Welcome to the Round of the Saintly Sixteen. Sixteen saints in Lent Madness 2016 have been sent packing and sixteen more remain as the struggle
for the coveted Golden Halo continues. Get ready for some high stakes, thrilling saintly action over the coming days. Click the Bracket tab to view the updated tournament bracket and see all the upcoming matchups (you do know it's updated daily by our unsung Bracket Czar Adam Thomas, right?).
Round One consisted of basic biographical information about the saints. Since there’s no need to rehash previously covered ground, the Round of the Saintly Sixteen is made up of what we call Quirks & Quotes. Prepare for some little known facts or legends accompanied by quotes either by or about the saint in question. As you make your decision, you can always review the previous rounds by again clicking on the Bracket tab and scrolling down. Simply click the link to the previous battle and voila! All the earlier information is at your fingertips.
Yesterday saw the conclusion of the first round as Barnabas defeated Elmo 72% to 28%. Apparently Barnabas did not include Elmo as he sang the irritating song about being "a happy family." Who knew?
Today it's two women, separated by 1,600 years or so, squaring off to make it to the Elate Eight. To get to this point, Helena defeated Monnica in the Matronly Meltdown (the very first matchup of Lent Madness 2016) while Constance defeated Dominic. Ladies and gentlemen, start your Saintly Sixteen engines!
Helena
Helena, mother of Constantine, church-builder and relic-hunter extraordinaire, had an early life shrouded in mystery. St. Ambrose says she was a stable-maid; others just hypothesize she was poor. And it is also not clear where she met Constantine’s father.
One story posits that the Roman emperor was on a military campaign through Asia Minor, when he chanced upon Helena who was wearing matching silver bracelets to his own. Constantius took this as a sign from God that they were meant to be. Aw.
Sadly, this bracelet-magic-feeling didn’t last. He either divorced her, sent her away, or just broke up with her in 289, after Constantine was born, because the emperor wanted a wife of noble birth. Helena and the baby Constantine stayed with the former emperor Diocletian during their exile, which couldn’t have been a pleasant experience, given his penchant for executing lots of people. It is for this reason that Helena is the patron saint of divorced people, and people in difficult marriages.
After Constantine’s ascension to power, Helena came into her own in the second act of her life. She went to Palestine and built churches, searched out relics, and used the imperial treasury for the relief of the poor.
She had the Roman temple Hadrian had constructed over Golgotha torn down. Underneath the temple, she and her team found the shards of many crosses. (This is not surprising--according to modern archeology, that site was used extensively as a crucifixion ground.)
Determined to figure out which was the cross of Christ, Helena had a dying woman brought to the site, and presented her with various pieces of wood. When she was miraculously cured by one piece in particular, Helena declared that they had found the True Cross. It was here that she had the Church of the Holy Sepulchre built.
On her way back to Rome, Helena had several other saintly adventures. As she passed through Cyprus, a local monastery asked for her help in ridding the place of snakes. Accordingly, she imported several dozen cats, which have since multiplied in that place, and to this day, the monastery is known as St. Nicholas of the Cats.
It should also be noted that in classic British fashion, England also lays claim to Helena.
One story of her origins holds that Helena was actually the daughter of the English king, and she met Constantius when her father formed a strategic alliance. Further legends hold that she would frequently turn up back in her homeland. Over 25 wells and springs of water throughout Great Britain are named for her, and according to legend, she is credited with establishing several churches around Colchester.
No matter where she turned up, Helena spread generosity and strength to all she encountered.
Constance
The Hawaiians have a saying that "Eddie Would Go." You see, during the course of his life, Eddie saved over 500 people as a lifeguard. "Eddie Would Go" is plastered on cars throughout the Hawaiian Islands and is a universal response to questions of what someone should do in a situation. Long before Eddie was born, the people of Memphis could have coined the term "Constance Would Go." Imagine the horse and buggy crowd of the 1800s with bumper stickers declaring, "Constance Would Go." Eddie and Constance are heroic witnesses to the lives of those around them and those in need. Constance Would Go.
Think about this: Mosquitoes transmit yellow fever by biting their victims. Think of the Mississippi River as a grand breeding ground for these miniature vampires on the banks of the town of Memphis. In the first stages, symptoms are much like the flu: fatigue, malaise, nausea, vomiting, muscle aches, and loss of appetite. If the body does not fight the infection, the patient enters into a toxic phase that causes organ damage, yellowing skin, bleeding from the nose, mouth and eyes, liver and kidney failure, and brain dysfunction. Remember, it is 1878 and modern medicine is not available to Constance and her companions. All they have is their love and care to give to the people of Memphis. Constance Would Go.
With thousands of people dying in Memphis, despite the ministrations of the sisters, a new problem arose: the growing orphan population. It is said that Constance and her Companions would go through the city searching for the orphans to place them in an asylum to care for them as their parents had passed. At one point, a mob of adults confronted Constance and her Companions out of fear that these orphans would spread the yellow fever to families who were living near the asylum. Wrapping her faith in God around her like armor, and brandishing her faith like a sword, she called out to the mob saying, "Sirs, is it possible that you would have us refuse to these children the very protection you have obtained for your own? We do not propose to make a hospital of the Asylum; if any of the children are taken ill with the fever, they shall be carried immediately to our Infirmary at the Church Home." The mob would bow before her resoluteness and allow the children to pass to the safety of their new home. Constance Would Go.
