Today in Lent Madness, we will finally answer that age old question: Theologian or Nurse? Okay, there's a lot more to Anselm of Canterbury and Florence Nightingale than these two labels, so you'll just have to read on.
In yesterday's action, Henry Budd left Cecilia singing the blues as the patron saint of music lost in a close battle 53% to 47%.
Shockingly (or not so shockingly if you're a longtime Lent Madness participant), we encountered our first case of voter fraud as 546 votes for Cecilia were removed after the ever-vigilant SEC noticed a discrepancy. It was a youthful prank and said youth has since confessed and been absolved. Frankly, there are worse ways for teens to get into trouble on the internet than voting too many times for a saint in Lent Madness.
However, this will not be tolerated and perpetrators face being cast into the outer darkness of Lent Madness where there will be weeping and gnashing of brackets. Do everyone a favor: vote once. If you're particularly enthusiastic, get all your friends, neighbors, and even your enemies (the ones we're supposed to love anyway) to cast a vote for your favorite saint. Big Lent is watching...
Anselm of Canterbury
Anselm of Canterbury was a Benedictine monk and theologian of the medieval Church. Born in the eleventh century in a region of France that is now part of Italy, he entered the Abbey of Bec as a novice at the age of 27. Later, he became abbot and was known for his skillful leadership and his kind, loving discipline toward the monks. He was also known for his very public squabbles with the monarchs of England during his time as the Archbishop of Canterbury, defending the Church’s authority to appoint leaders and manage its own wealth. For his resistance to the English kings, he was exiled twice.
Marrying his Neoplatonic worldview with Aristotelian logic, Anselm is considered one of the greatest thinkers of the Middle Ages. He espoused a philosophy of “faith seeking understanding,” by which he meant people’s love of God inspired them to pursue deeper knowledge of God. Anselm is especially known for two highly influential theological arguments. The first argument—Proslogion—explores the existence of God. Secondly, his treatise Cur Deus Homo irrevocably shaped the development of Christian theology by arguing that Jesus’ crucifixion was necessary to atone for humankind’s sin. Anselm argues that through sin, humans offended God, and God is owed restitution for this offense—but we have nothing with which to make such a payment. Personal acts of atonement will not suffice. Only God can pay off such massive, crushing debt. As God is merciful, atonement is made with the self-sacrifice of the sinless, human, and divine figure of Jesus. Anselm’s theory was criticized by his contemporaries and continues to trouble some theologians, even as it has formed the backbone of much of Christian
theology for a millennium.
Anselm died in 1109 on Spy Wednesday (the Wednesday in Holy Week) and was laid to rest at Canterbury Cathedral. The exact location of his relics today is uncertain—they were removed after a cataclysmic fire in the 1170s. Anselm’s feast day is April 21.
Collect for Anselm of Canterbury
Almighty God, you raised up your servant Anselm to teach the Church of his day to understand its faith in your eternal Being, perfect justice, and saving mercy: Provide your Church in every age with devout and learned scholars and teachers, that we may be able to give a reason for the hope that is in us; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Florence Nightingale
Known as “The Lady with the Lamp” for her work as a nurse during the Crimean War, Florence Nightingale was born in Florence, Italy, in 1820 to a well-connected British family. Despite her upper-class background, Nightingale heard a call from God in 1837 to serve and care for others. Nightingale was expected to marry well, produce children, and carry on the family legacy. Instead, she boldly answered the call she heard from God and became the founder of modern nursing practice.
Born out of her experiences of tending the wounded during the Crimean War, Nightingale began documenting the effects of sanitary conditions on wartime injuries. Nightingale is said to have reduced the mortality rate during the war from 42 percent to 2 percent by addressing hand washing, water contamination, and sterilization of surgical materials. These ideals of sanitary care continue to this day in modern healthcare practice.
Nightingale documented her theories on nursing care in numerous publications—the most famous is her treatise, Notes on Nursing. These theories led her to establish the Nightingale School for Nurses at St. Thomas’s Hospital in London (now part of King’s College, London). This began a process of social reform that opened the door for women, providing them with skills that led to careers outside of domestic service work or factory positions. By providing a skilled nursing force, Nightingale improved healthcare disparities in London and implemented workforce healthcare (now occupational and public health nursing practice); she also advocated for hunger relief in India and worked to abolish prostitution laws that targeted women.
Nightingale was raised in the Church of England and was greatly influenced by Wesleyan ideals. Nightingale believed that her faith was best expressed through the care and love of others. A believer in universal reconciliation, Nightingale is said to have comforted one prostitute who was concerned about going to hell. Nightingale said, “Oh, my girl, are you not now more merciful than the God you think you are going to? Yet the real God is far more merciful than any human creature ever was or can ever imagine.”
Collect for Florence Nightingale
Life-giving God, you alone have power over life and death, over health and sickness: Give power, wisdom, and gentleness to those who follow the lead of your servant Florence Nightingale, that they, bearing with them your presence, may not only heal but bless, and shine as lanterns of hope in the darkest hours of pain and fear; through Jesus Christ, the healer of body and soul, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
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337 comments on “Anselm of Canterbury vs. Florence Nightingale”
Reading up on Florence Nightingale and realizing I share things in common with her. Definitely has my vote!
Great love for Canterbury Cathedral and respect for Anselm ..BUT,, must go with Florence Nightingale ...
such an inspiration to so many young women who entered nursing because of her story....
Sister Florence gets my Woman's Day vote!
