Today's matchup features two Roman Catholics, the martyred archbishop of El Salvador and an American nun known for her charity and educational work. See, we're doing our part for Christian unity here at Lent Madness. However, lest you think this was a diabolical attempt to pit them against one another, don't forget Dorothy Day is yet to come.
Yesterday, Janani Luwum trounced Thomas Tallis 69% to 31% and will face fellow martyr Jonathan Daniels in the Round of the Saintly Sixteen. While Archbishop Luwum was a virtual Lent Madness unknown, his inspiring story clearly touched many in profound ways.
Perhaps the biggest story in Lent Madness circles was the resolution of the 2013 Mug Controversy. That collective sigh of relief heard 'round the world was confirmation that Tim finally received his Lent Madness mug, thereby preserving the Lenten Detente between the two members of the Supreme Executive Committee.
Oscar Romero
Oscar Romero was born in Cuidad Barrios, El Salvador, on August 15, 1917. He wanted to be a priest, but his family, like almost everyone else, was poor. He had to drop out of seminary several times before he was ordained, to work as a carpenter. But he finished, he excelled, and he was named a bishop of the Roman Catholic Church in 1967.
Romero was known as a quiet, academic type. He had studied at the Vatican in Rome. He was conservative, unlikely to make waves or to upset the status quo. Because of this reputation, in 1977, he was elevated to archbishop of San Salvador, the highest church office in the country.
At the time in El Salvador, 90% of the population lived on less than $100 a year. 200 families owned 75% of the farmable land. A quarter of the children died before the age of five and the average life expectancy was 46 years old. All labor unions were forbidden by law.
A number of the Catholic priests and nuns had begun to question this, to ask what the Christ who healed the leper and befriended the impoverished would make of this situation. Romero's conversion process had begun when he worked with the poor as a local bishop, but when a dear friend was assassinated by a death squad, it was complete.
Weeks after becoming archbishop, Romero called a meeting of all the clergy, priests and nuns, in the country, to figure out how to respond to the assassination of clergy. He canceled all Catholic services in the country, save the funeral mass at the cathedral in San Salvador where he was preaching. This forced everyone, rich and poor alike to attend the same mass, or commit a major sin.
From this time forward, he broadcast every mass from the cathedral on the radio. Everyone heard his sermons, and he became known as the "Voice of the Voiceless." He called on the government to stop the death squads. He called on the soldiers to disobey orders to kill. He called on the rich to support reform. He established a permanent diocesan commission to discover and document human rights abuses in the country. Again and again, he used his authority and power as archbishop to throw the considerable weight of the church behind the oppressed and the victimized.
On March 24, 1980, he was celebrating mass in a small hospital chapel, when he was shot by an assassin whose identity remains unknown. At his funeral, bombs exploded among the 50,000 mourners, killing at least 40, and making Romero's last sermon even more poignant: "Those who surrender to the service of the poor through love of Christ will live like the grain of wheat that dies...The harvest comes because of the grain that dies."
Collect for Oscar Romero
Almighty God, you called your servant Oscar Romero to be a voice for the voiceless poor, and to give his life as a seed of freedom and a sign of hope: Grant that, inspired by his sacrifice and the example of the martyrs of El Salvador, we may without fear or favor, witness to your Word who abides, your Word who is life, even Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom with you and the Holy Spirit, be praise and glory, now and forever. Amen.
Elizabeth Ann Seton
Born in 1774 into a prominent Episcopal family (her maternal grandfather was rector of St. Andrew’s, Staten Island), Elizabeth Ann Seton grew up a devout Episcopalian. Her spiritual director while a member at Trinity Wall Street was John Henry Hobart, later Bishop of New York, and her wedding was performed by Bishop Sam Provoost. In 1797, as a 23-year-old wife and socialite, she was one of the founders of the Society for the Relief of Poor Widows with Small Children, the first private charitable organization in New York City, serving as its treasurer.
In 1798, her husband, William Seton, took over the Seton family shipping and mercantile business, which fell on hard times. Facing both bankruptcy and tuberculosis, in 1803 William took Elizabeth and the eldest of their five children, Anna Maria, to Italy in hopes of regaining his health and connecting with a former business connection, Filippo Filicchi. Unfortunately, as news reached Italy of Yellow Fever in New York, instead of recovering in the Italian sun, Seton and his wife and daughter were quarantined in stone barracks. Days after the family left quarantine, William died, leaving Elizabeth, now 29, a poor widow with five small children.
Staying with the Filicchi family, Elizabeth was introduced to Roman Catholicism and found herself drawn to its sacraments and worship. As she wrote to her sister-in-law, “[Y]ou know how we were laughed at for running from one church to another, sacrament Sundays, that we might receive as often as we could; well, here people that love God…can go every day.”
Returning to New York City, she was received by the Roman Catholic Church but rejected by her friends and family, some of whom disinherited her. An impoverished single mother, she ran a boarding house for boys attached to St. Mark’s, New York, but parents withdrew their children upon learning of her religion. After the conversion of Elizabeth’s young sister-in-law to Catholicism, even Bishop Hobart warned others to cut off any communication with her.
