Let's just state right off the bat that there is no room for nepotism in Lent Madness. Saints related to members of the Supreme Executive Committee are ineligible to compete for the Golden Halo.
Therefore, just because Francis of Assisi won the coveted Golden Halo last year, there was no funny business going on that led to Clare of Assisi's inclusion this year. The SEC was not coerced by the Assisi mafia. In fact, Clare only made it into the bracket by winning a play-in round against Chad of Lichfield held during the Episcopal Church's General Convention last summer.
Anyway, today Clare faces off against Denis. Please don't lose your head over this battle.
Yesterday, in a VERY tight contest, Columba eked out a victory over Kateri Tekakwitha 51% to 49% in the closest battle to date in Lent Madness 2016. Columba will face Meister Eckhart in the Saintly Sixteen. Sadly, we also saw our first case of voter fraud. At 11:02 pm EST, two addresses, in Vermillion, SD and Medford, OR were blocked. 125 votes for Kateri Tekakwitha were recorded from these two locations, and we do not know of groups participating in Lent Madness in those cities. Not enough votes were cast to affect the outcome, but we have blocked the addresses to prevent further votes. Remember, vote only once per person or be cast into the outer darkness of Lent Madness! Also, Jesus does not approve of cheating.
And finally, if you missed yesterday's edition of Monday Madness, Tim and Scott share suggestions on how to be a Lent Madness evangelist in your congregation. Using a Lent Madness mug in place of a chalice may or may not be one of their tips.
Clare
Often overshadowed by her friend Francis, Clare was one of the most dedicated followers of Saint Francis, the Poor Man of Assisi (and 2015 Golden Halo winner). Clare has been called a clear mirror of a life lived in deep spirituality, dedicated wholly to Christ, embracing the charisms of poverty, cloistered contemplation, and devotion.
Like Francis, Clare was born into a wealthy family in the late twelfth century. She led a life of prayer and devotion from early childhood. Sometime before 1212, Clare heard Francis preach. Soon after, her uncle arranged a marriage for her, and Clare fled to Francis, asking his advice. He implored her to live a life dedicated to Christ. On Palm Sunday in 1212, Clare began her contemplative life in a Benedictine house.
Her father came to the convent to retrieve her and (legend says) she clung to the altar so fiercely that the heavy altar cloths were torn. Clare, however gentle she is portrayed in prayer and devotion, was defiant in her dedication to the contemplative life. She eventually settled in the church of San Damiano, where she and other women became known as the Poor Ladies of Assisi. Clare served as their abbess, the head of the abbey.
Francis’s male followers were itinerant preachers; Clare and the sisters lived a cloistered life of prayer and poverty. For Clare, poverty was foundational to the order’s rule and preserved the purity of the Franciscan heritage. Clare saw poverty as a charism, a gift of the Holy Spirit, which offered the narrow way to enter into the kingdom of heaven.
Clare, dedicated to ensuring the rule of total poverty, lobbied throughout her life for papal approval to ensure the Poor Clare’s Rule of Life. In 1253, Clare received news that the pope sanctioned the Rule. Two days later, she died.
Collect for Clare
O God, whose blessed Son became poor that we through his poverty might be rich: Deliver us from an inordinate love of this world, that we, inspired by the devotion of your servant Clare, may serve you with singleness of heart, and attain to the riches of the age to come; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Denis
We know very little about Denis, a third-century missionary, martyr, and bishop of Paris. The most famous of his feats is also the most improbable: After being decapitated on Paris’ highest hill (today known as Montmartre), he reportedly picked up his own head and carried it six miles, preaching repentance the entire way. This makes Denis one of about fifty cephalophores— saints who are traditionally depicted carrying their heads in their own hands.
Denis’s story is shot through with myth and mystery. Because his name may have originally been Dionysius, he is sometimes confused with Dionysius the Areopagite, a judge converted by the apostle Paul (Acts 17:34). However, Denis is believed to have been a missionary sent by Pope Fabian to evangelize the Romans living in Lutetia (today’s Paris) along with his two inseparable companions, Rusticus and Eleutherius. The three of them may have settled on the island in the river Seine where Notre Dame was later erected.
In the year 250, the emperor Decius issued an edict ordering everyone in the empire to burn incense to the Roman gods and the emperor. Some Christians complied; others went into hiding, and some openly refused to perform the sacrifice. Denis, along with Rusticus and Eleutherius, may have been among those who refused and were executed. Or maybe they were executed because of their success at converting people to Christianity. Allegedly, Montmartre, the traditional place of their martyrdom, comes from the Latin expression Mons Martyrum (Martyr’s Hill); some reject this etymology as fanciful.
According to tradition, Denis collapsed after hiking (while carrying his head in his hands) some six miles north of downtown Paris. In the fifth or sixth century, his final resting place became a shrine, and a chapel was built. During the twelfth century, the impressive Saint Denis Basilica was erected on the spot.
Denis is the patron of Paris, and his basilica is often the burial place for France’s royalty. In the Roman Catholic tradition, he is one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers—saints whose intercession is believed to be particularly effective against specific diseases. Denis’s special charism is to help people suffering from headaches.