I don't need comments for my vote today. Florence for the win! Her nursing theories and practices are still being taught. As a retired RN she easily gets my vote. (Plus, I am not fond of Anselm's atonement theory.)
I voted for Florence for many reasons, one being that she opened the door for women in a mans world. She had a vision that was far reaching than getting married and raising children. Of course she could have done both, however her love of our Lord and dedication to her to her passion over took the other.
Have to vote for Florence on International Women's Day! Her expression of her faith through caring for others is a world changing idea--one we could all adopt for good!
With my vote today, I'd like to give a shout-out to my Bishop, Matt Gunter, who is the Episcopal Visitor of the Community of St. Anselm, the Archbishop of Canterbury's new monastic community at Lambeth Palace. He's also a public theologian, writing thoughtful reflections on difficult subjects.
The nursing profession is such dedication and for a well to do lady o give up the life of a rich family to help the sick has my vote. Nightingale.
It was tough, but I went with Anselm. These saints show us that they, like the rest of us, were flawed human beings who served God. I do have problems with Anselm's defense of church privilege and with what I see a Florence Nightingale's treatment of non-white nurses.
If I understand correctly, Anselm was trying to prevent the church from becoming an arm of the state. Given today's political situation, I can only say Amen.
Florence's widespread influence on modern medicine and public health is undeniable. But, where would her faith have been without Anselm's "Cur Deus Homo"? She did sacrifice her life of ease for a life of service and answered her call from God. Anselm also answered his call from God and helped to bring a special light and understanding to the early church.
Nurses rule. That is all.
Both Anselm and Nightingale speak to God's mercy, but the clear logic and compassion in the quote attributed to her speaking to the prostitute did it for me.
Thanksgiving for living Saints who nursed my husband through the cancer and his last breath. Thanksgiving for my mother, whose sore feet I rubbed after a long day at Mount Sinai Hospital.
This was a tough one. I'm a fan of both. But, my first career was as a nurse, so I voted for Florence.
Hard decision again! Florence's "...the read God is far more merciful than any human creature ever was or can ever imagine..." almost swayed me. But I remember loving Anselm's point of view long ago when I was first introduced to formal theology, and someone's comment today about Anselm's doctrine of the Trinity--and the fact that when I went to vote, he was the underdog---pushed me back to the theologian. (In spite of the difficulties his theory of the Atonement has caused.)
Tough call. I like Anselm, especially after systematics in seminary, but in honor of my daughter the nurse, Florence got my vote.
Really tough decision today! I have loads of respect for what Florence Nightingale did, after all, how can saving the physical body be diminished. However, the CoE was going through some bad times during Anselm's day and although his thought process was "antiestablishment", his work provided the foundation for Christian theology and discussion of theology for all ages. Tough choice!!!
Anselm is a a wonderful example to follow. Florence however is a saint that is still very visible today. When I was younger I read a biography of Florence Nightingale and almost went to nursing school. She is still one of my heroines.
My mother was a nurse, my daughter is a doctor and I belong to the Order of St. Luke, a healing ministry; so Florence Nightingale is family.
Had to vote for Florence it is international women's day today
Had to go with Florence. She opened the door to women having the noble career of nursing. On this International Day of the Woman, I voted for Florence Nightingale.
Florence, of course. Everyone who has ever needed a nurse has been blessed to have had Florence as their nurse's forerunner. Though Anselm is no slouch and I may have voted for him had he been up against a different opponent.
Florence Nightingale is a true saint in my eyes--she not only believed, but she acted. And the good her work has done worldwide in the intervening 150 years or so is incalculable. But she DID have a very, very human side. Read Lytton Strachey's short profile of Florence in Eminent Victorians. It shows her in a very different light but, to be honest, her flaws make me love her even more.
The easiest vote in the history of Lent Madness, and possibly my "final choice" to the finish. I will try to keep an open mind and promise to read about all the contestants, but Florence Nightingale will be difficult to dislodge as my first choice. Yes, nursing is my profession and I'm in awe of Nightingale's infection control statistics. I was also a member of Cassandra; Radical Feminist Nurses Network; named after Nightingale's essay "Cassandra" on "the forced idleness of Victorian women". Handwashing and feminism win the day.
Voted for the underdog.
I usually vote for theologians, but had to go with Florence for many reasons--the wonderful oncology nurses who got me through treatment, her vision of purpose for women, her advancement of modern healthcare and sanitation, and it's International Women's Day. Nevertheless, she persisted.
Indeed, she did!
I, too, would like elaboration. His doctrine informed mine and I don't see it any other way.
"Despite her upper-class background, Nightingale heard a call from God in 1837 to serve and care for others." Hmm, seems to me that God calls us regardless of class! Voted for Florence for her work (despite the handicap of her upbringing :)) and becasue it is International Women's Day!
Make that 'because'....attempted to edit but am not able to locate that option.
I had to vote for Florence because nurses play such an important role in care and healing. One of my sisters was a wonderful nurse that died after a painful illness. There's an expression that you write your own eulogy. Many of my sister's patients came to celebrate her life and mourn our collective loss. My sister's kindness and concern for the sick is a wonderful legacy.
Easy call for me. When I was in the hospital for bypass surgery, I grew to admire all my nurses for their kindness, caring, and knowledge. The daily care in the hospital after the surgery was through them, so they made the greatest impression on me. Thanks, Florence, your concern for the well-being of your patients helps all of us today.
Tough choice today, because I wrote a paper on Anselm's educational views in graduate school. More likely though, to utilize skilled nurses these days of caregiving for my elderly mother.