Invited to Baltimore to begin a school, in 1810 Elizabeth founded St. Joseph’s Academy and Free School in Emmitsburg, Maryland. This school for girls from poor families as well as paid boarders became the foundation for the parochial school system in America. She trained the sisters to be teachers and wrote the textbooks. In 1812, she established the first religious order for women in America, the Sisters of Charity, which under Mother Seton’s leadership established orphanages in Philadelphia and New York City. She also worked to assist Baltimore’s poor and sick all while continuing to care for her own children. She died in 1821 at the age of 46.
Collect for Elizabeth Ann Seton
Holy God, you blessed Elizabeth Seton with your grace as wife, mother, educator and founder, that she might spend her life in service to your people: Help us, by her example, to express our love for you in love of others; through Jesus Christ our Redeemer, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Vote!
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165 comments on “Oscar Romero vs. Elizabeth Ann Seton”
Mother Seton embodies the Christian impulse toward charity, but Saint Romero of the Americas to me embodies the Christian journey of transformation. Together they demonstrate the twin poles of Dom Helder Camara's now-famous quote: "When I gave bread to the poor, they called me a saint. When I questioned why the poor have no bread, they called me a communist." With praise for Mother Seton's ministry, I voted for Saint Romero in hopes I can live up to his example now in the midst of America's economic oppression.
I'd never heard that quote before, but it is excellent! Thanks for such an enlightening comment!
That quote helps me decide how to vote. Thanks for sharing.
This match is entirely unfair! We need some mediocre saints in this line up... I am a little disappointed that no mention was made about the fact that Seton was the first person born in the US to be canonized by the Roman Catholic Church. I think that is pretty significant, and why I voted for her.
With a limit of 450 words, I couldn't find a way to fit it in, but I'm glad you mentioned it!
Well, I base that on my convent experience where live-in children would certainly not have been an option.
If you ever get to Emmitsburg you can see the graves of her children. Mother Seton and her children had a very difficult life.
Well, perhaps you are right -- see http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=180
She was very fortunate to have been able to care for her children/family.
Having been schooled by the Sisters of Charity for 13 years and having been to Emmitsburg, I was well versed in her llife and work. Unfortunately Emmitsburg was, at that time, very much the wilderness. She buried three of her five children there from tuberculosis before dying from it herself at 46.
I'm going with Romero, too. I love stories of transformation. His rise to power appears to have done the opposite of what it so often does -- instead of living into the comfort power provides, he stepped outside of it and became that "voice for the voiceless" and used that voice for good. I also love the story about his strategy in getting everyone to come to the cathedral together. Seton surely did some brave things and important work, but I'm more moved by Romero today.
Anyone else notice the many modern martyrs in this year's LM?
Anyhow...despite the cute bonnet and despite Meryl Streep's and Amy Adams' stunning performances in "Doubt", I must vote for Romero.
I remember that day as if it were yesterday. I was pregnant with my son and wondered why I was bringing children into an evil world.
This was actually the easiest choice for me so far. I think my bias from stories from friends of the horrors of parochial school taught by nuns made me discount EA Seton more than I probably should have, but to me Osacar Romero was the more halo-worthy candidate.
Two words: death squads.
Awidow with 5 children at 29? Rejected by her family? Romero was brave, etc., but Seton was faithful over a long haul.
Personally the toughest decision yet. Mother Seton's upbringing and position echo members of my own family at that time, yet she made some different choices, abandoning the security of the world she had known and the support/approval of her family to follow her faith and convictions -- a huge witness, especially at that time. And her contribution to the establishment of parochial schools/boarding schools has had enormous impact on education in this country, my own included. BUT... I had a friend who was working as a missionary in El Salvador at the time of Romero's death. For the couple of years before that I had listened to stories about him, his broadcasts and the couple of occasions she had met him, when we shared long expensive phone calls every few months. When he was murdered, it was as if a friend I had never met had been violently killed and I remember so well the devastating combination of loss, shock, and anger at the sure knowledge that "the government" would never bring his murderers to justice. Then the bombing at the funeral.... Yes, this choice feels so personal this time.... Still not certain.
San Romero de las Américas ya ES santo. He never finished celebrating the mass at La Divina Providencia, nor was his requiem mass ever finished. His anniversary of martyrdom this year will be Palm Sunday; the 25th anniversary (in 2005) was Maundy Thursday so I see his life of sacrifice closely linked to the Passion. ¡Presente!
Hard choice! I went for Elizabeth Seton as an American living abroad... but I hope to see Oscar Romero in the finals!
I usually vote for the martyrs for they are surely saints. But today I voted for Seton. When I left the Mennonite Church to join the Episcopal Church I faced quite a bit of resistance from family and friends. I'm on my way to becoming a priest and one family member is still unhappy about it. It takes courage to follow God to a new place when your family has always been somewhere else.
Both of these stalwarts have personal family ties, so this is a tough one. Romero was assassinated on my wife's birthday; but Hobart (who was Seton's spiritual director as a curate at Trinity Wall Street) was my ancestor (great-great grandfather?). I'm going with Seton.