Collect for Denis
Almighty God, we remember before you the life and ministry of your servant Denis, who even in the most extreme of circumstances, continued to preach the good news of your redemption and love. Grant us faithful companions on our journey to you, that we may encourage each other in our earthly pilgrimage with your Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
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258 comments on “Clare vs. Denis”
Thank you Oliver. Your comments are clear and always make me smile
The movie "Brother Sun Sister Moon" is probably my favorite overtly religions movies. I voted for Clare of Assisi. I also believe that many American church goers need to appreciate the merits of voluntary poverty.
I, too, went with Clare. We need some humble silence in my state right now ... S.C.
But, I do wonder, why are the saints so often from wealthy families originally?
Possibly because it is the wealthy who have time to consider the health of their souls; the impoverished are too busy working to keep body and soul together to indulge in these kinds of intense metaphysical issues.
In spite of the beautiful church of St. Denis, praying and praise for headache cures, and inspired in a new appreciation for words, I cannot relate to cephalophorism. I go quietly with Clare to whose life I can better relate.
Odd. One would have expected voting irregularities in a round involving Saint Chad of Lichfield - who was the patron of disputed elections long before 2000 in Florida.
Ha! And please note that the detected voting irregularities were NOT originating from Florida!
As a passionate Francophile who suffers from migraines, I have to cast my vote for Denis.
A vote for cephalophores and relief from headaches. And my husband found Denis in his ancestral crowd. And I love Paris!
Clare is the patron saint of television. From Wikipedia:
Pope Pius XII designated her as the patron saint of television in 1958, on the basis that when she was too ill to attend Mass, she had reportedly been able to see and hear it on the wall of her room.
Paris is my second home, so my heart goes with St. Denis, even though my mother is Clare, my mother-in-law was Clarice, and my daughter's middle name is Claire.
Clare might have given up her hair for The love of Jesus, but Denis gave up his head! Had to cast my vote for the headless bishop.
Clare it is. If I had witnessed Denis walking by with his head in his hands preaching to me, I would have repented for sure. But, Clare the abbess dedicated to poverty, contemplation and devotion gets my vote. Glad to learn of them both. Like Allison, I pray for humble silence in Tennessee as we prepare to vote next week.
Obviously Clare will be the favorite but I had to vote for Denis because anyone who carry his head for six miles needs to be recognized .... even if it is all conjecture and a fable.
I agree!
Isn't Clare the Patron Saint of Television and Radio Artists as well?
Im casting my vote today for Denis in honor of a friend named Dennis who recently lost his battle with alcoholism and related health consequences.
Is it sad that I'm more impressed with the name of his companion than I am with Denis? A bit too many MAYBEs for me. Think I'll stick with Clare, who in 1212 REALLY hung on with both hands. Rusticus, however, goes on my list of names for characters.
Oh dear, my Vote button does not seem to be working. I can't tell if my vote for Clare counted, nor can I see the current status of the competitors. I vote for her because she followed her calling despite bullies trying to stop her and counted her life in Christ more than any riches or comfort.
In honor of many clergy I have known that have were lost in their head and kept on preaching, Denis
That is great. I will never fail to recall Denis when I'm listening to one of those preachers. Great, as well as hilarious, point!
St. Clare. A gentle soul who knew what she wanted.
I voted for Clare in Salt Lake City and I cannot abandon her now. This matchup is giving me a headache.
I am fighting a headache as I prepare to go to Bible study. Now I know who to ask help from beside the Bayer company.
I'm an alum of Santa Clara University, go Clare!
Thanks for all the information about the various candidates. I vote for Clara because she's cool!
Clare. Denis was probably a good person, but give me a break... walk six miles carrying your own head? Besides, I like contemplative prayer.
My vote won't register today! What's up with the feed?
Denis may not be as well known as Clare and there may be conjecture as to the truth(s) about him and the whole severed head incident may just be too much for some voters. He gets my vote because those with minor problems considered not worthy of the trouble taken to even listen to them got my attention. For instance, think about how you're pooh-poohed if you complain about a headache.."Well, --- has a fatal disease or a chronic one!" But your head still hurts and Denis could be the saint who won't scoff at you. He gets my vote for attention to small things. Bloggers Big Day for Small Things !!
All this saintly talk about poverty and virginity — oh, the poverty has to be voluntary? And I don't qualify on the other. Sorry, I lost me head for a moment.
I was going to vote for Clare until I found out that Denis is associated with headache sufferers. With my migraines that won the vote.
Clare for me, especially for her resistance to her father's pressure to conform to the male-dominated culture of her era. The Denis story is just a bit too ephemeral and weird for my taste. But I can certainly see why he is the saintly refuge for people with headaches. He found the ultimate cure.....
Love the story on Denis, particularly his birth name Dionysius. We just had a very nice young man come to our church to paint the kitchen and halls, and his first name is Dion, which I found unusual. Now it makes sense. The fact that Bishop Denis outright defied pagan worshipers and died for his faith, on Martyr's Hill, no less, makes him my choice in this comparison.
It is time for Clare to get the recognition due her. Voting will easier with Clare in the bracket...I hope.