We began this Lent Madness journey over five weeks ago on "Ash Thursday." We started with 32 saints and have now whittled the field down to two: Mary Magdalene and Emma of Hawaii (who staged a wild comeback against Dietrich Bonhoeffer yesterday).
Along the way we've met some truly remarkable holy women and men. Perhaps you learned about some folks you'd never heard of or maybe you renewed acquaintances with saints who have long offered inspiration. Of course the entire notion of placing saints in a bracket is absurd -- each "contestant" has already earned a crown of righteousness in addition to a "golden halo." But at the heart of Lent Madness is the abiding conviction that Lent need not be gloomy or depressing. After all, what could be more joyful than a season specifically devoted to being drawn into deeper relationship with the risen Christ?
In the process of this whimsical Lenten devotion we have made some new online friends, encountered a community of believers who take their faith but not themselves too seriously, learned some things, were inspired by saintly witnesses, and had a lot fun along the way.
We literally couldn't have done this without our "Celebrity Bloggers" to whom we offer sincere gratitude. Dr. Meredith Gould, the Rev. Penny Nash, the Rev. Bosco Peters, Canon Heidi Shott, the Rev. (Bracket Czar) Adam Thomas, the Rev. Laura Toepfer, the Rev. Neil Alan Willard, and the Rev. Chris Yaw -- you guys rock!
Finally, thanks to all who have participated in this devotional journey. We've loved having each one of you along for the "madness" and on behalf of the Supreme Executive Committee we wish you a blessed Holy Week and a joyous Easter.
Oh, wait, there's one more thing before we set our face toward the Triduum. Cast your vote for either Mary Magdalen or Emma of Hawaii -- the 2012 Golden Halo hangs in the balance! The polls will be open for 24 hours and the winner will be announced at 8:00 am Eastern time on Maundy Thursday.
Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: "I have seen the Lord!"
John 20:18
Mary Magdalene: Giovanni Savoldo, c.1535-1540
Excerpts from a lament by the Pacific Commercial Advertiser upon Queen Emma’s death in 1885.
Auwe! Auwe! The bitter wail resounds,
From far Kauai to bold Hawaii’s shore;
The people’s grief and sorry know no bounds,
For their loved Ema-lani is no more.
---Auwe! Auwe! The mourning nation cries;
Auwe! Auwe! She does not heed its grief;
Auwe! No more she wipes the weeping eyes,
No more she gives the sick and poor relief.
The King and lowliest native equal share
The common grief, for each has lost a friend,
And closer draws the bond of sympathy -
The throne and hut unite their tears to blend.
And not alone Hawaiians grieving cry,
The Haoles join in universal moan;
America extends her sympathy,
And England’s Queen will mourn a sister gone..
Kaleleonalani is not dead!
She sleeps on earth, but wakes in Paradise;
Rejoince we then and lift the drooping head,
She is but veiled from our mortal eyes.
And so we leave her sleeping sweet in God.
Vote!
NOTE: At 4:13 p.m. EDT, the Supreme Executive Committee removed 120 votes for Emma, based on heavy repeating voting from a single location. We are glad you are enthused about your saints, but please vote only once!
[poll id="35"]
146 comments on “For the Golden Halo: Mary Magdalene vs. Emma of Hawaii”
Thid has been so much fun. I predicted Mary would win. We shall see go Mary go. Rock my eorld
As the first witness to the Resurrection in 3 of the Gospels (Mark, Matthew, and John, pace Wikipedia), I believe that Mary of Magdala deserves to be First Among Lent Madness Holy Persons.
Love and honor Queen Emma who, in the faces of the many people she helped, certainly saw the Lord as well. "They lived not only in ages past."*
*Hymn 712 (words: Lesbia Scott; music: John S. Hopkins.)
That should have said rock my world. Using my phone to vote. Wanted to support Mary early and I wish often
I think the phrase "She knew the Guy" was my favorite! Thank you all for taking the time to do this and for letting us all be included. A contemplative Holy Week to you all.
And the rest of us don't know the Guy?