Today's pairing offers two gentle, beautiful spirits who each "followed God to a new place" with tremendous courage, resolve, and creativity. I could vote for either, happily. I'm confident the Archbishop will advance, so I cast a vote for Elizabeth Seton.
There is no way I would vote for ANYONE over Oscar Romero!!!! Especially not for someone who left the Anglican fold. Done!
My son will throttle me if he ever learns I voted for Mother Seton rather than the Archbishop, but I'm not going to tell him...I agree with all that this was one was the hardest decision we've encountered thus far, and I made my choice only because I could identify with her struggles. I like to think I'd be strong enough to become a martyr, but, what Mother Seton accomplished by daily courage and toil for others is what continues to do great works of charity throughout the communities of our own country. Both saints inspire me to work harder for the poor and downtrodden, so maybe I chose her simply because I identify with her -- we're both women...
Had to go with Romero. Fighter for social justice, martyr and the movie was good!
Don't tell my wife, she counts St. Elizabeth among her patron saints! Sorry Beth.
As an educator, a single mother, a sometimes poor women, a member of an order (not hers), and a worker for the rights of the oppressed I strongly identify with Mother Seton. However, unlike her I have remained with the church of my birth, the Episcopal Church, and it may be if the Episcopal Church of her time had offered communion as we do now, she might still be an Episcopalian. I know if I could not receive at least weekly, I might have left too.
Both of these saints inspire me and while I am not in any sense of their caliber, my strong identification with Mother Seton prompts me to cast my vote for her.
Seton's desire to receive communion regularly resonates with me. I went to the Episcopal church, to an Anglo-Catholic parish with daily communion, from a tradition where some congregations had monthly communion. and others only bimonthly. Receiving communion is one of the most worshipful things we can do!
At last several connections including a basket ball connection! Seton Hall University, named for Mother Seton, frequently puts a decent team on the hardwood. This year is not a good example of their normal level of play. The "Hall" also produces some fine students. Add in EA Seton's devotion to children and education along with a maiden name of Bayley, Mother Seton has my vote
Go for Educator Elizabeth Ann Seaton. Though I was kicked out of St. Thomas More, I think Seaton would have loved me. Sorry Nun so-so-so for calling you an SOB. Who has more boldness or bravery? An educator hands down.
I had to go with Mother Seton - I thought going into this that Bishop Romero would be a slam dunk for me, but it became a question of what was the stronger force - being excommunicated from one's entire life for the sake of faith, and working for decades against historical societal norms versus facing a small faction that controlled through violence because they knew that they were violating fundamental human dignity to control society. I know Bishop Romero is going to win, but maybe Mother Seaton will get hot from the three point line!
I am so glad to be part of the Church - and Lent Madness - where I am only one of many who strive to follow Jesus and to be inspired and motivated by the many saints who have given us such fine examples of how to live and behave in many circumstances. Thank you all for your comments which I read and learn from.
I am loving Lent Madness!
And I spelled her name wrong, sigh. Sorry Elizabeth Ann Seton.
Oscar Romero is certainly worthy of the lead he currently carries in this contest, but I had to vote for Mother Seton because I used to be a single mother and I share her heart for ministry to poor, single women. And because my husband has a primary relic of Elizabeth Seton.
Having been raised by the Daughters of Charity of St Vincent de Paul, I learned the story of Elizabeth Ann Seton very early on. I grew up to be a social worker and have always thought of her as one of America's first "social workers". As much as I revere the awe inspiring witness of Oscar Romero and what he did for his people, I had to vote for one of my earliest role models.
I voted for Oscar but this was the hardest vote yet. The ladies who dedicate their lives to the care of God's children are an inspiration, but Oscar's voice for the poor resonated.
Certainly two worthy contestants! I'm afraid I'm just a little biased away from Mother Seaton because I'm just not quite 100% sure that parochial schools are always a good thing. So, while both are worth examples for all of us, I will go with the Archbishop.
How can you not vote for a single, independent, strong woman who did so much good for the poor. So did Oscar, but in Elizabeth's time she suffered great hardship being a woman.
Elizabeth did what was needed at that time and accomplished so much for others.
From your site, I thought you might enjoy seeing a music video that we just produced on Oscar Romero. It is part of a new CD release. The singer is a deacon, Michael Glen Bell, and the film maker is Owen Thomas. The Project is the subject of a wonderful article in Canada’s Catholic Register http://www.catholicregister.org/arts/movie-news/item/15749-video-brings-awful-memories-flooding-back
Go to TheMartyrsProject.com to view the video. Feel free to use it on your site, review the album or video, or blog about The Project. If you do, let us know so we can put a link on ours. If you are interested in a story on The Project, please get back to us. We are located in Indianapolis. You can follow us on Twitter @martyrsproject.
Thanks for sharing this. Excellent!
How exciting! Thank you!
I'm a Mount Mom--one daughter graduated from and another a freshman at Mt. St. Mary's University in Emmitsburg, MD. We frequently visit the Shrine and the Grotto near the campus. If it was anyone else, I would have voted for Oscar Romero but Mother Seton got my vote today!
http://www.setonheritage.org/
Had to sign up for emails--gave up Facebook for Lent.