Welcome to the Faithful Four. After weeks of learning and deliberating and voting and eschewing chocolate, we have whittled the field of 32 saintly souls down to four spiritual heroes: Constance, Julian of Norwich, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, and Sojourner Truth. All are worthy of the coveted Golden Halo, yet only one will end up with his or her mug on a mug.
Today Constance (Anna Courie) takes on Julian of Norwich (Amber Belldene); tomorrow Dietrich Bonhoeffer (Beth Lewis) battles Sojourner Truth (Megan Castellan). And on Spy Wednesday the championship round will take place with the Golden Halo announced at 8:00 am EST on Maundy Thursday.
In this round, we let our four remaining Celebrity Bloggers loose as they answer the question “Why should Saint XX win the Golden Halo?” In other words, they’ve been charged with letting us know why their particular saint is so awesome. We have also invited them to share their two favorite images of their saints.
To make it to the Faithful Four, Constance dispatched Dominic, Helena, and Vida Dutton Scudder with relative ease. Julian snuck past William Wilberforce, before defeating Roch and Albert Schweitzer.
Maybe one of these remaining four will end up on a future Pocket Lent card. What's that? Well the SEC released two new ones yesterday for your cutting and pasting pleasure.
Let the voting (once) begin!
Constance
Inside everyone is a secret desire to be a superhero at a time when the world needs heroes. We want to stand up and be more than we think we are capable. We want to have the passion for great deeds. We want to be the change we want to see in the world. I think this is what St. Paul calls the "Holy Spirit within us." This spirit-spark calls us all to greater things.
Constance and her Companions had this God-spark within them. They were called as educators, but took on the role as nurses and caregivers during the epidemic of yellow fever that destroyed Memphis, Tennessee in 1878. They took action when great deeds were needed in the town where God planted them. Constance and Her Companions stayed to make a difference. As one avid reader noted in response to my coined term, "Constance would Go," the appropriate tag-line should be "Constance Would Stay."
God calls us to stay through many difficult times. We all have the opportunity to bear witness to Christ's love to others in disease, infirmity, poverty, social ills, and wrongs, during times when humanity seems to bear down on us as a disease rather than a gift. God calls all of us.
Sure, voting for Constance and her Companions is a vote recognizing the wonder of a giving soul during a horrific disease. She not only gave of her
time, her energy and her passion, but in the end, she also gave of her life. With her last words, she continued to honor her love of God with a joyful, "Alleluia, Hosanna." Constance understood that even in death, we have the joy of the resurrection. Constance understood at her death that God was there, was a part of her, and a part of both life and death. God was a part of all of Constance.
A vote for Constance is a vote recognizing the God-spark in us all. It is a vote that acknowledges each of us in our own individual ways are saints that are called to honor God with our actions, deeds, words, writings, and lives. "Constance Would Go" may ring a bell with you, but you could easily replace it with your own name: "Anna Would Go;" "Tim Would Go;" "Scott Would Go;" "Joe Would Go;" "Jane Would Go." We all should Go (or stay) as God calls us. "A faith without works is no faith."
To "go" means to bear witness to all the actions of the saints. Therefore, whether you are called to the social activism of your saints, or the liturgical writings, or the creative songs, or passionate political stances, remember, a vote with "Constance would Go" is a vote for all the actions of all the saints.
Constance watercolor by Bill Branch. You can see more of his art online at his website, www.billbranchartist.com.
Julian of Norwich
It astonishes me as both a priest and a parent how quickly, even in the twenty-first century children come to think of God as male. I strive to use inclusive language in liturgy, preaching, teaching and our household God talk, and yet all it takes is the occasional male pronoun slipping in for children to make the leap.
Therefore, Julian’s feminist Trinitarian theology born in the fourteenth century is utterly astonishing. She sees Christ in the role of mother alongside God the father. God incarnate is best imagined via the physical nurture and love of a mother—birth, breastfeeding, and boo-boo tending.
And how does she know? Not by rigorous scholarship and systematic inquiry, but divine revelation—God showed her! I am immensely grateful for the education that allowed her to write down these showings, making her the first female author of a book in English.
Though her contributions are not only intellectual or theological, but pastoral. I know of countless people who have taken comfort in her optimistic vision of God, humanity, and eschatology. Many people have a favorite quote or passage they can reference—being clothed in God’s love, or the assurance that all will be well.
Personally, her vision of the hazelnut has brought me great comfort. Years ago, before becoming a mother of twins, I experienced years of 
infertility, culminating in a miscarriage. My wonderful spiritual director pointed me toward Julian, and I remembered the Bridge Building Images Icon of her that sat in the chapel at CDSP when I was in seminary.
"And in this Christ showed me a little thing, the quantity of a hazelnut, lying in the palm of my hand, as it seemed. And it was as round as any ball. I looked upon it with the eye of my understanding, and thought, 'What may this be?' And it was answered generally thus, 'It is all that is made.' I marveled how it might last, for I thought it might suddenly have fallen to nothing for littleness. And I was answered in my understanding: It lasts and ever shall, for God loves it. And so have all things their beginning by the love of God."
