"Wait, St. Swithun was a real person?" We get that a lot. "Wait, Molly Brant was a real person?" We never get that. Nonetheless, welcome to the first and only Saturday match-up of Lent Madness 2015. Go ahead, sleep late and dally over your coffee while you read about these two saintly souls. But don't get used to it: after today's battle, voting will return bright and early on Monday morning with Hadewijch facing off against Juan Diego.
In yesterday's action, David Oakerhater stunned Teresa of Avila in the first major upset of the season. In heavy voting (another day, another record total), David scored 60% of the vote to Teresa's 40% and will go on to face the winner of William Laud vs. King Kamehameha in the Saintly Sixteen.
Yes, folks, it's called Lent Madness for a reason. If your bracket is busted, you're not alone. But stick around -- the real goal is to learn about some amazing people, not to "win" Lent. Of course if you do stand victorious at the end of the season, you have every right to gloat. In a loving, Christian kind of way, of course.
As long as you're enjoying a leisurely morning, why not listen to Tim chatting about all things Lent Madness from yesterday's edition of Boston Public Radio? Click here and then scroll to 1:28 of the broadcast to catch the only segment that really matters.
Swithun
Saint Swithun, often humorously referenced as the patron of the generic country church “in the field” or "in the swamp," was an actual Anglo-Saxon bishop and was enshrined at Winchester Cathedral. He is revered for posthumous miracle working and is believed to hold sway over the weather, especially the rain. According to tradition, the weather on his feast day of July 15 continues for forty days. And Californians, take note: Saint Swithun can also be prayed to for the relief of drought.
Swithun was a pious Bishop of Winchester in the ninth century. He convinced King Æthelwulf to bequeath a tenth of his royal lands to the Church, and with those lands Swithun built and restored churches with noted zeal. The king relied on the revered bishop for spiritual counsel, while another bishop advised him on temporal matters. Swithun was known as a friend of the poor who traveled his diocese on foot. A single miracle was attributed to the bishop while he was alive. Workmen were said to have maliciously broken an old woman’s eggs. He picked them up, and they were miraculously restored.
Very little else of his life was recorded, and the history of his bodily remains was most notable to his sainthood. He died on July 2, 862. On his deathbed the bishop was said to have begged to be buried outside where people might pass over his grave and raindrops fall upon it. Consequently, British lore holds that Saint Swithun’s day foretells the weather.
July, it will rain for 40 days.
For forty days it will remain:
St. Swithun’s day if thou be fair:
For forty days ‘twill rain nae mare.
More than a hundred years after his death, Swithun was made patron of Winchester Cathedral. His body was transferred from its earthen grave to Æthelwold’s new cathedral, and the move was accompanied by many reported miracles. Subsequently, his body was divided among a number of smaller shrines. His head was taken to Canterbury Cathedral, while Peterborough Abbey came to be in possession of one arm. The Winchester shrine to Swithun was demolished in 1538 during the English Reformation, but a modern representation of it was rebuilt in the cathedral, so one can still visit with pleas for rain and egg repair.
Collect for Swithun
Almighty God, by whose grace we celebrate again the feast of your servant Swithun: grant that, as he governed with gentleness the people committed to his care, so we, rejoicing in our Christian inheritance, may always seek to build up your Church in unity and love; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Molly Brant (Konwatsijayenni “Someone Lends Her a Flower”)
Molly Brant was born in 1736 along the Mohawk River in present-day central New York. In an age when women, much less Native American women, rarely had a voice in public discourse, Molly Brant became a well-regarded Mohawk leader, helping to promote peaceful relations between the Iroquois nation and the British government during the Revolutionary War era. A dedicated Anglican, she came to be known by the Church as the “Witness to the Faith Among the Mohawks.”
Raised in the Ohio Territory, Molly Brant returned to her native village, where she quickly established herself as a leader among the Mohawk Nation. She sought to draw fellow Mohawks into the Anglican faith without dismissing their native culture and spirituality. Her work garnered the attention of Sir William Johnson, a widower and the superintendent of Northern Indian Affairs. She became his common-law wife, and together, they had nine children. As Johnson’s wife, Brant served as an influential and authoritative voice of the Iroquois people in dealing with the British and an essential factor in Johnson’s reception as superintendent among Native Americans. The respect and esteem the British held for Brant was not only unique during that era but it was also key to preserving peaceful relations between the two nations and cultures.
During the American Revolution, Brant remained loyal to Great Britain, providing lodging and food to British soldiers and uniting four of the six Iroquois nations as Loyalists. Two years into the war, she and her family were forced to flee to Onondaga, where she remained until the war’s end in order to avoid imprisonment by the Patriots. Despite her forced relocation, Brant continued to work for harmony among the Iroquois people and their European neighbors. Her deft leadership led one commander of the British military to declare that Brant was “far superior to that of all their chiefs put together.”
