Occasionally the SEC adds matchups based on little more than (deeply prayerful) whim. This isn't such a case, mind you, but we do sometimes get jazzed by things like alliteration. Thus, today it's Dorcas vs. Douglass. That has a certain saintly ring to it, don't you think? The winner faces Juan Diego in the Saintly Sixteen.
Yesterday, Cuthbert sent the Venerable Bede packing with a veritable Bede-down of his medieval contemporary, 63% to 37%. He'll next square off against Molly Brant.
Don't forget that our Bracket Czar updates the online Bracket each day. Scroll down to see the corresponding Matchup Calendar and learn the precise date when your favorite saint will be locking horns (not that saints have horns) with his or her next saintly rival.
After today's competition, we will be exactly halfway through the first round. Remember, no voting takes place over the weekend so the next matchup will be Francis of Assisi vs. John Wycliffe on Monday morning. Now go vote!
Dorcas
Dorcas, which is not as bad a name as it sounds (it translates into Tabitha in Aramaic and Gazelle in English), made her first and only appearance in scripture after she had already died.
A lay leader of the early church in the port city of Joppa (now Tel Aviv-Yafo), Dorcas is known only by what was reported about her in Acts 9:36-42. She was described first as a disciple, and then as a person “devoted to good works and acts of charity.” After Dorcas’ death from an unnamed illness, the church in Joppa sent two men to get Peter, who was visiting in nearby Lydda. When Peter arrived, he was taken to see the body by a group of widows, who wept as they showed some of the garments Dorcas had made for them. Peter cleared the room, prayed, and said, “Tabitha, rise,” at which point she returned from the dead, presumably to continue in her ministr y.
Reading between the lines, it seems likely that Dorcas was young and her death untimely. Although it’s easy to infer that her good works were the sewing of “tunics and other garments,” there is nothing to say that Dorcas’ charity stopped there. It is likely they were only the outward and visible signs of a life devoted to charity.
In these visible signs, Dorcas shows us that charity is eminently practical and involves providing things for people close at hand. However, charity also involves the heart and spirit. Had these practical gifts been given with a condescending attitude or unkind heart, would she have been mourned to the point of two men traveling to another town to get Peter?
In the Episcopal Church, Dorcas is remembered along with Lydia, the dealer of purple cloth who was converted by Paul, and Phoebe, a church leader mentioned in Paul’s letter to the Romans. Although understandable, it is perhaps unfortunate that these three are grouped; it seems to suggest that being a woman was the distinctive role each brought to the early church as opposed to her charity, her faith, or her leadership. In Dorcas’ case, it is easy to focus on her sewing instead of the bigger picture of her deeply rooted charity. But in Acts, the fact that Dorcas was a woman is, at best, a secondary consideration. She was first a disciple, full stop.
Even in the very brief passage in which she appears (during which she was dead most of the time), Dorcas comes across as loving, pragmatic, and well-respected — a worthy model of charity for all of us.
Collect for Dorcas
Almighty God, you raised to life again your servant Dorcas. Grant, that like her, we may always seek to weave your love into every fiber of ourselves, clothing those we love and care for in the raiment of your mercy and kindness. May we, like Dorcas, rise up from the impossible places in our lives, praising you and emboldened to continue the ministries to which you have called us. Amen.
Frederick Douglass
Many people are familiar with Frederick Douglass’ work as an abolitionist in the nineteenth century. What is not as well-known is the depth of Douglass’ Christian faith. Douglass’ love of scripture and his fascination with the apocalyptic writing of Revelation was a guidepost in his quest for personal holiness and social transformation.
Born to an enslaved woman and a white slave owner in 1818 on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, Douglass was sent to work for a Baltimore shipbuilder following his mother’s death when he was seven years old. Over the course of the next eight years, Douglass learned to read and write and developed a love of the Bible. His affinity for the Bible served as a catalyst for his conversion to the Christian faith when he was thirteen. In his well-known autobiography Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, he recalled that after being sent back to Maryland’s Eastern Shore, he continued to have abiding hope in God’s promises and established a Sunday school for other enslaved men and women.
While on the Eastern Shore, Douglass was subjected to numerous whippings and beatings from the plantation’s overseer, which left permanent scars on his body. These violent beatings and Douglass’ prophetic reading of scripture led him to plan his escape to freedom. Although his first attempt was not a success, in 1838 Douglass finally fled to safety in New York, before settling in New Bedford, Massachusetts, with his wife. Together, they had five children.
