In the penultimate battle of the first round, we have a South African missionary and martyr taking on an early 4th century martyr from Antioch. Courage (and at least one dragon) abounds in this battle between Bernard Mizeki and Margaret of Antioch with the winner to face Jackson Kemper in the Saintly Sixteen.
Yesterday in the Battle of the Greats, Dionysius the Great proved his greatness by defeating Irene the Great, 58% to 42%. Wondering how things are progressing? Check out the updated Bracket.
And in case you missed this week's stirring edition of Monday Madness: Global Edition, Tim and Scott awarded the first ever Lent Madness Medal of Valor. Oh, and they also coined the term "Servermaggedon."
Bernard Mizeki
Bernard Mizeki is one of the most beloved martyrs in South Africa. Each year on June 18, one of the largest Christian gatherings in Africa takes place as part of the celebration of his feast day.
Born in Portuguese East Africa in 1861 and educated by the Cowley Fathers, Mizeki began his working life offering hospitality in the Fathers' Hostel for African men. Under their tutelage and with the additional evangelical efforts of a German missionary, Mizeki was baptized in 1886. Shortly after, he left his job at the hostel and began his training as a catechist.
Mizeki’s calling as a catechist and his innate gift for language made him a natural fit as a partner to missionaries working in what is now known as Zimbabwe. He and his wife provided pastoral care and formation to the people in and around the Marondera district, taking special care to explain the Christian faith in ways that used the indigenous culture to undergird the primacy of the gospel of Jesus. Mizeki understood the importance of respecting cultural integrity and had an ardent desire to preach the good news.
In a decision repeated by Martin Luther King, Jr. more than fifty years later, Mizeki refused to allow death threats and intimidation from local authorities to keep him silent. Mizeki was truly a shepherd to his sheep until the end of his life. During an 1896 uprising, Mizeki was attacked outside of his hut. In an effort to staunch his wounds and give him comfort, his wife and a friend ran back into the dwelling to retrieve food and blankets. Reporting a bright flash of light and a sound like many beating wings, the two helpers were unable to find Bernard’s body on returning to the spot where he had fallen. While his final resting place remains unknown, Bernard Mizeki’s faith and trust in the love and life of Jesus is unmistakable.
Collect for Bernard Mizeki
Almighty and everlasting God, who kindled the flame of your love in the heart of your holy martyr Bernard Mizeki: Grant to us, your humble servants, a like faith and power of love, that we who rejoice in his triumph may profit by his example; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Margaret of Antioch
Margaret of Antioch is one of the Auxiliary Saints, the so-called “Fourteen Holy Helpers.” She was a victim of the Diocletian Persecution (302-303). In her story she was true to her name (margarites means pearl in Greek): shining, resplendent Margaret was a small but powerful woman. She is the patron saint of expectant mothers and was one of the holy personages said to have provided comfort, solace, and direction to Joan of Arc.
Born to a prominent pagan family in Antioch, Margaret’s father gave her to a nurse to be brought up as a proper lady. When Margaret was old enough to decide for herself, she was baptized as a Christian. Sometime later, when she was fifteen, a local prefect saw her and wanted her as his wife. Upon further inspection, he learned of her noble parentage and her apt name. He also learned of her Christian faith. The prefect expressed his disapproval for her religion, and Margaret likewise condemned him for not believing in the crucified Christ. This angered the prefect and he had her thrown in jail.
The next morning, Margaret was ordered to offer sacrifices to the prefect’s gods. Margaret refused and dared the prefect to follow through on his threat to torture her. He carried through — Margaret was placed on the rack, beaten with rods, and cut with iron rakes. The violence was so disturbing the prefect could not bear to watch.
Margaret was taken off the rack and sent back to jail. That night she battled a great dragon (thus a dragon is often included in artistic depictions of her). In some versions of her story, she fended off the dragon by making a sign of the cross. In other stories the dragon consumed her whole, and while in its belly Margaret made the sign of the cross and the dragon burst open, providing us with one of the most lasting and impressive stories about intestinal upset upon being confronted with the truth of the gospel and zeal of the faithful. Upon vanquishing the dragon, she faced off with the devil, appearing to her in the form of a man. Margaret grabbed the man by the head, shoved him to the ground, and pinned him under her feet. Knowing that she had vanquished the devil, she confidently approached the prefect the next day.