Constance and her companions held firm five goals during the Yellow Fever Epidemic:
To feed the hungry,
To care for the sick,
To minister the dying,
To bury the dead,
And to care for the orphans.
On September 5th, 1878, the yellow fever would claim new victims: Constance and several of her sisters. It is said that while she lay dying, she would pray: "O God, make speed to save; O Lord make haste to help us."
Constance Would Go.
PS from Anna: We fully expect the SEC to add bumper stickers with "Constance Would Go" to the Lentorium following this year's bracket.
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185 comments on “Helena vs. Constance”
I decided to vote today solely from a "quirks and quotes" perspective, and so my vote went to Helena. Matching silver bracelets! Snake exterminations! Turned out of her home by the father of her child--and ending up under the same roof with the most notorious anti-Christian Roman emperor! And I had no idea that Hadrian put up a temple over Golgotha. Helena was an early archaeologist, no?
Great write-up, Megan! Helena DID go, and go, and go, and go....
I too found Helena by far the "quirkier" saint. Cats and snakes and scientific tests of cross fragments!
Thank you for sharing the "Eddie Would GO" phrase. I looked it up and its a great story. That being said, I voted for Constance
This was an easy choice. Constance was a true saint. I maintain that Helena destroyed more than she created in her quest to find relics.
What did Helena destroy in her search for relics?
My thoughts exactly!! I can't believe all those churches built on top of historical and spiritual places was a good idea.
Actually, according to the write-up, Helena tore down the Roman temple that Hadrian built in the "historical site."
And that site had been venerated by Christians before Hadrian built his temple over it, so Helena simply restored it to it's original purpose.
i second this - both entries are well written, but 'Constance Would Go' tipped it for me.
Building on top of historic and spiritual places was the pervasive practice of the ancient world. Visiting Turkey, I came to see it more as recycling than destruction - the current civilization built using the beautiful and useful from the old. I came to truly admire the interweaving of the earlier eras into the more recent.
Also, we in most of the US are used to having large amounts of land available on which to build, and we in this day can build where we want because we can drive to other places we want to be or have supplies brought to us mechanically. The ancient world did not have those privileges. Historic and spiritual places were located where they were partly because that was where the spring was, or near the road, or where the people had settled. You either built on top of previously used locations or you had to walk a long way into town and carry water back out again to your previously unused piece of land. And in cities and towns, there wasn't (and still isn't) any open land on which to build -- you had to build on top of a historic place. Look at King Richard III's bones excavated from a Leicester parking lot, or the ruins excavated when a European city is building a new subway stop. I agree, this should be considered recycling and reusing and possibly a good thing if what is good and old is preserved, rather than a desecration of historic and spiritual places.
Second acts for divorced women has a tremendous appeal to me, having repeatedly seen the need for healing among my friends, whose generation forms the bridge between the era when such women were shamed and treated like outcasts. But Constance and Companions and their faithfulness unto death are a compelling example of what we need today. Shouldn't we create a modern or contemporary version of the Fourteen Holy Helpers among which Constance is numbered?
Divorced, . . .survived. Helana’s story reminds me of the rhyme associated with Henry VIII regarding his wives. Helena was married on a “whim” to a powerful man – did she have a choice? Then divorced because she didn’t have the right “credentials” and left a single mother with a child in the household of another powerful, violent man! She survived and eventually thanks to her son made a name for herself, building churches and according to legends, bringing in cats to drive out snakes and having wells spring up wherever she went. Legends or not there’s something about her story that resonates with me.
How about "Constance Would Stay!" since others abandoned the sick in Memphis, but she and others stayed to heal the sick. know it's not as catchy, but you get the idea! Staying to help the sick and orphaned even suits her name. Keep staying, Constance! And keeping going for the golden halo1
Anna Courie's "Constance Would Go" slogan was a stroke of genius and doubtless helped tip the scales. But aside from that, Constance's story is deeply inspiring.
I agree. Terrific writing, Anna.
Constance gets my vote for going to those most in heed.
Both Eddie and Constance would go - thank you so much for the inspiration of the day and yes, I would get a Constance would go bumper sticker too!!!!
I missed Constance in the first round since I was traveling in Guatemala out of wi-fi range, so I'm delighted to be able to vote for her today. Like Mark, however, I find that a matchup between someone of more recent vintage, about whom we have concrete information, and someone whose "story seems bound in myth" is a tad unfair.
Chaplains work alongside the doctors, nurses, and other medical people in hospitals. With that experience the most important and satisfying work of my life, I have to vote for Constance.
I live in Tennessee and am a nurse so had to go with Constance. Having worked for 20 years with patients with HIV, I like to think there is a little bit of Constance in me though the danger was never as significant as Constance's.
Linda Would Go!
No contest for a nurse...Constance.
