inhabitants of Northern Scotland. He would come to baptize both the king of the Picts and the king of the Scots.
The Venerable Bede says Columba’s example of, “preaching and example,” led many people to Christ. He was admired for his discipline and ascetic lifestyle, including sleeping on a stone pillow. It is said that Columba never spent an hour without study, prayer, or similar occupation. He is credited with writing 300 books.
On the eve of his death Columba was said to be home working on a transcription. Then, at the midnight service, Columba entered the church without assistance, sank before the altar, and, surrounded by his disciples, breathed his last.
Columba’s memory lives on in both Scotland and Ireland. While the buildings were desecrated during the Reformation, Iona still flourishes today as an ecumenical religious community.
Collect for Columba: O God, by the preaching of your blessed servant Columba you caused the light of the Gospel to shine in Scotland: Grant, we pray, that, having his life and labors in remembrance, we may show our thankfulness to you by following the example of his zeal and patience; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
-- Chris Yaw
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109 comments on “William Law vs. Columba”
OUCH!!!!! “There is no surer sign of a confirmed Pride than when one thinks one is humble – enough.” (In case I had forgotten about my constant struggle with that idea, I just CAN'T RESIST pointing out to Aleithia that "We've we've" got to be careful about casting stones at other peoples' typos!) 😉 That said, this is a TOUGH one, but my affinity for Scotland tipped it for Columba. (And, Iona is on MY bucket list, too, but not likely to come off soon!)
I had the joyful privilege of spending the month of June on Iona with the Iona Community, a 'thin place,' where one senses the presence of the Holy Trinity and Columba as real as the salt air surrounding the tiny isle. The Iona Community, in my view, has it just right in terms of where God is calling us to go in the contemporary world. Columba!
Tough call today for me. Columba is a bit more colorful, but I think I have to go with slow but steady Law.
I voted for Law because he was out amongst the regular peeps doing good works and loving the Lord - very much following the example of Jesus.
I voted for William Law because I know how hard it is to minister to others in the way that he did without wearing a collar around one's neck (society's stamp of approval and license) while being true to oneself. This is a man who was true to his baptismal calling and found a middle way to minister in any case. Columba is Columba and will get votes because he's Celtic, It's March, and he's Columba.
Columba here. I*m on the waiting list for a pilgrimage to Iona.
One possible caveat on the cheating scandal; if I wanted to change my vote after reading a particularly insightful and persuasive comment, what if I were to vote twice for the opposite candidate? Would that get me banished?
Impressed by Law's refusal to pledge allegiance to George I. Shows a lot of character but Columba just speaks to me for some reason. Never been to Iona but it's on my bucket list too.
This is a tough one. Law was very important for both Evangelicals and High Churchmen. He choose to follow his conscience and for that he was deprived of a career in the Church of England. In the end he got my vote.
If you are Googling these saints, I must advise you that there is another William Law who was one of the original Latter Day Saints and whose bio is somewhat alarming. The dates don't match. He is not OUR William Law.
What a tough choice. In fact none of these has been easy. In the end I voted for Columba, for his connection with Iona, a spot I want to spend some time in.
Worthy men both - but since I have dual citizenship with Eire and can feel Columba's call to setting out in his little coracle and seeking green martydom, Columba will be my guy for today.
This is a tough one. Columba was influential in the shaping of the Celtic church that gave us such treasures. But William Law (who I hadn't previously heard of) influenced Wesley and Wilberforce, who did too! Off to ponder...
In reference to Overland Park, Kansas -- there is an Episcopal church there dedicated to St. Thomas the Apostle. One would hope they'd find 100 people to vote once rather than one person who votes 100 times, but they do love their saint!
Confession: for most of my adult life, I inexplicably thought Columba was a woman. How did I come to this erroneous conclusion? No clue. This is especially hard for me to explain, because the big Catholic church downtown is St. Columba's, and there is a big, masculine statue of him out front.
Maybe because Columba has a feminine ending? I thought Columba was a woman based on the name until I was assigned a research paper on him.
Are you kidding? With a death scene straight out of a "B" movie script, Columba gets my vote! Really, who wouldn't want to go out like that? I'm just sayin'
Go Columcille (it would be nice if you got his name right)!
Another Grannie from Scotland here and I just happened to have worn her tartan yesterday. I do indeed believe our way of life leaves a spiritual footprint on where we dwell and so many have been touched by being at Iona that Columba has my vote.
No contest for me here.
I'm partly Scottish. I've been all over Scotland, including our medieval clan castle in Argyle and Iona. And one of my favorite places, Inverewe Gardens in the far northwest, where it's actually warm enough to grown palm trees! It's all incredibly beautiful and Iona is indeed a thin place.
I'm also very fond of the Scottish Episcopal Church. I have always found Scottish Episcopalians to be warm and welcoming and in so many ways much more like American Episcopalians than English Anglicans. The cathedrals in Edinburgh and Aberdeen are beautiful. And of course the Scottish Episcopal bishops ordained our first bishop, Samuel Seabury.
"Devout and Holy Life" is a great book. But Columba it is!
Columba for me too, despite my admiration for Law. Iona truly is one of the thin places and I love the hymns and liturgy which are being written by the present day community. Wonderful stuff!
Cory,
For many years I thought Columba was a Native American from MN. There is a church named St. Columba on the White Earth Reservation in Northern MN, and every time I hear that I thought it was named after someone from the reservation.
And I have on several occasions slept on a stone pillow and really they can be comfortable.
I am having a hard time deciding this one.
Meanwhile, what if I wanted to read something by Thomas Merton (since we won't be hearing more about him in Lent Madness.) What do you Merton fans recommend as a good one to start with?
Inspiration to Wilberforce who helped get slavery repealed in England + someone who continued to follow his call despite being turned away from the priesthood for following his conscience. I have to go with Law.
St. Nana? Perhaps you meant St. Nina, equal to the apostles (another one!) and enlightener of Georgia?
I'm with Alene and the rest of the Law minority, despite the romance and allure of Iona and all the other wonderful things connected with Celtic spirituality/Columba.
Goodness! I serve a parish in Overland Park, KS! It's strange -- I haven't even heard anyone mention the Lent Madness thing, or seen it on facebook from anyone around here. You've got me wondering who in the church 'round here might have felt so moved as to vote 100 times! I thought I was about as historically-nerdy as anyone around, but there must be some ringers in the shadows down here!
Beth and I were married on St. Columba's Day--this was a no-brainer.
Both Saints had massive impact on the Church but ultimately I do not believe that William Law would have even had the opportunity were it not for Columba who not only was a major actor in the spread of Christianity in the British Isles but was also a major actor in the salvation of Christianity in the known world during the dark ages. The Irish Christians after him would go on to reintroduce Europe to Christianity and other knowledge.
Having been to Iona it is obvious that Colomba's spirit is alive and well there inspiring those who involve themselves in the ecunemical community. It is truly a special place
I'm voting for Law because he was a layman who nevertheless had a tremendous influence on the church.
Looks as if Columba will win. Happy with that. Glad the stone pillow didn't put too many people off. It was a different world back then and mortification of the flesh (to a point) is a valid religious practice. Who told me so? Thomas Merton. Boom.