Upon the surrender of the British in Yorktown, Virginia, in 1783, Brant moved with her family to Cataraqui in Canada’s province of Ontario, where she served as a founding member of both the town of Kingston and its first Anglican church. She remained near Kingston until her death in 1796.
Collect for Molly Brant
Maker and lover of all creation, you endued Molly Brant with the gifts of justice and loyalty, and made her a wise and prudent clan mother in the household of the Mohawk nation: Draw us also toward the goal of our faith, that we may at last attain the full dignity of our nature in our true native land, where with Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit you live and reign, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.
Vote!
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279 comments on “Swithun vs. Molly Brant”
Swithin is patron of the church in Forks, Washington. You know Forks - "Home" of the Twilight books/movies. It rains in Forks ... and rains and rains. I must vote for Swithin and maybe bring a little sunshine to the folks who live in the Pacific Northwest rainforest.
As I member of my diocese's stewardship commission, I felt drawn to that great fundraiser, St. Swithun. But, I just couldn't vote against Molly. Hope my bishop, who hails from Britain, will be placated by her politics.
I was actually ready to vote for Molly, but then learned that she was a slaveowner (a detail omitted in the blog post today): http://www.josephbrant.com/joseph-brant-family/molly-brant/ . Can we look to somebody who held slaves as a model for social justice? I don't think I can, even if Molly has many other virtues.
St. Swithun was a friend of the poor with an environmental bent (travelled his dioceses by foot!). Given the popular piety of the time, I'm not sure he would have minded that his body was split up among different locations.
I wonder how the blogger missed the slave owner thing of Mollie? She may not be so saintly after all?
Thanks for the link
When you get vote = and a number in your email message, click on the see all comments link to open the web page in your browser. This works for me every day.
works for me too
With the brutal winter we're having, I'd be pleased if Swithin could be of assistance.
Swithun. Not a difficult choice.
I always hear the name of Swithun in the voice of Bullwinkle J, Moose, thanks to a line from the old Rocky and Bullwinkle cartoon. Swithun also brings to mind a "Come as Your Favorite Saint" party held by our parish one All Hallows Eve. My husband's costume consisted of a black cassock and an umbrella. When he explained that he was St. Swithun, most people didn't know who he was talking about, much less get the comical value of the umbrella. I loved learning about Molly Brant today, but sentimental memories prevailed over social activism in my voting this time.
Unfortunately, you cannot scroll to the part of yesterday's Boston Public Radio broadcast where Tim speaks. I just listened to an hour and a half of ranting about the transit system (which I had already heard from my son who lives in Boston) in order to listen to Tim on Lent Madness.
It was enjoyable (the part about Lent Madness, not about the transit system) nonetheless.
You can, in Chrome browser.
The email version did not include a vote button. I clicked on the website version to vote. Interesting pairing....
Political thoughts aside (I had relatives that fought in the British Army during the American Revolution), Swithun did more for the advancement of the church as a whole than Molly. I understand her position, but in the fine balance of deciding who was a better Christian, I must go with the restorer of churches as opposed to the organizer of an ambush. This is not to say that warriors cannot be saints, but given the two choices, it's Swithun for the win.
Voted For Swithun cause we need water here in the South west too.
I identify with Molly (except for the gender) for I too have often chosen the wrong political side. She also represents the impressive work that women have given to the Church despite little recognition. Consorting with kings as St. Swithun did, is distasteful to me, a republican.
I have to vote for the peace maker, no matter which side. And while raising 9 children!
I wonder why she was a common law wife - maybe marriage to Native Americans was not allowed at that time?
That is correct. Colonial law forbade formal marriage between Natives and settlers. But common law marriages between the two peoples were fairly widespread, I believe.
To those experiencing some voting trouble, yes you must go to the website to vote. I forgot to put the "more" tab in that we had the last couple of days to bring you directly to http://www.lentmadness.org. You can't vote from the e-mail. So, an extra click to the website and all will be well and all manner of voting will be well.
I am more inclined to vote for the more modern saints, like David Oakerhater and Molly Brant, largely because the information we have on them is more reliable than the legends that have grown up around the more ancient saints. I like Molly for being the peacemaker and the fact that she was a Tory and still kept peace among tribes and European nations is still impressive. A woman who was so well respected in those days gets my vote easily. I am learning a lot about the saints of God here, which encourages me to be a bit more outspoken in my faith journey. Thank you.
Too bad Humpty Dumpty didn't meet St. Swithin/Swithun! They'd have had to write a whole different nursery rhyme! (Or none...)
I'm in California and I'm voting for you st. Swithun. So, please send some rain!!! Though preferably NOT in July because that could ruin the grape crop. Amen!!!
I was all set to vote for St. Swithun because of the great comics that Rev. Jay Sidebotham draws (google for those - you've seen them before, I'm sure) but after reading about Molly (a new saint to me) I had to go with her. She was the epitome of a Christian - she brought the Word to people, she worked for justice and peace among nations, and she worked for the spread of the church.