In New Bedford, Douglass joined an abolitionist society and an A.M.E. Zion church, where he assumed leadership as the church’s preacher. By 1841 Douglass was traveling across Canada and the northern United States rallying support against slavery. Douglass believed that individual holiness was essential to the reformation of society’s morals and the work of abolitionists. To this end, Douglass refused to drink alcohol, smoke tobacco, or engage in any other behavior he felt threatened the Christian’s call to righteousness.
After the Civil War ended, Douglass continued advocating for equality — not only on behalf of African Americans, but Native Americans and women. For Douglass, God’s justice would not be complete until all were treated with dignity. Douglass published more than ten books and speeches, including the conscience- raising, “What to a Slave is the Fourth of July?” He died at his Washington, D.C., home in 1895 and was buried in Rochester, New York. His Washington home is currently a national landmark, housing Douglass’ collection of Bibles, religious books, and angel depictions.
Collect for Frederick Douglass
Almighty God, whose truth makes us free: We bless your Name for the witness of Frederick Douglass, whose impassioned and reasonable speech moved the hearts of a president and a people to a deeper obedience to Christ. Strengthen us also to be outspoken on behalf of those in captivity and tribulation, continuing in the Word of Jesus Christ our Liberator; who with you and the Holy Spirit dwells in glory everlasting. Amen.
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192 comments on “Dorcas vs. Frederick Douglass”
This was a difficult one. With Dorcas sewing for the poor and our church sewing prayer quilts for the sick, it is a wonderful ministry especially to one who is fortunate to sew a button back on! FD, however endured so much in his lifetime and never lost his faith. That is what inspired me regardless of his personal shortcomings. I haven't met a perfect person yet and don't expect to in this lifetime!
Wow this one is tough. I agree with Mary W. My thoughts are that both Dorcas and Douglass were bold in their individual works and testimonies. I have been vacillating betwen the two. Dorcas has my final vote because she was raised from the dead to continiue her work in the early church. Douglass would not have been able to carry out his God given mission without the foundation of the bible and witnesses like Dorcas.
I'm glad so many people voted for Dorcas for many of the reasons they mentioned. But I couldn't not vote for Frederick Douglass. We still need both their examples (except for the how to treat a wife and a long-time partner part and we don't know what part of Dorcas not to emulate).
The choices for today prompted additional reference research, especially for Dorcas. A pioneer in her time comes to mind for me. She got my vote.
Having lived for years in the shadow of Notre Dame's Golden Dome, today I must say, as an Episcopalian, Fr.Ted(Hesburgh, RIP) could easily qualify as one of the saints with whom we have shared this world.
Please. Give us a *real* matchup. The "mostly dead" Dorcas vs. Douglass (ok, ok so they are technically all dead at this point)?
I thought Dorcas shows us all how to share our faith through our work.
Beautifully written and inspiring Celebrity Blogpost about Dorcas. But I can't vote against Frederick Douglass.
It's not really fair to pit two saints against each other when so much more is known about one of them.
Ha-ha! Bede-down! Well played! 😀
Ironic that Dorcas is not doing better considering how well Lydia did in last year's voting . . .
I'm not altogether sure why I couldn't vote for Douglass. Many other matchups, I probably would. I guess I think of him in terms of pigs on hind feet, eating with knife and fork in the company of paternalistic scolds. But then, he did transcend that role. Dorcas was just too compelling to allow Douglass the benefit of the doubt. In the embryonic Christian community, she is one of those named, and named as one beloved and exemplary. For all those un-named, I vote Dorcas.
Douglass has his own un-named companions -- refugees on the Underground Railroad, not to mention conductors along the way, and those denied asylum by the Refugee Slave Act (and those free brought into bondage unjustly in the same era). What unknown saints were among them?
Dorcas' charity, beautifully described through her collect, is very powerful. It's a hard choice today.
Douglas is already a secular saint, and well- deservedly so. If Dorcas was mentioned in the Book of Acts, she had to be someone special, indeed. Here's my vote for Tabitha (much nicer name...) and all otherwise nearly forgotten women.
The collect for Dorcas is lovely, but I am going for FD today. His Narrative is a powerful denunciation of slaveryand a wirness to the dignity of all human beings.
I must vote for the"Diseiple Dorcas" on this one .
We know very little about Dorcas, but we know a tremendous amount about Frederick Douglass and his hugely important body of work. I've been a fan ever since I read his autobiography in college. He gets my vote, easily.
It is fascinating that Paul relegated these three women to the same chores that so many churches continue to relegate their women members to. Phoebe was a deacon (Rom. 16:1). Lydia, a "dealer in purple cloth", had to be rich. So her contribution was her fortune, just as now. Dorcas was likely also a deacon as well. She was numbered among the saints in her lifetime.
