Will the people of St. Louis, Missouri, rise up to support their namesake or will the alumni of Gallaudet University emerge in force? Will the people of France cry "Mon Dieu!" and vote for Louis or will the Deaf community throughout the world come together in support of Thomas? These questions, and probably more, will be answered in today's edition of "As the Steeple Turns."
In yesterday's Battle of the Catherines, Catherine of Siena solidly defeated Catherine of Alexandria 61% to 39%. No word on how Catherine Zeta-Jones, Kate Middleton (aka the Duchess of Cambridge), Katy Perry, Katie Couric, or Katharine Jefferts Schori voted.
Louis of France
Though other monarchs have been named saints, Louis IX of France is the only French sovereign on the Roman Catholic Church’s divine rolls. Louis IX acceded to the throne when he was just twelve years old. Although he was known for his fiery youthful temper, he was widely viewed as an able commander and generous ruler. He endowed monasteries, abbeys, and cathedrals from the earliest years of his reign. Most spectacular is the Sainte-Chapelle (Holy Chapel) in Paris, which housed numerous relics including the Crown of Thorns and relics of the True Cross.
Throughout his reign, Louis was well regarded for his impartiality, even-handedness, and willingness to negotiate rather than go to war. He worked tirelessly to find a fair peace with Henry III of England, though he could have insisted on punitive demands. Instead, he allowed the King of England to retain not only substantial claims to land but also his dignity. In return, the English monarch named himself a vassal of Louis, pledging mutual military support and protection. An able negotiator and trusted arbitrator, Louis was often asked to navigate difficult diplomatic situations between parties across Europe (and was even called upon to make peace between Henry III and his English barons). Louis became known as the ideal of Christian Princedom.
He changed laws to limit corruption and increase transparency. Trial by combat, judicial duels, usury, and more were done away with as Louis sought to create a more humane and responsible system of governance. Had popular voting in brackets been invented in the thirteenth century, we are pretty sure Louis would have supported this particular mode of governance and competition. Louis is not without flaws, though, and was not given to unleavened piety. He struggled with gluttony and always worked to maintain his temper. (He was often most exercised by the abuses of clergy, which he punished with some ferocity.)
Perhaps the most damaging parts of Louis’s legacy are his leadership of the failed crusade in Tunisia, which would prove to be his mortal end. In addition, at the urging of the Holy See, he burned thousands of copies of Jewish texts (this campaign against the Jews was overturned by the succeeding Pope).
At his death in 1270, Louis demonstrated his deep care for his people. He commanded his son to protect and assist the poor, who were the humblest of his subjects. Louis IX was popularly recognized as a saint long before the Vatican declared him as such in 1297.
Collect for Louis of France
O God, who called your servant Louis of France to an earthly throne that he might advance your heavenly kingdom, and gave him zeal for your Church and love for your people: Mercifully grant that we who commemorate him this day may be fruitful in good works, and attain to the glorious crown of your saints; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Thomas Gallaudet
Along with his father and brother, Thomas Gallaudet played a leading role in establishing deaf education and promoting the advancement of the Deaf in the United States throughout the nineteenth century. (The capitalized “Deaf ” is used when referring to Deaf culture, as opposed to “deaf ” to describe hearing loss). His father, Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet, co-founded the first School for the Deaf in America. His brother, Edward Miner Gallaudet, became the principal of what is now Gallaudet University, the first to offer college degrees to the Deaf.
Both his mother and his wife were Deaf, and Thomas Gallaudet was fluent in sign language from childhood. At that time, no one recognized signing as a language. Most people considered sign merely crude gestures; it wasn’t formally recognized as a language until the 1960s.
Gallaudet first taught at his father’s school in Connecticut, then at the New York Institution for Deaf Mutes. While there, he began teaching Bible classes to the Deaf as he studied for the ministry. Shortly after his ordination as an Episcopal priest in 1851, he established St. Ann’s Church, the first congregation in any denomination for the Deaf. Services were both spoken and signed and were free to all in a time when pew rent was the norm. Beginning in 1859, he expanded this ministry to other cities.
