Another day, another mystic, as the great thinker Meister (please don't call me 'Mister') Eckhart faces off against Drogo, 12th century saintly soul and patron saint of coffee. WARNING: Don't even try to make your choice without first drinking a hot, steaming cup of coffee -- as long as this action will in no way ultimately influence your vote.
Yesterday in a tight, emotionally-charged contest, amid heavy voting, Julian of Norwich prevailed over William Wilberforce 52% to 48%. Julian will face the winner of Roch vs. Gertrude in the next round.
The SEC also released their weekly Monday Madness video in which a contest(!) was announced. Watch now to learn how you can own the cardboard cutout of 2015 Golden Halo winner, Francis Assisi (as seen at the Episcopal Church's 2015 General Convention).
And finally, if you need to add some extra Lent Madness commentary to your day, tune in to Priest Pulse's recent interview with one half of the Supreme Executive Committee (Tim). We suggest listening to it while on the treadmill, for that extra motivation, or during your commute, to make it speed seamlessly by.
Meister Eckhart
Eckhart von Hochheim, commonly known as Meister Eckhart, is one of the greatest mystics of the Christian tradition. After his initial schooling, he alternated between the universities at Cologne and Paris, first as a student and later as a professor. Born in Germany around 1260, Meister Eckhart joined the Dominican Order of Preachers as a young man. He returned to Strasbourg in 1314, but his popularity soon began to draw the wrong kind of attention.
Encouraged by the Archbishop of Cologne, the head of the Dominican Order in the German region investigated the soundness of Eckhart’s doctrine and cleared him of heresy. Unsatisfied with these findings, the archbishop ordered a more formal and comprehensive review. In February, 1327, despite Eckhart’s public declarations of innocence, he was called before the Inquisitors, who declared him a heretic.
Eckhart appealed his conviction to the Holy See. Accompanied by his Dominican superiors, Eckhart traveled to Avignon and submitted himself to
the judgment of Pope John XXII. Following the usual procedure, the appointed examiners did not receive complete texts of the writings to be judged, only suspicious lines taken out of context. On March 27, 1329, the papal commission upheld the conviction from Cologne, but by that time Eckhart had died, insisting to the end that he was faithful to the teachings of the Church.
Eckhart was a subtle and creative thinker. His Latin commentaries, produced for advanced Dominican students, demonstrate his mastery of the technical categories of the Scholastic philosophy. His German sermons were engaging and poetic, filled with puns and wordplay, drawing heavily on the vocabulary of courtly love, adapting it to speak of the birth of the Word in the soul.
After centuries of neglect, Meister Eckhart’s teachings experienced a revival at the end of the nineteenth century. Similarities between his thought and the mystical traditions of Asia have made him a fruitful resource for modern interreligious dialogue.
Collect for Meister Eckhart
O God, create in us hearts reconstructed by your simple goodness. Thank you for the life of your servant Meister Eckhart, who, for the love of you, put his life and honor at the feet of power to speak plainly of your abundance. Grant that we too might be awed by your marvelous depth of creativity and mystery, for Jesus’ sake. Amen.
Drogo
Near the beginning of the twelfth century, Drogo was born into a family of Flemish nobility—but his path began to change immediately. Drogo’s father died prior to his birth, and his mother died because of complications in childbirth. The newborn orphan was given over to the care of family members. When he was ten-years-old, Drogo, a sensitive child, was devastated to learn the cause of his mother’s death and held himself personally responsible for it.
Reaching adulthood, Drogo renounced the wealth and ease that was his birthright and became a shepherd in the Flemish countryside. During his time in the pastures, Drogo developed a reputation for holy living and for the spiritual gift of bilocation. Tradition holds that Drogo would be observed in
the fields praying while watching his flocks and simultaneously attending worship in the village.
After a time, perhaps still seeking to assuage the guilt he felt for his mother’s untimely death, Drogo felt called to head out on pilgrimage. Drogo traveled to Rome in order to encounter the holy places and relics there. Over the course of nine years, he traveled to Rome and back nine times.
These pilgrimages came to an end when Drogo was afflicted by an unknown malady, which caused him disfigurement and estrangement from his community. In order to protect the residents of the village where he lived from his appearance, Drogo took up a hermit’s life. He took up residence in a cell adjacent to the local parish church and lived there for the rest of his life. Stories say that when a fire engulfed his cell, Drogo refused to leave and was discovered praying among the ashes.