But I voted for Douglass, because this is black history month.
The order of widows were actually considered clergy in the early church --though too many sermons consign them to care recipients alone--and Dorcas was clearly a leading member of it in its nascent form. So I had to vote for her even though Douglass is amazing and scriptural people never trump modern ones!
All "saints" have some mud on their shoes. My vote goes to Douglass.
I sympathize with the position that women are outnumbered and underpraised in the history of the church- I won't go on and on... But I would like to state that Frederick Douglas was a powerful and persistent advocate for women's rights including the right to vote. He attended the First Women's Rights Convention in Seneca Falls New York in Seneca Falls New York in 1848 and eloquently spoke out of the equality of women at a time when men who did do were ridiculed and accused of all manners of weirdness. Shortly after the convention in an issue of North Star he wrote:" In respect to political rights, we hold woman to be justly entitled to all we claim for men.." You can read the remainder of this quotation which ends, "Right is of no sex." by looking up Frederick Douglass women's rights advocacy on your friendly internet. Dorcas did get the short straw, as did so many women in the Bible, but Lent Madness is giving us an opportunity to celebrate them and to learn more about them even if that be only a small glimpse of their lives.
I sympathize with the position that women are outnumbered and underpraised in the history of the church- I won't go on and on... But I would like to state that Frederick Douglas was a powerful and persistent advocate for women's rights including the right to vote. He attended the First Women's Rights Convention in Seneca Falls New York in 1848 and eloquently spoke out on the equality of women at a time when men who did do were ridiculed and accused of all manners of weirdness. Shortly after the convention in an issue of North Star he wrote:" In respect to political rights, we hold woman to be justly entitled to all we claim for men.." You can read the remainder of this quotation which ends, "Right is of no sex." by looking up Frederick Douglass women's rights advocacy on your friendly internet. Dorcas did get the short straw, as did so many women in the Bible, but Lent Madness is giving us an opportunity to celebrate them and to learn more about them even if that be only a small glimpse of their lives.
Frederick Douglass. Sometimes it's reassuring to be reminded that being a Christian and being angry about injustice aren't mutually exclusive.
I wasn't thrilled to see these facing off today. In the end, though, I had to go with the "disciple" in this one. Go Dorcas!
Social equity and justice win the vote.
i wanted to vote for FD for all the reasons above but voted for Dorcas because my wife said I should and she exhibits all the traits of Dorcas.
I voted for Dorcas in honor of my mother and all the dedicated churchwomen who did so much behind the scenes in the several NYC parishes my family attended in the 1950s and 1960s. They never made the headlines (and were not yet serving on vestries) but their good works and their faithful prayer lives were abundant.
Just look at his hair. Douglass is clearly more mad.
My wife already wrote about my mother-in-law, who was a master of needle and thread as few ever attain, and who used her talents always to serve the needs of others.
There were many Dorcas groups over the decades. I cannot say that I ever, ever heard of a Douglas group.
The painting attatched to the linked article shows a romanticized picture of a Dorcas group in action, supplying clothing to those in need.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dorcas_Society
This one is complicated for me on a very personal level. I LOVE Frederick Douglas. He was an incredible person, a beacon of hope in hard times. I've read and taught his writings to students who have found in his life an incredible model of courage. And/But, for 4 amazing years i taught at Tabeetha School in Jaffa, named for Dorcas of that fine and ancient town. It's this incredible school run by the Church of Scotland for over 150 years, that teaches to students of all races, religions and socio-economic groups. It's living ecumanism and what the UN shoud be, all rolled into one. I learned more than i ever taught there and had a great time. So, despite wanting to vote for one of the bravest guys in American history, i have to push the Dorcas button. You go girl. BTW if anyone is interested in an WONDERFUL school, named for her check out this web site http://tabeethaschool.org/english/
I'll look that up--thank you. I voted for Dorcas, giving me a so-far unblemished record of voting for the losing saint each match this year. Dorcas was practical; Dorcas met needs that precede even freedom (what good freedom if you're cold? hungry?) and I am a fiber-crafter, I knit and spin and sew. Dorcas.
I was tempted to vote for Dorcas just to see what else could be written about her if she made it to the next round.
But as someone originally from northern New York I had to add to the great success we've had so far in this madness: David Oakerhater, Molly Brant and now Frederick Douglass.
Tough decision! I admire Dorcas dedication in starting our "new" faith, but I weigh the hurdles Frederick Douglass had to overcome as being greater. He inspired many, also coming from a low rung on the ladder.
Not voting..... too hard.