I was ordained Deacon on Constance's observance, which I thought very appropriate. The preacher did a good job, but not as good as "Constance would go!" That will now be my mantra for recalling the diaconal dimension of my call. Thank you!
"Constance Would Go!" A great bumper sticker for the Jesus Movement! Hey, maybe they can be personalized! Scott Would Go! Tim Would Go! Joyce in Georgia Would Go! Mike of Kenton Would Go! Or, perhaps the best one for all, "I WOULD GO!"
I was neutral when I started this morning. And I have to say I just loved the story of the monastery in Cyprus, as I was expecting the usual saintly miracle story and instead got the extremely practical and realistic cat solution. That just delighted me. But in the end, I had to go with Constance, what with her standing up to a mob that was prepared to attack children, and just generally staying in the face of a horrific disease. Not to mention the catchy slogan! Go Constance go!
While Helena went about hunting for relics, Constance would go searching for orphans. I vote Constance.
Helping the orphans of Yellow Fever victims - you can't get much more saintly than that. Go Constance!!
Helena went, too! She lived in uncertain times and over centuries lots of legends grew about her decades of spreading the faith. Some must be true. She actuallly used common sense in solving some problems, e.g. cats vs. snakes, something holy may cure disease. She persists in being revered as an important woman in the history of the faith. Helena would go, too!
Well put! I'm not sure many readers understand how extraordinary it is that Helena accomplished so much in her life, her story survived to this day. Makes me wonder how many unnamed women saints lived alongside her in the 3rd and 4th centuries!
I miss the archbishops.
Oh yes, and all their mapel-y goodness
Oliver has the right idea again today. I've just recently visited St. Mary's Cathedral in Memphis where Constance & her companions worked & died. She & those who cared for the community who were dying were amazing. Today, there's a vibrant community who care for & feed the homeless & nourish them with the Eucharist. The great work continues. Even tho I'm an associate with the Ordr of St. Helena, I had to vote for Constance today.
Yep, that 'Constance would go' thing is a bit of smart writing. And no doubt Constance was a great person. However, Helena shouldn't be out-done just because of a great catchy phrase. When Constantine became emporer, she could have literally just rested on her laurels. Instead she got to work big time. The Church of the Holy Sepulchre? That's big. Then there's all the complaints people keep making about ancient saints and the wild stories about them. So what happened when the monstary asked her to get rid of the snakes? Did she pull a St. Patrick? No, no crazy story here, she just got cats. Now I could go on about the impact in modern times of that many cats on the local ecosystem, but the fact is she came up with a practical solution.
Plus, as a divorced person who likes cats, I have to go with Helena anyhow.
Helena did her most active work at about the age of 80, so she's an inspiration on that count as well as for distributing imperial monies to the poor. Rather than a British princess, she was more likely a Bythinian barmaid discarded by her ambitious soldier for a politically advantageous trophy wife. Besides abandoned wives she'd be a good patron for older women, for pilgrims, archaeologists, and church architects.
Constance is wonderful, but Helena has been my patron saint for 70 years ...so no contest for me.
First order: 20 bumper stickers, primarily for a group of friends at the CREDO Office in Memphis. Beautiful writing from your heart Tobias.
In today's negative political arena, it is a breath of fresh air to hear Constance stand up to hate, fear, and prejudice. I vote Constance.
"Constance Would Go" - I would definitely buy one of those bumper stickers. Or a tote bag.
I think Constance might go all the way - I'm seriously considering a pilgrimage to Memphis thanks to this Lent Madness season!
From re-reading the first bios, I had decided to vote for Helena for her heading out on such a mission in her 70s, but I was so inspired to hear of Constance ' s care of the orphans as well as the sick and dying that I changed my mind.
Alas, Helena's connections to cats and possibly to England, while possibly only the stuff of legend, won out over "Constance Must Go!" for me. But there must be some sort of honorary golden wings or something for Constance's celebrity blogger--how creative!
This IS a tough one ... but I guess what bothers me a little about the Constance story is that there were a number of Martyrs of Memphis (including a prostitute) but only Constance is singled out, and she died soon after the 2nd plague started. I guess she gets the credit because she was the sister in charge. Yes, what she did was admirable, but it was also her job. So much of Helena's story is shrouded in myth but it is hard to ignore that she raised Constantine in Diocletian's household, and they became Christian anyway! For that and other sisterly reasons I will stand by Helena
Actually, it wasn't her job. She and her nuns moved to Memphis to be teachers, not nurses. Yet they chose to remain and care for the stricken. And yes, the focus is on Constance, probably because she was the sister in charge. But the other Martyrs aren't ignored: In the Dedications in Memphis their names are listed as well. And the icon with the write up shows all the nuns and the priests. I would like to know more about the prostitute and her girls (she was a madam, I believe).
Well.....Oliver eight years old pretty well summed it up today: CONSTANCE WILL GO. Poor Helena can hang it up unless I have grossly missed the mark. We do know that the SEC Padres are in a mad frenzy having the new bumper stickers manufactured and the LENT MADNESS lovers in Memphis TN are running amok urging all their compadres to vote for Constance. We shall see what the end will be. Well done Bloggers as you hit the marks today for both women.