Lately discovered by popular culture, Drogo of Sebourg is the subject of countless listicles, thanks to his identification as the patron saint of coffeehouses and baristas. Drogo died on April 16, 1186, and was buried in the parish church in which he had spent the majority of his life. For obvious reasons, Drogo is the patron of unattractive and repulsive people. It is less clear why he has long been associated with coffee—so we will pour another cup and ponder this connection.
Collect for Drogo
God of unsearchable wisdom, you hear us praying even among the ashes of our lives. Thank you for the example of your servant Drogo, who lived a life of deep prayer despite profound suffering, who walked holy roads and prayed for worldly souls. Grant us the grace to seek your face in all things and in all places. We ask this for the love of your son, Jesus. Amen.
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288 comments on “Meister Eckhart vs. Drogo”
I've some vague recollection of a 70s cult where people endured harsh confrontation in search of peace and light. I forget what it was called, but I associate that thing with the name Meister Eckhart, wrongly, I'm sure... but when I started hanging out with folks who like things like Lent Madness and Medieval mystics, the mention of his name would trigger associations with 70s. I forget when I learned, years into it all, that he was someone quite different -- but still kinda similar. Drogo is my patron saint for several reasons, coffee the least of them. I think I'd enjoy his kitsch (previous comments I'd called swag), especially if they've got an action figure.
Difficult choice today. Drogo breaks my heart. But I'm Team Mystic. Go Meister Eckhart!
Drogo is giving this musical theater geek serious Phantom vibes. I bet he was much nicer then the Phantom though. "Saint Drogo of Sebourg is there, praying for your soul."
I had a life much like Drogo. I am glad to hear of and will further learn about him. However, I love Meister Eckert and his work and couldn't NOT vote for him!
As I read about Drogo, with whom I was not familiar, I more and more thought perhaps I would vote for him, fond of Eckhart as I am. However, when I read of Drogo's affiliation with coffee, I had to return to the old friend. I have no tolerance for coffee, neither the taste nor the smell (which sometimes gives me a raging headache and other discomforts). I may be allergic to Drogo's patronage, alas.
What beautiful sheep Drogo looked after, it didn't actually say that Meister Echart was martyred in the matchup, I assumed he had died of old age!
I'm sure that all the saints are watching the voting and the comments on a giant heavenly screen and having a good laugh as well, possibly holding mugs of coffee (purple or sainted) or St Brigid glasses of beer.
Go Drogo
While I have great compassion for orphans, I love my coffee, and I revere pilgrims, I must give my vote to Meister Eckhart because of his early understanding of the importance of honoring the Creation. A Creation-Centered Mystic!
Anyone who can actually be in 2 places at the same time has my vote. And coffee. Lets not forget the coffee. Is it possible one is connected to the other? Today a vote for Drogo, no disrespect to brother Eckhardt intended
The spiritual gift of bi-location appeals to me. Drogo gets my vote. I also like ugly saints and find them strangely appealing.
Meister Eckhart is definitely the one I'd rather share a beer and a prayer with; but I am voting for Drogo as proxy for the true patron saint of coffee, Tim Schenck. Another century or two will have to pass before Fr. Tim's patronage is recognized by the Holy Church Universal; but his cult already flourishes at the Parish of St. John the Evangelist, where he maintains a branch Rector's office at the notorious local caffeine dive, Redeye Roasters, and on more than one occasion has been surreptitiously observed turning tea into coffee lest the eponymous after-church hour run out of propellant. (Ha, Tim, and you thought no one was looking!)
Tradition also holds that on one occasion, when whole beans were mistakenly delivered to the parish hall, Fr. Tim rushed to the scene (via the vestry, where he donned his beloved cope) and extended his hand over the hapless container saying, "In the name of all that is holy, be ground!!" Unfortunately this had the effect of turning the beans into dirt, but it shows he's working on his game. Perhaps bilocation will come in its turn.
This comment is amazing. Well done 🙂
Thanks, and thank you for the excellent Drogobio and for teaching me, and it appears many others, a new word.
Turning tea into coffee? What a sacrilege!
The patron saint of my life blood! Go Dro!!
