Nominations for next year’s field of 32 saints are now being accepted by the Supreme Executive Committee. Yes, for the next week we invite you to revel in the joyful, anticipatory Season of Nominationtide.
But before we get to the main attraction, we encourage you to visit the Lentorium. You can prove your love for Lent Madness by loading up on Lent Madness merchandise, including the ubiquitous Lent Madness mug featuring 2015 Golden Halo winner Francis of Assisi, the novel pint glass featuring Silver Halo winner Brigid of Kildare, or the de rigeur purple Lent Madness t-shirt.
And now, on to the main event: the call for nominations for Lent Madness 2016!
As always, we seek to put together a balanced bracket of saints ancient and modern, Biblical and ecclesiastical representing the breadth and diversity of Christ’s One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church.
Inevitably, some will disagree with certain match-ups or be disappointed that their favorite saint didn’t end up in the official bracket. If you find yourself muttering invective against the SEC, we implore you to take a deep cleansing breath. Remember, there’s always Lent Madness 2034.
While the SEC remains responsible for the formation of the final bracket, we encourage your participation in the nominating process. As in past years, we might even listen to some of your suggestions.
As you discern saints to nominate, please keep in mind that a number of saints are ineligible for next year’s “saintly smack down.” This includes previous Golden Halo winners, the entire field of Lent Madness 2015, those saints who made it to the Round of the Elate Eight in 2014 and 2013, and those from the 2012 Faithful Four. Here is a comprehensive list of ineligible saints. Please keep this in mind as you submit your nominations — which you can do ONLY by leaving a comment on this post. Did we mention that the only way to make a nomination for Lent Madness 2016 is to leave a comment on this post?
Also, please note that the saints you nominate should be in the sanctoral calendar of one or more churches. We’re open minded. To a point.
Remember that when it comes to saints in Lent Madness, many are called yet few are chosen (by the SEC). So leave a comment below with your (eligible) nomination!
Past Golden Halo Winners (ineligible)
George Herbert, C.S. Lewis, Mary Magdalene, Frances Perkins, Charles Wesley, Francis of Assisi
The Field from 2015 (all ineligible)
Gregory the Illuminator
Brendan the Navigator
John Keble
Thecla
Francis of Assisi
John Wycliffe
Balthazar
Cecilia
Bernard Mizecki
Margaret of Antioch
Margery Kempe
Jackson Kemper
Bede
Cuthbert
Molly Brant
Swithun
Hadewijch
Juan Diego
Dorcas
Frederick Douglass
Egeria
Hildegard
Barbara
Thomas Ken
Dionysius the Great
Irene the Great
Brigid of Kildare
Elizabeth
William Laud
Kamehameha
Teresa of Avila
David Oakerhater
From 2012 — 2014 (ineligible)
Basil the Great
Lydia
Harriet Beecher Stowe
Harriet Bedell
Anna Cooper
Phillips Brooks
Julia Chester Emery
Jonathan Daniels
Hilda of Whitby
Luke
Dorothy Day
Li-Tim Oi
Oscar Romero
Emma of Hawaii
Margaret of Scotland
Dietrich Bonhoeffer
After a mysterious process of bracket discernment at the upcoming SEC Retreat, the 2016 Bracket will be released on All Brackets Day, November 3, 2015. You have until Ascension Thursday, May 14, to make your nomination. In other words, your time is up when Jesus goes up.
For now, we wish you a joyous Nominationtide.
Update:
Thanks for your nominations! Nominations for Lent Madness 2016 are now closed. But stay tuned - All Brackets Day, and the grand unveiling of next year's bracket - is November 3.
443 comments on “Accepting Nominations!”
St. Columba, St. Ninian, Martin of Tours, Isabel Hapgood, John R. Mott, Pauli Murray, Mother Katharine Drexel, John XXIII, Archbishop (later Patriarch) Tikhon, Archbishop William Temple, Dorothy Day, G.K.A. Bell
I'll second Pope John XXIII (the 20th century one, that is).
Elizabeth of Hungary
Martha (sister of Mary and Lazarus)
Isaac Jogues
Norbert
Lucy (Scandinavia)
I'll second Elizabeth of Hungary!
I nominate Phoebe.
From the above-reproach resource, Wikipedia:
Phoebe (Koine Greek Φοίβη) was a first-century Christian woman mentioned by the Apostle Paul in his Epistle to the Romans, verses 16:1-2. A notable woman in the church of Cenchreae, she was trusted by Paul to deliver his letter to the Romans.[1] In writing to the church that almost surely met in her home,[2] Paul refers to her both as a deacon (Gk. diakonon masc.) and as a helper or patron of many (Gk. prostatis). This is the only place in the New Testament where a woman is specifically referred to with these two distinctions. Paul introduces Phoebe as his emissary to the church in Rome and, because they are not acquainted with her, Paul provides them with her credentials.