When I vote I look for people who have impacted the most people ie. folks who were the hands and feet of God. Molly didn't do anything like that....she cozyed up to the enemy, got other tribes to join her, today she'd be tried for treason. She had little or no lasting impact on anyone. I just can't imagine why anyone would vote for her...
Emily
You said you look for "folks who were the hands and feet of God. Molly didn't do anything like that..."
Then why did the Church come to regard her as the "Witness to the Faith Among the Mohawks"?
She not only strove to commend the Gospel to her people, she was instrumental in preserving peace between them and the Europeans, both in this country and in Canada. You said "she cozied up to the enemy". There is a popular misconception that the Loyalists were collaborators. They couldn't be such because the British weren't invaders, but the legally constituted colonial government. Hence the name "Loyalist". They were loyal to the government. You said Molly "had little or no lasting impact on anyone." Yet she was one of the founders of the present day city of Kingston and a charter member of St. George's Anglican Church (now St. George's Cathedral). She is honored in Canada as a "Person of National Historic Significance". She is memorialized by a sculpture, a plaque, and a commemorative stamp. The Molly Brant Foundation (a non-profit that works to aid urban Natives) was established in her honor.
And, as mentioned earlier, she touched many lives through her love for Jesus and being an instrument of his peace.
Oh dear!
Hey Tim and Scott I loved both of your interviews yesterday! I live in the middle of the area getting another winter storm this morning and they were a prefect way to spend time this morning. I also listened to the song posted in the comments yesterday "Christ has no body but you". I loved it so much I went to you tube and listened to a few other renditions as well. So in closing THANK YOU THANK YOU SOOOO SOOOO MUCH for Lent Madness and all it does to enrich our lives.
I'm in California. Voting for Swithun in hopes of rain...
Molly, simply because of her beautiful and whimsical Iroquois name. It's the first time I've ever thought about "someone" being a "lender" of flowers; very, very nice.
It's really too bad somebody can't figure out how to miraculously restore St. Swithun to wholeness; the whole relic thing is actually pretty ironic when you think of it. All the King's horses and all the King's men couldn't put Swithun together again?
Oh, wonderful, wonderful, and yet again wonderful!
I could not vote through the email. There were no names or vote button. When I went to the website, I could.
I voted for Molly Brant because her memory is honoured among her people the Mohawk. The North American wars among the Europeans caused many divisions among the native peoples of Turtle Island. They made alliances of all sorts - and, for those who are not native, our history of themand understanding of their choices is deeply shaped by our own place among the descendants of those Europeans. Molly Brant was a loyalist, loyal to her own people the Mohawk. The American War of Independance largely emptied the Mohawk Valley of the people whose name it bears. Molly Brant's choices contributed to the survival of her own people when they made an exodus to a new home where they remain fiercely proud of their sovereignty. (Historical note: William Johnson died before 1776 and was a hero in the North American war between the French and English).
Saint Swithun for the Halo!
I know it's lame, but I had to vote for Swithun. 1) I live in California. I think we have discovered the answer to our drought. 2) When will we ever have the chance to vote for St. Swithun?!
Dear Channing,
I don't think your vote was "lame" at all, but I voted for Molly. The dismemberment of his body parts and disregard for his burial wishes almost swayed me. I hadn't heard of Swithun before, so I was glad to learn about him.
Blessings,
Judy B
This is really hard! Cheers for them both--Konwatsijayenni served her people both spiritually and politically (and who can't like someone named "Someone Lends Her a Flower"?); but someone who wants to be buried where he can still be part of a community and have the rain fall on his grave? (And then gets his body chopped up and put in shrines, which are presumably indoors.)
Sigh!
Just voted for Swithun. Supporting the underdog.
I made my decision for "Winchester Cathedral" believing it would be a hopeless cause against a (beautiful) NATIVE AMERICAN FEMALE. So far, the comments have thrilled me! My Dad loved to call us "old Swamp Yankees" for loving things American, the Founding Fathers, Religious Freedom, Human Rights, Opportunity, and earlier, the country Church, broken eggs, broken hearts, miracles, rain, I have hope now and the SEC didn't set it up! (+ Thanks to our Vets.) Go Saint Swithun! "Start Ringing Your Bells".
Konwatstjayenni's life was admirable but a Loyalist? Swithum on the other hand was out in the wild, in tiuch with nature and got the King to give up 10 per cent of his lands. To expand the word Christ in the Country side. He is an inspiration!
Phil
PS. As a native Californian we need him to bring rain too. Problem is it never rains in Juky here.
I suppose it is a cross-border difference, but I cannot understand the use of "but" in the first sentence.
I can't find this first sentence you refer to (maybe the page has since been edited). I couldn't find any unusual use of the word (which appears 80 times so far).
"admirable but a Loyalist," implies that those who did not opt to become a part of the new republic - and those of us descended from them - somehow have a mark against our "admirability"