The moment we've all been waiting for has finally arrived: Lent Madness 2016 kicks off RIGHT NOW! For those who thought "Ash Thursday" would, like a desert oasis, never arrive, your penitential dreams have come true.
In any case, we’re delighted to welcome you to this year’s Saintly Smackdown with a First Round battle between Helena and Monnica. Or as we like to call it, the Matronly Meltdown®, as we open with two famous mothers doing battle (of course motherhood isn't either one's full claim to fame, so read on).
If you’re new to Lent Madness, welcome! You may want to check out our recent Voting 101 post which includes a step-by-step how to vote video. You can also read through the Lent Madness Glossary which highlights all sorts of phrases and terms you'll encounter along this unique Lenten journey.
Be sure to sign up for e-mail updates on our home page so you never miss a vote, like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, and encourage your friends to jump into the fray. While you are on our Facebook page today, please “Check In” to Lent Madness so all your friends will know you have gone to Lent Madness.
We can assure you this will be a wild, joyful, educational, ocassionally gut-wrenching ride. Let the Madness begin!
Helena
During her long life, Helena gathered the most-sought-after relics in Christian history, including splinters of what is known as the True Cross.
Helena was born around 246 CE, somewhere in Asia Minor—most likely the city of Drepanum. She grew up as a stable maid, but her fortunes changed radically when she met the emperor, fell in love with him, was whisked away to Rome, and gave birth to Constantine in 272 CE.
Some describe Helena as the royal wife, some as the royal concubine, some as the royal consort. What is clear is that after Constantine was born, the emperor sent Helena away. Helena and Constantine were exiled from court in 289 CE.
This was not the end of Helena. Constantine became the Roman emperor by winning the Battle of Milvian Bridge in 313 CE, after being told in a vision that if he and his troops marked their shields with the Greek letters Chi and Rho—the first two letters of Christ, the battle would belong to them. Depending on the source, Constantine and his mother converted promptly after this victory was secured.
Upon being recognized as the emperor of Rome, Constantine sent Helena on an official mission: travel to Palestine to bring back relics of Jesus and the Apostles and to do whatever good she felt necessary in the name of Christ. To accomplish this, he put the entire imperial treasury at her disposal.
Helena (who was at the very least every day of seventy-five-years-old) set out with gusto and built the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem as well as the Church of the Ascension on the Mount of Olives. She tore down the Roman temple that had been constructed on the site of Jesus’ crucifixion and gave orders for the construction of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. She unearthed fragments of wood that she believed to be the True Cross as well as the nails that were used on Jesus’ hands and feet and carried them with her back to Rome.
In all, she built over eighty churches in the Holy Land, including Saint Catherine’s Monastery at the foot of Mount Sinai. Helena also preserved for generations the history of the Holy Land and the early faith of the Church. And she did it all in the second act of her life.
Collect for Helena
Almighty God, you caused Helena of Constantinople to seek the cross of Christ with energy and devotion; Grant that through her example we may be inspired to seek your face and bear your cross for the sake of your love, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Monnica
Monnica, a model of the praying mother and wife, was the mother of Augustine—the father of Western Christian thought. Married to a pagan bureaucrat named Patricius, who would later convert to Christianity under her influence, Monnica was mother to several children; Augustine was the eldest. After her husband’s death, Monnica made fierce and tireless efforts to secure Augustine’s conversion, even going so far as to push the local bishop to track Augustine down and argue with him.
By the time he was twenty-nine, Augustine decided to journey to Rome to teach rhetoric. Monnica, while opposed to the plan, persisted in going with him. By fits and tricks, Augustine managed to embark for Rome, leaving his bereft mother behind. Yet Monnica could not be deterred, and she sailed for Rome, only to find him in Milan. In 386, she witnessed the event for which she longed: Augustine’s full acceptance of catholic Christianity, followed a year later by his baptism. Monnica had persisted, prayed, and worked nearly two decades to see Augustine’s conversion.
Monnica died in the port of Ostia, and when asked if she wished for her remains to be carried home, she replied, “Nothing is far from God; neither am I afraid God will not find me.” Her conviction that nothing is far from God has earned her devotion to this day. Monnica is the patron saint of married women and mothers and those battling alcohol addiction.
Collect for Monnica
O Lord, through spiritual discipline you strengthened your servant Monnica to persevere in offering her love and prayers and tears for the conversion of her husband and of Augustine their son: Deepen our devotion, we pray, and use us in accordance with your will to bring others, even our own kindred, to acknowledge Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord; who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, forever and ever. Amen.
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303 comments on “Helena vs. Monnica”
As I read through the comments by mothers relating to their trials I have to say -what is it with sons ?
I voted for Monica because I like her assertion that “Nothing is far from God; neither am I afraid God will not find me” Helena is admirable on many grounds, of course, but searching for relics, tearing down temples and building in the Holy Land doesn't have the message of universality that appeals to me.
I cast my vote for Monnica. My birthday is on her feast day. I believe she is the patron saint of Mothers. I always wanted to be a Mom.
Since my grandmother was Helen, I was set to vote for Helena, but changed my mind after reading the bios. Monnica was much more a hands on Christian, converting people with her personal involvement whereas Helena was more distanced from people. Both were worthy and this was a tough decision.