In front of a large crowd, Margaret refused to make sacrifices to the gods. She was stripped and her body was burned with torches. She was bound and placed in a tub of water to increase the pain. Immediately the earth shook, and Margaret emerged from the water unscathed. Five thousand people saw the miracle and immediately converted to Christianity. Fearing more people would convert, the prefect ordered her beheaded. Margaret died with a single stroke of the blade.
Collect for Margaret of Antioch
Everliving God, we remember before you today your servant Margaret of Antioch, who, though small and delicate in stature has become a giant of the faith. Grant that we, like Margaret, would have the faith and fortitude to cling to your love and solace, even in the midst of humiliation and great pain, so that we may always proclaim the words of your story and the faith of your church to encourage those around us in our darkest hours. Amen.
Vote!
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175 comments on “Bernard Mizeki vs. Margaret of Antioch”
Wait a minute. The dragon is harder to believe than the flash and he's gone? Give me a break.
I voted for Bernard, and was intrigued by one comment that he might take the Golden Halo. [I'm looking forward to the contest between St. Francis and St. Cecilia!] However, in response to the many comments about historical vs mythical biographies. I'd like to share this idea: A story does not have to be factual to be true.
In teaching History of Mathematics I made the distinction between a true story and a good story. A tale may not be factual (or entirely so) but may still be "good" if it illustrates the character and personality of the subject. Conversely, even an event that truly happened may constitute a bad story if it portrays the subject in a light that is contrary to the actual personality. The classic example is a claim that Euler confounded Diderot by calling out, "[True mathematical equation]; therefore, God exists!" Even if Euler said that (which I greatly doubt), it's a silly tale. Oh, and by the way, this Associate of the Society of St Margaret is still cheering for our patron.
Love it, Victor!
I'd like to echo KLF. Some stories are true on the inside rather than or along with being true on the inside. Going with St Bernard today for the same reason many have cited--his sensitivity to the cultures of the people he was ministering to. Grateful to learn about them both and there can never be too many dragon stories.
Agreed, there is truth and then there is Truth.
Margaret story sounds to much like the other maiden stories of the time.
Having recently seen The Convert by Danai Gurira, I had to vote for Bernard Mizeki.
he seems to have believed that there are many paths to the one truth.for this, he deserves your vote.
The mention of Margaret as a comforter to Joan of Arc reminded me of her role in the Honegger/Claudel oratorio on Joan of Arc at the Stake. But, callous as it may sound, martyrs were a dime a dozen back then and almost always endured their tortures with the help of miracles. Martyrs in the late 19th century were less common (though perhaps more so in Africa), and Mizeki just sounds a bit more down to earth as well as culturally sensitive. I could have done without the veiled suggestion that his body was carried away by angels, though.
You had me at dragons !!! Go Margaret !!!!
My mother was a Margaret and I have many friends and family members who have served in Africa. What to do? His work with bringing the reality of Christ into their culture won me over. So important to know that He came for every culture.
True confessions time: Until today, I thought that Bernard's name was of Slavic origin and that he was a European missionary. When I saw his picture, I felt genuinely embarrassed to discover that I was wrong on both counts. Mea culpa for making those unconcious assumptions. Perhaps"Holy Women, Holy Men" could include photos / pictures in its next edition to help me/us avoid such assumptions in the future?
As a white American Christian, I have no idea of what it is like to confess my faith in Christ, much less evangelize others, when facing persecution and the threat of death on a regular basis. While Margaret lived in similar circumstances and was martyred as a result, Bernard's more recent witness is more real to me, especially in the light of the current racial tensions in our own country. Thank you, SEC, for making me more aware of my cultural conditioning and privilege. Lent has struck again.
I burst out laughing at the comment "Providing us with one of the most lasting and impressive stories about intestional upset's" Jonah beat this one by hundreds of centiries. Both are wonderful fictioanal accounts.
Oh dear. ....I am a friend of both SSM and SSJE....so now what? My vote has to go with Bernard....less myth...but both are amazing witness. ....and myth can speak more Truth than "reality". This is a tough one.