Phoebe's exceptional character, noted[Rom. 16:2] by her status as a deacon and prostatis—one who should be esteemed highly "because of their work"[1 Thes. 5:12]— may be the reason Paul sent her to Rome where she delivered the letter to Rome. By referring to Phoebe as a prostatis, Paul solicits the attention and respect of the leaders in Rome's church, which also included other women, namely Prisca/(Priscilla)[Rom. 16:3], Mary[Rom. 16:6], Junia[Rom. 16:7], and Tryphena, Tryphosa, and Persis [16:12] .[3]
I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a deacon of the church in Cenchreae. I ask you to receive her in the Lord in a way worthy of his people and to give her any help she may need from you, for she has been the benefactor of many people, including me.
— Paul[Rom. 16:1-2]
Jacob Riis
Harriet Ross Tubman
Sojourner Truth
Amelia Jenks Bloomer
Elizabeth Cady Stanton
Walter Rauschenbusch
Washington Gladden
I nominate St. Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Spiritual Exercises and Daily Examen in addition to the founder of the Jesuits.
St. Elizabeth of Hungary
Pauli Murray
My nomination goes to Pandita Ramabai, champion of women's education and emancipation in 19th century India. Her work improved the lives of Indian widows, child brides, temple prostitutes, and outcasts, among others, and brought the light of learning to untold numbers of women and girls. She was a traveler, a teacher, a poet, a scholar, a single mother, and a tireless social reformer, and is honored as a saint by the Episcopal Church.
I also submit for your consideration St. Marina the Monk, who entered a monastery to study alongside her father in boy's clothing. When a local innkeeper's daughter named her as "father" of her child, "Brother" Marina lovingly raised the baby as her own, despite the harsh censure of her fellow monastic brothers. Her story is honored by Coptic Orthodox and Maronite Catholics.
I would like to nominate Mother Antonia who did a great work in the prisons of Tijuana BC Mexico as well as among Hispanics in San Diego CA. Enclosed find a biography of her. More info on her can be found on the internet.
Mother Antonia was born Mary Clarke on December 1, 1926, to Joseph Clarke and Kathleen Mary Clarke. She was married and divorced twice, and had seven children, living in Beverly Hills, California.[1] She has said that in 1969 she had a dream that she was a prisoner at Calvary and about to be executed, when Jesus appeared to her and offered to take her place. She refused his offer, touched him on the cheek, and told him she would never leave him, no matter what happens to her. At some point in the 1970s, she chose to devote her life to the Church, in part because of this dream.[1] As an older, divorced woman, Clarke was banned by church rules from joining any religious order, so she went about her work on her own. She founded an order for those in her situation: the Servants of the Eleventh Hour.[2] The Church has since blessed her mission and, on September 25, 2009, she received the Peace Abbey Courage of Conscience Award, presented at the Joan B. Kroc School of Peace Studies at the University of San Diego.[2]
In addition to her normal work involving the prisoners, she negotiated an end to a riot.[1][3] She also persuaded the jail administrators to discontinue prisoner incarceration in substandard cells known as the tumbas (tomb)s.[1]
The road outside the jail, known until recently as "Los Pollos" ("The Chickens"), was renamed in November 2007 to "Madre Antonia" in her honor.[1]
She is profiled in the book The Prison Angel, written by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalists Mary Jordan and Kevin Sullivan.
In 2010, Estudio Frontera released a DVD documentary on Mother Antonia's life, La Mama: An American Nun's Life in a Mexican Prison. Produced and written by Jody Hammond, photographed and edited by Ronn Kilby, and narrated by Susan Sarandon, the film took five years to make.[4]
Mother Antonia died on October 17, 2013 at the age of 86 at her Tijuana home. She had recently been in declining health.[5][6]
Thank you for your consideration of her
Brother Lawrence Damien CoS
Community of Solitude
WHILE JOHN XXIII IS NOT IN THE EPISCOPAL CALENDAR HE IS IN THE ANGLICAN CHURCH OF CANADA CALENDAR. JUNE 4TH AND IS CALLED A REFORMER. THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH HAS CANONIZED HIM AS YOU MAY KNOW.
HOWEVER, IF POSSIBLE I WOULD LIKE HIS NAME PUT FORTH.
From my own denomination I nominate Ted Studebaker and John Kline. Ted Studebaker was a Christian Pacifist who was drafted for the Vietnam War. He chose to go to Vietnam as an agricultural worker rather than a soldier, and sent two years working with the people of the village of Di Linh. While there he fell in love with and married fellow mission worker Pakdy, a Chinese girl from Hong Kong. One week after their wedding he was murdered by the Vietcong. John Kline lived in Virginia during the American Civil War. He was vehemently opposed to slavery as a moral evil and the only person in his county who voted against succession from the union. He refused to let the war get in the way of his duties as both an Elder of the Church of the Brethren (the called the German Baptist Brethren) and a doctor. He was martyred while riding home from a missionary journey, probably by his own neighbors who suspected him of being a spy. I also nominate Blessed Franz Jagerstatter, a Roman Catholic family man who was martyred for his refusal to join the Nazi army during World War II.