Throughout the 1800s, a fierce battle raged over whether the Deaf should be allowed to sign or not. The 1880 Milan Conference of Deaf Educators declared oral instruction (teaching speech and lip-reading) superior to sign and voted to ban the use of all manual instruction in deaf education.
Gallaudet managed to maintain a generous spirit, working with people across the spectrum of the issue while continuing his advocacy. Although incorporating oral instruction in his work, he continued to offer signed services and interpreted at churches throughout the country. He promoted Deaf candidates for the priesthood. In fact, the first Deaf priest, Henry Syle, shares Gallaudet’s feast day. And he helped the Deaf establish their own institutions to care for their community. Gallaudet changed people’s minds about what the Deaf can do. Throughout his ministry, he gave his personal testimony, telling those with ears to hear “that signs can make up a real, living language as well as sounds. If this be so, the imparting of the sacramental life, according to our Lord’s appointment, cannot surely be limited to the latter.”
Collect for Thomas Gallaudet
O loving God, whose will it is that everyone should come to you and be saved: We bless your Holy Name for your servants Thomas Gallaudet and Henry Winter Syle, whose labors with and for those who are deaf we commemorate today; and we pray that you will continually move your Church to respond in love to the needs of all people; through Jesus Christ, who opened the ears of the deaf, and who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
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140 comments on “Louis of France vs. Thomas Gallaudet”
Thomas Gallaudet is our hero. Both of my children went all through school (Kdg. - HS Graduation) in magnet schools for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing They are not hearing impaired but are fluent in American Sign Language as are most of their friends who went through school with them. Thanks to Thomas Gallaudet we had Inclusion Ministries before we knew the term!
William, the "why not" is pretty clear to me....among other things, Louis had a nasty temper. Not a,desirable trait in a monarch.
The reference to the prohibition of teaching the deaf using sign language reminds me of the idiocy of what's going on in education today. I worked in special ed, and was always amazed that our kids were expected to be tested by the same standards as typical kids. I guess the powers that be thought we just sprinkle magic fairy dust on them and Poof! away go the disabilities.
Much wringing of hands and gnashing of teeth over this one! Sainte-Chapell is one of the most gorgeous sacred spaces in all of Christendom, and I am amazed to learn of the Christ-like peacemaking and care for the poor Louis practiced in his life. How, oh how, to weigh that against the wonderful work of Gallaudet for the Deaf? I am paralyzed with perplexity!
I'm a fan of Gothic churches and I have a deep interest in the Middle Ages, and understand of the context of the time, but I know too much about Louis to ever vote for him. This was a man steeped in intolerance. He persecuted and murdered people in order to fund a very stupid and wasteful Crusade, and he revitalized anti-Semitism at a time when it had been dying down. Even if I didn't attend a church with a Deaf community, I'd vote for Gallaudet. Here was a man who fought for the recognition of the *humanity* and competence of a whole group of people -- exactly the sort of people the Pharisees (and most ordinary people) in the Bible despised. His influence may still be honoured 800 years after his life, and he didn't have to persecute or murder people to achieve it.
Wish we had leaders now that were so committed to the poor and to peace. My vote went to Louis.
Had to vote for Thomas Gallaudet. My mom had a deaf brother who at age 14 was attending a school for the deaf in Boston, MA. One afternoon he stepped off of the trolley in Arlington Heights, went to cross in front of the trolley, the driver rang the bell, started up and ran him over killing him. Sad but true!
My wife's childhood (RC) parish in Detroit is the only church dedicated to Louis of France. I just had to go with him....
Thomas is a very special person who helps others who are hard of hearing. We need more like him. b
Hear, hear!
Hear, Hear? See, See? Thumbs up, Thumbs up?
A vote for the King, who is a patron of the 3rd Order of St. Francis.
The contributions of the Gallaudets to the deaf are so important it's hard to even imagine what the world would be like today without the services available. I started classes two times (shame! shame!) to learn signing and communications techniques but didn't practice enough to keep up and dropped out (Mea culpa!!) This LentMadness focus on services to the Deaf may prod me into trying again and succeeding.