I voted for Monnica because of her role in converting her son Augustine to Christianity. Augustine's total acceptance of the faith turned his considerable intellect to the service of "the City of God." Augustine's writings about his mother are great testament to her spirituality. Throught the grace of God she did the Church a great service.
Helen certainly accomplished a lot, but she had the full power and riches of the Roman empire at her disposal. I might note that her son Constantine was pretty squishy on some aspects of Christianity and was only baptized on his death bed.
Such a tough choice. These are both incredible mothers. God bless 'em both.
I'm Team Monnica! I voted for her because she showed there is Hope in prayer.
Good morning and welcome back, dear Lent Madness Friends. It's wonderful to be together again. Go St. Helena!
Imagine Christianity without Augustine, o ye admirers of Middle Eastern architecture! I am for Monnica. Possibly because I have two family members named Monica...
First welcome back to 8 year old Oliver. always nice hearing from you.
I went with Helena today, not because she was more important than Monnica but because of resources at her disposal was able to spread the word of our Lord further. Both of these mothers were very important and it was a tough choicem
Like Helena's action in old age. But hard to know which son did more harm to the church: Constantine for tying the church to the power base rather than the oppressed, or Augustine's concept of original sin. Whew! Glad the knotty choices of Lent Madness are back!
Another Associate of the Order of St. Helena here. Following in the footsteps of one of the first church planters, I celebrate with the Sisters the recent opening of their new convent in North Augusta, SC. Check it out here: http://osh.org/
Thanks for the shout out Nancy! We're rooting for Helena today!
I couldn't possibly in good conscience vote for anyone connected with the existence of Augustine, though Monnica almost won my sympathy vote as the person who had to suffer him.
As many have already noted, this was a tough choice. I chose Helena for two main reasons: 1. As an elder myself, I admire Helena's enormous energy, faith and guts, all the more considering the travel conditions of her day, even for an empress; 2. I once celebrated the feast of St. Helena (and "St. Constantine") in a neighboring Greek Orthodox church, at the invitation of the priest, who accorded this Anglican priest the signal honor for a non-Orthodox man of standing within the iconostasis near the altar for the entire liturgy. Part of the ceremony involved kissing the large icons of Helena and Constantine displayed on the bema. So now I offer St. Helena another kiss.
As someone who just recently retired at the ripe old age of (AHEM!), I know what I would say to anyone who even suggested that I should now go out and play Indiana Jones meets Jimmy Carter, I had to go with helena for this round!
I never thought I could vote against one of my favorite saints. I've always loved St. Monnica, but Helena is a real inspiration. I'm 72 years old, and all she did after the age of 75 leaves me breathless. What a gal! Gotta vote for her. May the Lord grant me the strength to be 1/10 as zealous for His glory as Helena was. Thanks for this opportunity to learn about a truly amazing woman of God.
Monnica. I relate to her as we have 3 children and husband doesn't like church and son #2 is an agnostic. Monnica gives me a real life lesson on the power of prayer. even when I don't see with my eyes the changes, she encourages me to persevere.
Such a tough first choice. I'm an associate with the Order of St. Helena (since 1983), so Helena was certainly a natural choice for me, & she DID make a lot of what's available in the Holy Land possible, but my heart had to go to St. Monnica since she was so concerned with the soul of her son & also who seemed to have a drinking problem--as well as a codependency one!
As an Associate of the Order of St Helena, I'll back her as far as she goes ... for the halo!
Monnica shows the true meaning of being Christian. Helena promoted idol worship though not on purpose however. Persistance = Monnica.
My vote is for Monnica.
When am I supposed to write in my bracket who won?? Later on tonight after everyone has responded??
Annette --
You may have clicked the box at the bottom of this reply screen that says "Notify me of comments by e-mail" or "notify me of posts by e-mail."
Just unclick it and you should be good -- maybe today, maybe not until tomorrow.
--Andrea
I voted for Helena because I am 76, and she accomplished so much after 75. Time for me to get cracking!
I voted for Helena because she taught Indie and Lara how to collect relics. She should be the patron saint of tomb raiders.
Gotta vote for a woman who loved to shop and knew how to throw here weight around to get a church (or two built). Go Helena!
Edit: her
I love Monica's words, "Nothing is far from God..." although, perhaps, she could have demonstrated a little more faith that Augustine wasn't far from God, either, and spent less time chasing him all over the globe.
Nonetheless, I voted for Helena. It is good to have someone who was an exile at one point in her life, but who kept on keeping on into her old age, building things with enthusiasm and passion.
I can't believe Helena is still considered a saint. Not meant to offend anyone, but she did some pretty awful stuff to the people of Judea/Palestine just to get her relics. Monnica all the way!!
Helena for the Halo!
"Behind every great man there is a great woman"
I voted for Monnica...because sometimes the best gift a person can give is their offspring. Augustine was a great pillar of the Christian faith and is a doctor of the church. What would the church be like if this great woman had not kept the faith and persisted to have her son be the best he could be?
Helena - obviously! You can't have the chicken without the egg and Constantine legitimized what would be the greatest "thing" of human history: lentmadne...Christianity! Fierce bish for sure!
Helena has my vote for building all those churches!