I first thought Drogo had me at "coffee", but then I read Eckhart's bio. How could I, as someone whose saecular hero is Eleanor of Aquitaine, not vote for someone who adapted the language of courtly love? Add to that the charges of heresy for thinking outside the box, and yeah...Meister Eckhart for me.
Very interesting pairing, SEC! I enjoyed pondering the lives of these two saints. I was touched by Drogo's sensitive spirit, and by his dedication to prayer and pilgrimage. I was even more impressed by Eckhart's combination of academic honesty and humility, his willingness to recant any writings found in error, and his undeniable contribution through works that have stood the test of time. One vote for the Meister here.
Am of 1/4 German Heritage and 1/2 Irish and with no pairing from the Irish side I must therefore vote for Meister Eckhart
Bilocation must be Drogo's top skill. His Wikipedia article claims he is the patron saint of the following and no one knows what ties him to coffee!
Patronage: those whom others find repulsive, unattractive people, Baume-les-Messieurs, bodily ills, broken bones, cattle, coffee house keepers, coffee house owners, deaf people, deafness, dumbness, Fleury-sur-Loire, gall stones, hernias, illness, insanity, mental illness, mentally ill people, midwives, mute people, muteness, mutes, orphans, ruptures, sheep, shepherds, sick people, sickness
If Drogo makes it through, someone needs to tell Jason Momoa (and his legions of fans).
#DROGOLIVES #GAMEOFHALOES
I voted for Drogo because I felt like Meister Eckhardt would garner the majority of votes. Besides, he was so painfully separated from society that he deserves to be honored by winning a round in Lent Madness!
Oh dear, another tough choice. As a Nashotah House graduate and our marvelous coffeehouse is named after St. Drogo, I thought, for sure, that would be my choice. But the mystics have always intrigued me and I feel a kinship with Meister Eckhart - he too broke some new and unfamiliar ground with the accompanying difficulties with church hierarchy. So, the Meister it is.
Another two wonderful folks. I love Drogo's selflessness, and his whole bilocation thing. I kind of wonder if the bilocation made it easier to live in a hermit's cell, though. Personally, I'd have gone off on walks with my second self while my first self was safely locked up for the protection of others' sensibilities. Meister Eckhart has my vote though, for expanding the imagery with which we perceive God and sticking with it despite the narrow-mindedness of his judges.
I voted for Drogo because he is the patron of unattractive and repulsive people. Besides, his name is so Hobbitish!
Saints representing the unattractive and the unjustly accused. Surely both appropriate for this superfine and cynical age.
As Abraham Lincoln said,"God loves common people. That's why he made so many of them."
Ps. Voted for Drogo because I love Hobbits.
I voted for Meister Eckhart, because I have some German Heritage in my blood. PROST!
Drogo's collect won me over. plus coffee.
According to http://www.loyolapress.com/the-patron-saints-of-the-culinary-arts.htm: "As far as we know, St. Drogo never drank coffee. He lived solely on barley, water, and the Eucharist until he died. His connection to coffee is that he was said to “bilocate,” working in the fields and going to Mass at the same time. Bilocation would require enormous energy, and coffee is an energy booster."
I voted for Drogo because of his affliction and I felt sorry for him.
Interesting group of comments today. I think of this pairing as a confrontation between the erudite and the simple (not in a bad way.) Since I am not erudite, I will vote for Drogo. Most of his suffering was imposed.
I've read some accounts about contemporary Greek orthodox monks/mystics who seem to have the power of bilocation. Bilocation in their case seems to involve a warp in the space-time continuum: a wrinkle in time, so they are observed here, and then (almost) simultaneously there.
However, if Drogo had that ability, did he just pop back and forth to Rome, or did he walk? And if he walked, who was tending the sheep?
. . . After all that coffee, one would hope he could just pop back and forth between sheep tending and Rome!
Drogo living as a Flemish Shepherd and zipping to Rome 9 times, shows he looking for God in his life. Meister Eckhart went into the clerical life to show others how to find God, and he got done in by the evil side of church politics. Meister Eckhart gets my vote.
Drogo gets it today because of his compassion for the outsiders in many categories. In addition, being linked in any shape, form, or fashion with coffee, helped the push to vote for him. I don't get to moving around and about 'til the cuppa joe is placed where I sit for each meal. Good blogs today.
Drogo is inspiring, of course, but Meister Eckhardt has been feeding me with much more than coffee for decades. My vote goes to him.