As one who has a disability, though mine is visual rather than auditory, I must vote for Thomas in gratitude for all he did for our Deaf brothers and sisters.
I am deaf and without Thomas Gallaudet, I would not be able to worship. Not only was he a priest for deaf people but realized that deaf people could also be priests. Of course we don't want to compare but I believe it was about 100 years later before our Roman Catholic brothers decided a Deaf man could be a priest. I can worship, I can even partake in various ministries. Thomas Gallaudet has influenced my life greatly.
A very difficult choice for me.......Louis was responsible for the glory of St. Chappelle and had done a lot of good for his country.....but, he did commit atrocities in the name of Christ........nothing much has changed, has it? Growing up in Syracuse, we had a deaf congregation within our church, The university has been a blessing to so many......who to choose?
I lived near Syracuse for 35 years, I was unaware of this church. What was the name of the church? I voted for Thomas Gallaudet because my friend was deaf and I learned sign to talk with him after trying to communicate in other ways-so much easier!!
Arggg...another tough choice. I'm going with Louise because I would welcome anyone with real authority mandating kinder, gentler, inclusive behavior.
Well, I think Louis will be the Big Lou-ser today (if not the biggest of all of Lent Madness 2014). Still, I voted for him anyway, and not just because I share the same name. As the article indicates, he was ahead of his time in many ways - even with his burning of the Jewish texts on order of the Pope (and I share Jewish roots in my family). To define anyone by one act (even if significantly wrong) doesn't seem just. We can still learn much from his faith and good works. He was a patron of the arts and architecture. He supported the establishment of higher education. He built hospitals as well as houses for those in need (including homes for the blind and reformed prostitutes). As king of one of the greatest nations of his day, he personally cared for lepers and served food daily to the poor. He worked for greater justice in his land. Ultimately, it is consistently reported that he did all of this based upon his deep faith in Christ. He blessed his nation with a Christian legacy much like other English nobles appearing on this bracket. (He probably shared similar biases and sins with them as well, even if not noted in other articles.) I get it. It is hard for us modern folk to understand the power (and threat) of the papacy back in those days even for a king. In addition, we are often blind to our own part in the deep, systemic nature of that many "isms" in our present society, never mind understanding past contexts. Yet, we (me included) tend to project our modern self-righteousness onto these historic, saintly figures. Blind to our own sin, we can tend to see nothing but their "big sin" - ignoring sometimes the redeeming, ongoing power of God's grace at work in and through their lives and the course of history. I am concerned by this whether it is Martin Luther, Antony of Egypt, King Louis, or whomever is up. We have so much we can learn from them all. Louis' time in Lent Madness will likely prove even less successful than his crusade, but I believe he's a saint. Rather than cast a stone, I'll cast my vote for him. I invite others to consider doing the same to honor all the good that God DID do through his life and witness. Still, I'm glad Gallaudet will get his time to shine and be better known as well. Truly, no losers here. Viva le SEC! Thanks for putting controversial and challenging people in the mix so we can hopefully learn and grow.
Burning and desecrating Jewish texts is unacceptable for a Golden Halo wannabe. Gallaudet gets it for sure.
As a medievalist who's taught the Crusades several times, I feel for Louis and all that he tried to do. But, for once, personal connections outweigh my love of medieval history--being the granddaughter of a woman born without an eardrum and having recently had major surgery on one of my ears myself, I truly appreciate all that Thomas did to recognize and support deaf folk as people with viable connections and contributions to the world.
I love it when ordinary people bloom where they are planted and end up doing extraordinary things which they just did because it was there to be done, a cause to be lifted, an injustice less unjust because of their efforts. For me, that's today's definition of a saint. "And one was a soldier and one was a priest and one was slain by a fierce wild beast. And there's not any reason, no, not the least, why I shouldn't be one too." They were all saints of God . Hymnal 1982 #293.
Note to SEC: If you're looking to change the music for the Lent Madness videos, this hymn is a great choice!
Maybe with a swingier hip hop underscore? That would be cool.