In light of "Judas" day, would he have been so bold as to ask, "Could we not sell that Golden Halo and give the money to the poor?"
Emma believed and continued in her good works, even though she never saw Her Lord in person. Her faith sustained her, and what a great example for all of us during Holy Week. I must, therefore, continue with my golden Queen, Emma of Hawai'i. h+++
This is sooOOOooo difficult, but I think I'm going to have to go with the first evangelist.
Loved loved LOVED Lent Madness! I voted for Mary, but after reading the comments was kinda wishing I had voted for Emma. Either way, I was so grateful to learn about Emma, and Enmegahbow and so many others that I didn't know about. Thank you SEC and the bloggers, as well as the other participants who posted so many interesting perspectives!
Who knew that the Diocese of Hawaii was the Cook County of Church Politics- When asked "How many votes do you have? Those suntanned wretches of such beautiful islands, respond: "How many do you need!" So I shall be "Maudlin" in honor of Mary M.
I though just had a very good GOTv strategy... I thought Scott took care of the Cook County or other ballot stuffing activities.
Sir:
Queen Emma founded St. Andrew's Priory - an Episcopal girls school in Honolulu. The girls and faculty deeply admire Emma, and it is no wonder that there are large lots of votes being cast in her favor which all stem from one location. It doesn't necessarily mean that there is ballot stuffing.
Your comment, the first part of which I'm sure you meant in jest, does not take into account how much she is loved by our community. Her legacy is everywhere apparent here.
Nevertheless, both women are tremendously amazing, and both are deserving of winning.
Hi Shelley,
Certainly no offense was intended.
I assure you it's not hard to spot the difference between one person voting 50 times and 50 people voting once each. No doubt a very eager person was excited for their saint, and I do not mean to make this any more serious than it should be (which is not very, since Lent Madness is, well madness). Our only goal is to ensure that we have fair contests. The only reason we shut people out of Lent Madness and sometimes reverse mass votes is that in one of the earliest votes, we discovered hundreds of repeat votes. (The outcome of that contest was not affected.)
I know Emma is beloved, and I can see why. She's amazing (and so is Mary Magdalene, of course). For what it's worth, I find the deep devotion to Emma and all that she represents to be inspiring. One day in the not too distant future, I hope I can see Emma's legacy in Hawaii firsthand.
Anyway, you all should be proud Emma made it to the championship of Lent Madness, another honor for her. Lots of people didn't think she would do it, and yet she has shown us all. In doing that, she has honored us. Or, more to the point, Christ's light in her shines on us all.
Peace,
Scott+
Goldtone Halos to all who contributed to Lent Madness. LM introduced me to Evelyn Underhill AND Episcopal Priest Barbie. I loved it and learned from it and laughed at it and even got verklempft amidst this cloud of saintly and earthly witnesses. All this, and lovely parting gifts, too--many new books to read and ideas to ponder. Thank you and bless you, every one.
Thank you for giving me a fun yet educational Lenten experience. I am already looking forward to next year's offerings. I too am torn between MM and Emma. My Mom died on Saturday and we will celebrate her life on Maundy Thursday. I believe that she too has now seen the Lord yet one of her favorite vacations was when we celebrated my parents 50th wedding anniversary in Hawaii. What would Mom do?
So sorry for your loss. May God bless you & your family and, also, comfort you with good friends & memories.
I join Ginny in praying blessing on all your family, Marty. And what a delicious question to ponder--"what would Mom do?"--as you remember her life with love and joy as well as grief!
I cannot recall how I stumbled upon LM, but I have learned so much. Thank you SEC, the celeb bloggers and those who commented.
For today's vote, Emma has captured my heart. Despite dealing with her own grief, she helped save her people by way of improved healthcare and education. She put into action the lessons of our Lord. Like DB, she was on the front lines.
MM gets my vote although ANY of the 32 deserves to be here in the final 2. Tennebrae service last night--and the Light of the World who could not be extinguished brings me to Mary Mag and her faith and belief that could not be extinguished either. My heart breaks for her as I picture her crying in the garden, and then her joy in seeing the risen Jesus! Without her witness, would any of the others have been strong contenders? Got to go with the First Lady of Apostles!