I nominate Franz Jagerstatter, an Austrian farmer and lay leader who was beheaded by the Nazis after spending months in prison for refusing to serve in the military.
I nominate St Laurence for his awesome stick-it-to-em attitude both in presenting the wealth and his famous last words.
Desmund Tutu for his untiring work of reconciliation and peace!
I nominate St. Dymphna, patron saint of "the nervous, emotionally disturbed, mentally ill, and those who suffer neurological disorders - and, consequently, of psychologists, psychiatrists, and neurologists. She is also the patron saint of victims of incest" (per Wikipedia, at least.) She is under-celebrated and under-acknowledged!
...and it is ok that she's only venerated by the Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches? I will be very sad if that disqualifies her.
From Tim's original post, above:
Also, please note that the saints you nominate should be in the sanctoral calendar of one or more churches. We’re open minded. To a point.
Catholic and Eastern Orthodox veneration is perfectly acceptable under the Supreme Executive Committee's rules for Lent Madness consideration. Worry not!
A pint glass for Arnold to pair with the Silver Halo pint glass for Brigid?
How about St. Vincent of Saragossa, patron saint of vintners and vinegar makers? January 22nd is his feast day. And we could have commemorative wine glasses! None of those wussy coffee mugs for 2016!
Thank you for introducing me to Dymphna. Her feast day is May 15, I may be sending a few anxieties her way!
St. Aristobulus, recently mentioned in a 50 Days of Fabulous meditation! His story is fascinating. Imagine being one of the 72 disciples sent forth by Jesus, possibly related to the Zebedees and Joseph of Arimathea who winds up in Roman Britain in 37 AD. Then subsequently becomes a bishop and founds the community at Glastonbury. I can't think of a better candidate!
The 14th century is full of candidates. I nominate the 14th century French mystic Marguerite Porete, who inspired Meister Eckhart, but had a much more tragic end. Also the great English mystics Richard Rolle, Walter Hilton and even the anonymous author of the Cloud of Unknowing.
I would like to nominate Charles Simeon of Cambridge.
I second Bindy Snyder's nomination of Constance and her Companions (Martyrs of Memphis). I graduated from St.Mary's Episcopal School in Peekskill, N.Y. and live in New Orleans, LA that's had its own run-ins with yellow fever.
Jeanne d'Arc
George
Seraphina
That's my trifecta.
I second Joan of Arc. She was an amazing character. Mark Twain wrote a major work about her, even though he wasn't even religious.
I support the martyr for the dignity of the working man and woman, the man murdered because he stood against the company bosses.
Joel Emmanuel Hägglund
Better known as
Joe Hill
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Hill
Unlike many of the lesser saints, he has his own song, and his own psalmists:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3p4vKd6tNO8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n8Kxq9uFDes
Don't know if he is elligble but I'd like to nominate Mahatma Gandhi.
I would think Jesus of Nazareth would be on the disqualification list. I mean who would vote against that guy.
I would like to nominate Saint Patrick. If you have ever read HOW THE IRISH SAVED CIVILIZATION, you will know why. St. Francis of Assisi patterned himself after St. Patrick.
St. Monica of Hippo (Mother of Augustine of Hippo)
I nominate Fred Rogers who taught me more about being a "neighbor" and how to treat my "neighbors" than all the Sunday School combined!
“Love isn't a state of perfect caring. It is an active noun like struggle. To love someone is to strive to accept that person exactly the way he or she is, right here and now.”
― Fred Rogers, The World According to Mister Rogers: Important Things to Remember
“It's the people we love the most who can make us feel the gladdest ... and the maddest! Love and anger are such a puzzle!”
― Fred Rogers, The World According to Mister Rogers: Important Things to Remember
I second the nomination. Aye!
St. Raphael, powerful Archangel --- one of the seven who stand eternally before the very throne of God. "St. Raphael's efficacious intercession obtains healing of body and soul, brings potential spouses together , safeguards travelers and instills peace and joy into troubled hearts."
I second Ellen's nomination of JOAN OF ARC, Savior of France.
If you think she's not worthy (as I would have thought earlier), then read Mark Twain's account of her life, as I did. My mind was certainly changed.
I would also like to second the nomination of John Paul II. I recently went to his shrine in D.C. and was moved almost to tears by his love, faith, and forgiveness to the man who shot him.
I nominate St. Fiacre, the patron saint of gardeners. Too many who garden place statues of St. Francis (no offense intended) in their gardens when they really should be honoring St.Fiacre.
I made the same nomination before reading your post. We obviously love gardening and St. Fiacre, in addition to sharing the same name. In spite of his being misogynistic--as any proper medieval monk was supposed to be--he seems pretty wonderful.
I nominate St Thomas Aquinas, whose Summa Theologica is the most complete and readable writing of all that we believe.
Harriett Starr Cannon - very appropriate since to day is "her" day
Kateri Tekawitha