Let's stick to pipe organ; Matthew Corl has done an interesting setting, might be worth a look.
Love the Pipe Organ! My dad was (and still is) an organist. He plays at the Duke Chapel's Flentrop organ every Thursday for the tourists, at age 86. I used to turn pages for him when I was in high school.
The Dark Ages were truly dark. A brief scan of Louis' historical context seems he generously enhance the cause for genocide against Jews. Patient Gallaudet exercised the persistence I generally admire in people with a life purpose. Guess who gets my vote? Duhhhh
A seeming dilemma at first. The namesake of the city I consider "home" as in where I grew up. Can still see his statue atop Art Hill in Forest Park. But having a son who is profoundly deaf and who has obtained both a bachelor's and master's degree thanks to the broader acceptance of ASL I have to go with Thomas (and indirectly his father and brother) who have allowed so many to both flourish and integrate into the wider world.
Gallaudet carried on the family business--not unlike people who work for pay at the local soup kitchen. Good work but not without self-interest.
King Louis strove to incarnate gospel within the realm--not a popular political move--the implications of which are on a far broader scale than that of the Gallaudet family--whose French ancestry were no doubt influenced by the religious fervor cultivated by Louis (the fruits of which bore humanitarian outreaches such as assistance to the deaf).
It is wrong to capitalize the word "deaf" as if the hearing-impaired were Armenians or Nigerians, so that bit of PC phoniness on the part of his biographer left me leaning against Mr. Gallaudet. Besides, Louis was a light of civilization in an age prone to savagery - and he gave us the Sainte-Chappelle. He gets my vote.
I respectfully disagree. The capitalization is an acknowledgement that there is such a thing as Deaf culture which is defined by more than the experience of hearing impairment. I appreciate our CB using her platform for education to draw that to our attention.
No, it is grammatically improper. It's like referring to uppercase Blacks - and to lowercase whites. "Deaf" is not a proper noun. There are other, better ways to indicate a particular group without resorting to politically correct incorrectness.
I know that there is considerable disagreement over whether the deaf should seek to build, essentially, their own kind of circle-the-wagons culture, insisting on American Sign Language rather than lip reading, and even fighting the opportunity to give the hearing-impaired the ability to hear through cochlear implants. I respectfully believe that anything that furthers segregation, rather than integration, is truly unfortunate.
Insisting on capitalizing "Deaf" as if talking about Cherokees or Chinese just helps to build higher fences where fences ought to be destroyed.
There are indeed many related questions to consider, and you won't find me arguing a pro-segregation agenda! : )
It is a complicated question - balancing inclusion and respect for difference (on all sides). My personal position is that I prefer mosaic over melting pot.
There is a line to be wary of between the positive aspects of integration and negatives of assimilation and cultural annihilation. I DO see parallels, for example, in the experience of First Nations here in Canada regarding language as an essential element of culture (eg the negative effects of residential school policies designed to extinguish First Nations languages for the "good" of assimilation). If big D "Deaf" were a label applied to people to exclude or disrespect members of that culture I'd feel differently about using it but since it comes from within the community as an expression and celebration of who they are, I'm happy to use it too and hope it is seen as respectful.
Confession: This is not my only grammatical sin - I'm also a huge fan of "singular 'they'"!
I (very reluctantly) accede to singular "they" only because it is better than "he" as the default, and because s/he never caught on. Life is a series of trade-offs.
I prefer a mosaic, too, but not at the expense of good grammar and the unnecessary Balkanization of groups. I have attended services for the deaf, and appreciate how meaningful that is for those who comprehend ASL. I will still always vote for the inclusive over the exclusive - and against incorrect capitalization! I think we will have to (with mutual respect) agree to disagree on this one.
As for the patron saint of my adopted city, he is going down in flames in any case. Hélas!
Both are grammatically correct, and signify different things. "He is deaf" means "He cannot hear." "He is Deaf" means "He is part of Deaf culture," which, believe me, is a very real thing, much as one can be part of the Ibo culture while also being Nigerian. The capital-D Deaf designation comes from deaf people themselves, and was something that was drilled into me while I was studying at the National Technical Institute for the Deaf. To be honest, this is a convention that is really varied even within Deaf culture, so you will indeed see both. But I'd rather have you think me a PC phony than disrespect those who taught me about their culture.