When I thought of the pregnancy I had lost, an embryo about the size of a hazelnut, I was deeply comforted by the idea that it had begun by God’s love and in some mysterious way would always have life in that love. Since that time, I have shared the quote with other grieving women in my pastoral care, and it always brings comfort.
Courageous, compassionate and ahead of her time, Julian is an inspiration and comfort to the modern Christian. She most assuredly deserves the Golden Halo.
NOTE: At about 3 p.m. EDT, we blocked an address in Towson, MD. While there were some legitimate votes from this address, there was also a concerted effort to cast extra votes for Constance. We are removing 500 votes for Constance, which is a very conservative number. More that 800 votes were cast for Constance, and we suspect that some of these votes are legitimate votes.
Reminder: Vote once only per person. Lobbying others to vote is fair game. Voting hundreds of times is not.
[poll id="169"]
229 comments on “Constance vs. Julian of Norwich”
The pain, the anguish of this round....Much though I love Julian, I was all set to vote for Constance, but Amber's essay tipped the balance, because of the many personal levels on which it touched me. As Amber writes, 700 years later we still desperately need Julian's inclusive vision of God. I'm reminded of a recent sermon I heard in which a priest described how some Episcopalian responses to a scholarly questionnaire she sent out asking simply if people had ever considered God as a mother ranged from "I consider this to be pandering to militant feminism” to "This just makes me disgusted." But I am so happy to know about Constance! What a great woman! Too bad LM can't have an absolutely equal tie!
Super hard choice but had to go with Constance
One of my favorite quotes, " Our Faith is a light, naturally coming from our Endless Day--that is our Father God; in this light our Mother, Christ, and our good Lord the Holy Spirit lead us in this passing life. This light is meted out prudently, faithfully remaining with us as we need it in the night." Revelation of Divine Love, chapter 82
Voting for Julian as I am currently involved in supporting a group of lay people leading worship services and our next but one service will be on the feast day of Julian. I am sure that hazel nuts will be involved. I am also voting for Julian in thankfulness for the education that she received, enabling her to inspire us today through her words. (I did attempt o vote on my mobile but nothing happened when I pressed vote so I am hoping that I haven't inadvertently voted more than once - if so, apologies it was unintentional.)
HELP! I tried voting on my iPad from home WIFI and never saw if my vote was cast. The Loading spinner kept spinning, while my router's Internet light blinked like mad. I thought about trying again from my PC, and then thought I might be cast into the outer darkness for voting twice. Thed is NO way I can see to contact Scott or Tim about this issue, so I hope one of them can tell if my one vote went in. If this happens again tomorrow I am sunk! Can't get to another hotspot to be sure, due to my home workload.
hardest vote i've had to cast. I hope it's a tie....
And who casts the tie breaker? Tim or Scott?
Constance gets my vote. She was a woman of faith and works. We need more like Constance and Her Companions in today's world: "Loud and long the Master calleth...Who will answer gladly saying, 'Here am I, send me, send me?'"
It looks like everybody is having trouble choosing between these two--a choice, as someone said, between the vita activa and the vita contempliva. (I'm probably quoting that wrong; maybe it was "via," way, rather than "vita," life; my Latin is very sinful.) I decided to support the contemplative life because I'm too lazy to be very active, particularly in healing diseases.
Both lovely write-ups. I live in Kansas, where it is now legal to carry weapons of destruction anywhere, including into my classroom. So we are not staying, with Constance; we are going, away, soon. And I feel I need the hazelnut, and the feminine of God, and the comfort from the miscarriages, more than the will to stay here where the worst of (political) humanity seems to be on display. Julian it is, but not for thinking Constance is any less worthy!
Voting for Julian as she has saved me so many times with her philosophy that G-d is LOVE in capital letters.
The patron saint of cat ladies will always have my vote. (She's also my confirmation saint, so, there's that too.)
I'm still angry about Albert Schweitzer. I voted for Constance out of spite.
I feel very sorry for you. You must be sad. I will say a special prayer for you tonight.
I usually vote early in the AM, when comments are few. What a treat to revel in all the wisdom set out by the bloggers and by the faithful! I have read them all, delighting in your deep and abiding faith and the wondrous sense of humor that is God's gift to many. I give thanks for all of you. (As for my vote--I was born on Julian's feast day -- lucky me! That made a difficult decision a bit easier.)
In this impossible choice I voted for Julian for the very personal reasons that I have made a pilgrimage to Norwich, have been deeply affected by Julian's writings and have made retreats at the monastery of the Order of St. Julian.
I also share the Anna Courie's enthusiasm for the noble martyr Constance. Nevertheless I found her write-up theologically muddled and deficient, even for someone who is not a trained theologian. I don't believe St. Paul would agree that the indwelling of God's Holy Spirit within the believer is simply a metaphor for a "secret desire to be a super hero" or a "passion for great deeds." Those may perhaps be fruits of the Spirit's indwelling. I don't think talk about "spirit-spark" or "the God-spark within us all" has any warrant in Scripture or traditional Christian theology. It sounds more like New Age speak. And it's sloppy, vaguely pantheist speaking to say "God was a part of all of Constance." No doubt God's Spirit inspired Constance to do what she did and God's grace made it possible.