Maybe I should change my mind !!!
So you get Sr. Barbara to vote for the other. (-:
The bibliography of Mizeki was stood out to me because he "(took) special care to explain the Christian faith in ways that used the indigenous culture to under gird the primacy of the gospel of Jesus.
These votes get harder each time with the ancient and modern pairings. I, too, think we should separate the 2 sets in annual contests - or at least ancients vs. ancients and moderns vs. moderns in all contests for a year. We must remember that Christ often spoke allegorically, so why dismiss the idea of dragons+ when we read about the ancient "saints" ?
As a "vertically challenged" female, I must cast my vote for Margaret, a small woman!
For those who find the witness of those in ancient times hard to swallow, remember--"Blessed are those who have not seen and yet come to believe."
An interesting match-up . . . I wonder how many saints honored by our faith tradition have first hand experience with dragons. Once again I have cast my lot in with the losers - my briar patch it seems.
Margaret was gutsy, no doubt, but my vote went for Mizeki. I could not help but think of Chinua Acebe's "Things Fall Apart" when I read about Mizeki. The history of Anglicanism and imperialism is so much more complicated than Mizeki's worthy, faithful, and culturally sensitive story. Even so, because there were Mizeki's, he won my vote.
The beating of wings and flash of light thing- why not take it as reported? Why let scientific materialism get the best of us as the hermeneutic for saints' lives?
As a religion scholar, I noticed that today's matchup features two snapshots of holy people who convert during a time of intense cultural trauma as Christianity enters the scene. Tales of dragons, snakes, beheadings, and supernatural disappearances of corpses speak to that trauma.
My former church (now closed) is St. Margaret's of Antioch -Fleming Island Florida. WE have a most beautiful window of Margaret , and her dragon discreetly lying at her feet. As the church docent, I would often ask, "Do you see the dragon in one of the windows?" Kids as well as adults thought it was pretty cool. Because of "bursting from the belly" the Catholics include her as one of the Patron Saints of childbirth.
As an African, and one of Archbishop Tutu's many many children - and having great respect for the SSJE - I am voting for our "own" saint, Bernard Mzeki!
Myth vs history....dragon vs beating wings..I still have a vague uneasiness every time I cross a wooden bridge over a little stream...you know..trolls...legend tells us a tale no less important than history..but
Bernard was just too powerful
I'm coming around on the saints with legends attached to their lives (and deaths). I agree with Megan and Peg S. and the other commenters that we don't have to accept the fantastical stories at face value-- maybe those stories helped keep the "dime a dozen martyrs'" memories alive. Real faith and courage in the face of real persecution have kept the church going since its infancy. Both Bernard and Margaret had those qualities in abundance. Tough choice.
His difficulties are the same that we have today..........but he spoke out for what was right in spite of threats. Trying to imagine myself in his position. Can you imagine being taken up to heaven by angels? A kind gentle yet powerful man at work for the Lord!
Another difficult choice! A saint honored from antiquity and with miracles accredited to her vs. a modern martyr from Africa. Despite the fact that I have three dear friends who bear Margaret's name and are themselves faithful followers of Jesus (though one hopes they will never be martyrs!), I have to go with Bernard for his faithful witness and courage and his willingness to use, rather than reject, the local culture in his proclamation of the gospel.
Despite the dragon and my fondness for the Sisters of St. Margaret, I had to go with Bernard. His cultural sensitivity while sharing the gospel won my vote. Not to mention the angelic transport to heaven!!
Great choices today!
I lived & taught school in South Africa recently. I met Desmond Tutu! However, had I brought him to my house for tea my landlady would have evicted me & thrown him out! Although Aparthide is illegal in ZA, it is still alive and well.
May Bernard win the Golden Halo & may my landlady .....fill on your own thoughts here.
So tired of watching women with mystical gifts being voted down in favor of men. Margaret it is.
"Margaret died with a single stroke of the blade." Did anyone else notice history repeating itself? Margaret and Bernard, some days it just does not pay to be a Christian!
in support of selfless and tireless Christian educators everywhere and in all times, I cast my one vote that surely counts for Bernard!
This Christian educator thanks you. Often I'm very tired but it's worth it. GO BERNARD!