To get a sense of what a big deal this is, take a look at this quiz posted just last week on Deaf Review-- Deaf Culture Quiz: Are You a Little "d" or Big "D"? - See more at: http://deafreview.com/deafreview-news/deaf-culture-quiz-are-you-a-little-d-or-big-d/#sthash.jVDuQfqG.dpuf
I also hope that this isn't about building fences, but rather understanding. Deaf culture is a varied place. Believe me, I'm not setting up myself as any sort of arbiter. I'd encourage you to learn more about it.
Oh, and happy Deaf History Month!
http://www.nad.org/news/2012/3/celebrate-deaf-history-month-march-13-april-15-2012-0
"Hear, hear!"
(yes, said with tongue firmly in cheek - but yes, I totally agree with Ms. Darling!)
I have several deaf friends, none of whom use that needless and arbitrary capitalization in referring to themselves or others. But I have had my say; I am not going to convince you and I have read nothing here today that persuades me that is is either correct or desirable.
Accordingly, I will withdraw from the discussion, grateful that we were able to have it in a spirit of Christian love, and in the most enjoyable Christian community to pop up since Ship of Fools. See you next time!
I had a roommate in college who's sister went to Galludet, and my mom grew up a couple of blocks from the Kansas School for the Deaf (which also claims to have invented the football huddle), so I have always felt a connection with them. So as soon as I saw his name on the bracket I knew I would vote for Thomas Galludet.
I think the SEC could have made things much more difficult if they had paired the two kings Alfred and Louis and put the musician J.S. Bach with Thomas Galludet, I'm glad they didn't because those would have been much tougher choices.
Just realized I misspelled Gallaudet throughout my entire post. I apologize for this error.
In the Diocese of Atlanta, our bishop encourages us to "widen the circle" of inclusion, of listening (or learning to sign!?), of welcoming in imaginative, invitational, and loving ways; Fr. Thomas Gallaudet's innovative ideas would be heard and acted upon on many levels by priests and our bishop. Thank you to Robin, above writer, for your clear and loving challenge to us to widen the circle to more fully, both to include the Deaf (who have much to teach the Hearing) and to include the Deaf who are discerning a call to holy orders from God and the church.
Well, even if Louis was the King Your King Could Smell Like-- part of me thinks, well, he was trying to be the good king all king should try to be. Then again, you can argue that Gallaudet was mostly carrying on the family business. For me it came down to legacy. St. Chapelle sounds beautiful; the image of a child playing in the light of its beautiful windows is compelling. But I then I think of how Gallaudet helped bring people into all our worship spaces whom the wide world had cast aside, and oh what beauty lives on and grows through this change. Pardonnez-moi, Louis, but it's Thomas today.
"The King Your King..." LOL.
OK, went with Thomas Gallaudet, in spite of Louis's comparatively generous treatment of Henry and other political and social improvements--for his time, anyway.
Thomas's work to recognize and include those who are excluded because of their inability to hear tipped the scales.
But I, too, LOVED St. Chapelle. It was like walking into a box of jewels.
Anti-Semetism and anti-Muslim cannot be simply dismissed as "character flaws" or congruent with the times. As humans, our ongoing practice of genocide through the ages must surely be our greatest tragedy. That Louis could negotiate peace with one people yet slaughter another? Doesn't sound saintly by any standard.
There have been three or four match-ups so far where I had a hard time deciding for whom to vote. This is another one. I came expected to make an easy vote for Gallaudet, but learned about the peace-making skills of Louis. But then I got to the part where he burned Jewish texts. (Sigh)
One small idea: Can the saint bios include, at the top, the years of their lives, birth and date, even if it is an approximation? I had to read almost to the end to find out when Louis died what century he was in. (Yes, I know that Google and Wikipedia are my friends.)
I wish I could vote for both. What extraordinary individuals!