As others before me have said--thanks for this fun, imaginative and informative look at Lent. My faith has been deepened and my walk has been made steadier.
Bowing both to the inevitable Pacific bump and to Emma's devotion & faith, I cast my vote westward. All honor to Emma!
What a wonderful journey this has been. The celebrity bloggers were fantastic and I so enjoyed learning about heretofore unheard of saints. What an inspiration Queen Emma has been! However, my conscience dictates I vote for Mary Mags, the first Apostle, so with much respect and deep love for Queen Emma, I must vote for MM. Either way it's win-win. Happy to see a woman winning this year!
I haven't had time to read all the comments, so this question may already have been
asked: Why, of all the disciples, was Mary Magdalene chosen to be the first witness
of the Resurrection?
What do you think, everybody?
Jesus trusted her.
Jesus doesn't trust us all?
I think she was first because she got up earliest!
In historical context? My guess he trusted Mary Magadalene more than the guys!
Do you think He should?
Should...or should have? In context, trusting Mary Magdalene more than the other disciples would make sense -- to me. FWIW, I was raised Jewish and often characterize myself as a 1st century Jew stuck with 21st century Christianity!
Reply stream didn't make it clear that I was replying to Bob's question above (hence the odd grammar) - sorry. Doesn't Jesus trust us all? Do you think he should? I say Nope, ("Ah, Holy Jesus... I crucified thee!") but luckily I'm not in charge. Love is.
FWIW I agree with you Meredith, AND I'm looking forward to learning more about the Jewish roots of Christian worship...I ordered your Menorah book online last night. : )
Bob, Bob,Bob......Land O' Goshen, will you please relax? you'll live longer, add more years to your life/life to your years, reduce your risk of migraines, acid reflux, nervous twitches and the sudden impulse to run screaming up and down. Go get yer feet washed and have a blessed easter.
peace,
Madeleine
I am torn. Mary M. is my favorite saint and I agree with everything that has been said. However, Mary like many of the figures in the NT is just at the point where historicity fades into mythos. Emma is a modern person who is an example of sustained prayer, faith and action...an incarnational faith. I must read and pray.
Vote against Mary Magdalene during Holy Week? Well, _I_ did, but I don't think Emma has much of a chance this time.
Oh Tom, I taught you well! 😉 I suggest a tie!
...uh...have you met my friends The Entire Episcopal Diocese of Hawaii...? And all THEIR new friends here, including yourself? Emma has a great deal of "chance" I'd say! : )
I am curious -- has anyone in Hawaii been voting for anyone other than Queen Emma? If you're afraid of episcopal retaliation for admitting it, never fear -- you can all come live with me, in peace and safety (I'm going to suppose there aren't many of you). You may have to wait for the airport to reopen before you fly in, though - we're expecting 25 cm of snow later this afternoon.
...hmm...tropical paradise vs frozen wasteland...I see now that my attempt at vote bribery is unlikely to succeed...taking a different tack: is there a 'pity' vote out there in paradise for a Mary fan? ; )
MM all the way! I am not convinced it was easier for her to be faithful than more modern saints. Those first followers did not have an easy road. And there were plenty in close proxity to Jesus who did not have faith--like, just about everyone in our Holy Week readings.
Blessings, Marty, to you and your family as you grieve your Mom. Maundy Thursday is a beautiful day for a service of remembrance.
God grant her rest, and let light perpetual shine upon her.
I love Mary - she is one of my great heroes and inspirations.
BUT - Emma - I know her. I have walked her land. I have tried to live by the motto of the Islands, as she did, "The life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness." So many I know and cherish have been impacted by her tireless servanthood. I am an inheritor of the spirituality she brought to the Islands - this beloved Anglican church. And that unique and glorious spirituality that pervades Hawaii - Aloha - the love that is rooted in God, and is so important that it must be mentioned at every human interaction. Aloha - unconditional love as seen and lived in the person of our beloved Emma Lani, Kaleleonalani. (You go, girl!)