Gee, James, that's pretty unkind.
I don't think Anna was trying to rival Thomas Aquinas here. Nor was she transmitting Paul. That's more Luther's job. I do think she was operating within a specific rhetorical context: to enthuse the voters. She was speaking in the language of the people to reach them. Paul himself would "get it": "For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him" (I Corinthians 14:2). Anna was speakething in a "known tongue." And as for being theologically "correct," "Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal" (13:1). I believe that the spirit is among us, and therefore I am willing to accept the image of a spark. Perhaps it is igniting our interest; perhaps it will catch a wick and illuminate our way. Possibly it will warm our hands and hearts a bit; we have journeyed a long way and "Canterbury" is close. We are all tired; our passions are aroused. Peace be among us.
As someone who is not a theologian, I appreciate the use of word-images which help me to envision the deeper truth. The "God-spark" and the "hazelnut" are perfect examples. May the peace of the Lord, which passes all understanding, be with all of us this holy season.
I vote for Constance by Anna Courie
You have my original watercolor artwork of Sister Constance in this article.
You did not ask my permission, nor do you have any credit given.
Dear Mr. Branch, I have just been in touch by email. I apologize for this oversight, which I very much hope we can correct to your satisfaction. It was not our intention to use your work without your permission and without attribution. Please check your email for a note from me with some suggestions and a longer apology. Peace, Scott Gunn
We're sorry, Mr. Branch. If it is any consolation, you will probably never have as big or as appreciative a viewing public as you do here. Your artwork if inadvertently uncredited at least has undoubtedly been much loved today.
While I like the idea of having a life of almost complete isolation for the sake of being able to focus on the job of devoting oneself to a life of solitary prayer, study, and writing, I am troubled by the knowledge that Julian of Norwich lived during a period of rampant epidemic of the Black Plague but she wasn’t one of those caring for the sick. It seems outrageous that it was somebody else’s duty to empty her chamber pot. To me this is an example of a person who is too heavenly minded to be any earthly good, although she did write some admirable books on theology and did a lot of praying, etc. I have more admiration for Constance who rolled up her sleeves and got on with the job of leading a group of caregivers for victims of yellow fever with heroic nursing efforts that resulted the deaths of very few of their patients during the first epidemic in Memphis in 1873. She was there in the trenches with doctors, Catholics, Protestants and common folk such as a prostitute, all of them having one common goal, that of caring for the sick. It saddened me to learn that she died as a result of caring for the victims of a later yellow fever epidemic in 1878. Constance gets my vote today.
Romans 12:4-8. Many gifts, one spirit.
While I have thoroughly enjoyed reading about all the saintly personages which have come to us during this season of "Madness" I find I am in need of much further education as to the lives these people have led. Short snippets of information from our Celebrity Bloggers, as wonderful as they are, leave me wanting more. And reading the posts from us viewers leads me to the conclusion that there is a lot of misinformation being bandied about. I wonder if there might be a final Lent Madness post--after all is said and done and Golden Haloes awarded and mugs fired up--which would provide a useful bibliography of the saints considered? Seems like this might be a nice edition to the Forward Movement library of offerings. No?
Isnt cheating a sin? Hard to believe that this is happening...Arent we as Christians supposed to avoid such nonsense?
David Holgate, the sculptor of the statue of Julian at Norwich Cathedral, was photographed outside the building with his other statue there (St. Benedict). The picture appeared in the Guardian in 2014 with Holgate's obituary. http://www.theguardian.com/theguardian/2014/aug/06/david-holgate-obituary
For me, Amber Belldene certainly wins the Battle of the Celebrity Bloggers for this round, and her saint wins it for her lasting contribution handed down over the centuries. So Julian it is. And her icon is lovely, I might add.
I've got a theory about the folks who commit voter fraud. They're trolls who are not and never were participating in this as a Lenten devotion. They merely want to see if they can "beat the system" and outsmart the SEC, or simply play around and give the SEC more work to do. I often see commenters puzzling over how a Christian could do such a thing, but the fraudsters are not necessarily even Christians...just random trolls. Of course, I am not in the business of questioning the sincerity of anyone's faith, so if any of the fraudsters sees this comment and would like to defend himself/herself, feel free.... 😉
Such beautiful writing today, and such insightful comments. All of you educate and inspire me. Doer or mystic thoughtfulness? Not a choice really, as both kinds of folk make such incredible contributions in the world. We need both, yet few, if any, can be both. I voted for Constance, but will happily accept whichever "wins", since both are winners already. Thanks, SEC for my continuing edcation.
Constance gets my vote
Led there to consider this and am
attracted to the life of diligent quiet service exemplified
"And so have all things their beginning by the love of God.” If only everyone could remember this, how transformed the world would be! Blessed be all of the knowledge we have gained throughout this Lent Madness. AWBW 🙂
I voted for Constance, so I'm disappointed that she's not doing better at the polls. Perversely, I'm glad that Julian is doing so well. It seems to me that contemplatives usually lose in LM.
A vote for Constance, of course! I'm a Memphian!
there are no vote buttons 🙁