I owe my life in part to the good people of Hawaii - Emma will always have my vote!
Many thanks to the SEC and the contributing bloggers!!
Thankfully, all of the exemplary followers of our Lord, Jesus, the truly RISEN ONE, are presently enjoying the immeasurable Presence of and Communion with GOD in Heaven! Each of the Saints that were studied, examined, contemplated, and "vetted" are worthy of our gratitude because each one of them, in splendid variety, showed us ways to travel to Jesus as well. This was fun and exciting. I say a golden halo for ALL of the Saints!!!!
Oh, I know that Mary of Magdala will take this, hands down. We'll be with her early in the morning, bleary eyed and maybe even crying on Sunday. But it's snowing here in Pullman. Someone has to remind me of the sun! Besides that, my granddaughter's people are from Tonga, and her parents take the family to Hawaii whenever they can get there. Aloha.
I've loved learning about Emma (I'm not Hawaiian or Episcopalian) and have loved casting my vote for her. Had she been up against any of the men folk, she would have continued to receive my vote but alas she has come up against Mary Magdalene. I must go with that first Lover of the Christ who inspires so many of to be lovers of Christ as well. She may well have been the beloved disciple. She may well have been the father of Jesus' heir. She may well have been the inspiration behind the Community that grew around the writing of the unknown John (gospel and letters). There are so many things we do not know about this woman and still her faithfulness at the cross and at the tomb is inspiration enough to go and do likewise, carrying our love and our devotion to the martyred and the dying and to those who need everywhere... Thanks for a great adventure...
Many thanks for a simply outstanding experience during Lent. You guys are awesome!
One final impassioned plea for Mary Magdalene.
There are many excellent reasons to vote for Queen Emma. Both of these women deserve to be celebrated for their witness...but Magdalene has waited so much longer.
Mary did indeed have the blessing of walking the earth with Jesus, hearing his words first hand, supporting his ministry. She was less blessed to see it all fall to pieces -- starting "today" -- in the worst possible way. All she could do was stand and watch -- yes, and weep -- as this wonderful man, who said and did such amazing things, was humiliated and tortured to death before her eyes. She had to wait until the powers that be had finished with him before trying to restore what honour she could to his remains, in accordance with their tradition. She was denied even that. His dead body was gone.
And then she met the Risen Christ.
She met him because she was out there doing what she could to honour him, not hiding behind closed doors, even when all seemed lost and hopeless. She was the first to have a personal encounter with the Risen Christ, and the first to share the astonishing news with the rest of the disciples.
And yet somehow, tradition forgot that the first evangelist was a woman. Tradition made her other things -- Jesus' main squeeze, a redhead (understood by medievals to be the hair colour of a prostitute), officially a woman of ill repute (thanks for that, Greg). Conveniently forgetting the 'apostola apostolorum', for thousands of years (and yet today, in some traditions) women have been denied the opportunity to preach, teach, and celebrate their Lord...to tell the Story first told to the rest of the world by a woman.
He is Risen! Magdalene knew it intimately. She knew it first, and she knew it first because she was out there with never-say-die faith and loyalty trying to find and honour her Lord. She told his Story so we can find Him, too. She deserves that Golden Halo.
Jennifer, I was wavering, but you convinced me. Thanks.
THANK YOU for the gift of Lent Madness!! Tim and Scott you both deserve a break, but what about a Pentecost competition? If not, perhaps a LM Withdrawal Survival Guide?
Mary Magdalene was, of course, a worthy woman. She was chosen to be the witness and chosen to be the companion. Regardless of the misinformation created by jealous followers, her reputation is finally being cleared and her importance is being acknowledged.
Queen Emma lived her life AS THOUGH she had been chosen, and her good works were done on Earth, without reward and often without the recognition of the effort she made to make all of her people safe, well and valued. She suffered personal losses that few of us could even imagine, and yet she continued to try to pass on the gifts given to her by God. Magdelene has already been given her halo. Emma has not, and--all the more reason to support her--she wouldn't ask for one.