Today in the Saintly Smackdown, we encounter a 19th century Canadian missionary and a 3rd century Roman martyr, as Henry Budd faces Cecilia. Will the entire nation of Canada rise up to vote for one of their own? Or will Cecilia, patron saint of musicians, strike a chord? Only the next 24 hours and your vote, will tell!
In yesterday's matchup, Moses the Black defeated John Wycliffe 65% to 35% to advance to the Saintly Sixteen where he'll face the winner of Raymond Nonnatus vs. John of Nepomuck.
Oh, and in case you missed yesterday's stirring edition of Monday Madness, watch it here. Tim and Scott give shout-outs to parishes and schools who are all in for Lent Madness 2017 (send us your photos!), discuss the importance of the comment section, and invite viewer mail. Yes, YOUR QUESTION for the SEC could be answered in an upcoming episode. Submit them via Facebook or Twitter.
Henry Budd
Sakachuwescam (Going-Up-The-Hill) was born to Cree parents in what is now Manitoba, Canada. He was baptized in 1822 by an Anglican missionary, who gave him the name Henry Budd (Budd is thought to be the surname of Henry’s father). Budd, his wife Betsy, and their children, as well as extended family moved to the Red River area where he taught at St. John’s parish school and served as a lay minister in the church. Budd proved a capable and enthusiastic teacher and a dedicated Christian serving the Cree community.
His success at St. John’s eventually led Budd to move with his family to W’passkwayaw (The Pas). He built a house church and held regular worship services. In June 1842, John Smithurst (another Anglican missionary) was overjoyed to see the result of Budd’s dedicated ministry: baptisms of 39 adults, 27 infants, and 22 schoolchildren. Pretty impressive numbers!
Budd was tutored and mentored by other clergy in the area, including Bishop David Anderson. Budd was ordained to the diaconate on December 22, 1850—the first person of First Nations ancestry to be ordained in the Anglican tradition in North America. Ordained a priest three years later, Budd served in Saskatchewan until 1867 and then resumed his previous ministry in The Pas. That same year, the local ministry board recommended reclassifying The Pas from a missionary station to one requiring a priest, preferably a First Nations pastor. Four previous English missionaries had failed to establish any thriving mission, complaining of “lack of evangelistic opportunities.” For all his success and exemplary ministry, Budd was paid half of what white missionaries in the same position made.
Budd was an eloquent preacher in Cree and English. His missions exhibited the highest standards of good management, self-sustainability, and outreach to the community. He translated the Bible and The Book of Common Prayer into Cree. He remained at The Pas until his death in 1875. His legacy includes the Henry Budd College for Ministry in Canada, which seeks to form Indigenous people for Christian ministry in the Anglican Church in Canada and to further the Christian expression of faith within the traditions of First Nations’ cultures and languages.
Collect for Henry Budd
Creator of the light, we thank you for your priest Henry Budd, who carried the great treasure of Scripture to his people the Cree nation, earning their trust and love. Grant that his example may call us to reverence, orderliness and love, that we may give you glory in word and action; through Jesus Christ our Savior, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Cecilia
Cecilia harkens from the second century in Rome. Like many of the ancient saints, she is found somewhere in the mix of truth, legend, myth, and fiction. Whichever pieces of the story are “real,” they combine for a compelling picture of faith, belief, and devoutness to God’s calling.
Born to a wealthy Roman family, Cecilia was betrothed to a man named Valerian. Her family wanted her marraige to strengthen the bonds between the two families. Cecilia did not listen, instead insisting that she heard a chorus of angels calling her to a life of chastity and virginity. In the days before her wedding, Cecilia prayed, fasted, and sang, imploring God to protect her virginity. God sent an angel to protect Cecilia on her wedding bed. She told her husband that if he tried to consummate their marriage, the angel would smite him. Valerian could not see the angel, so Cecilia instructed him to walk to the third milestone on the Roman road, Via Appia, where his eyes would be opened. True to Cecilia’s word, an angel appeared to Valerian and his brother, and in short order, both converted to Christianity and were baptized. The brothers dedicated their lives to burying martyrs of the church who were persecuted by the local Roman officials.
While Valerian and his brother tended the dead, Cecilia preached and encouraged more than 400 souls to dedicate their lives to Christ. Her fervor attracted the wrath of the local prefect, and Valerian and his brother were executed, with the presiding prefect ordering Cecilia to be killed as well. They attempted to drown her. Then, they tried to burn the building down around her. An executioner was summoned by the prefect to behead her, and though he struck her three times, Cecilia remained in possession of her head. Three days later, she succumbed to her wounds and was buried by Pope Urban.
About 1,300 years later, in 1569, the church exhumed her body and found it to be incorrupt—without decay, the first saint to be found in such condition. The feast of Saint Cecilia is celebrated on November 22. Cecilia is the patron saint of music, in commemoration and honor of the heavenly chorus she is said to have heard each time she prayed to know and do God’s will in her life.
Collect for Cecilia
Saint Cecilia, heroic martyr who stayed faithful to Jesus your divine bridegroom, give us faith to rise above our persecutors and to see in them the image of our Lord. We know that you were a musician, and we are told that you heard angels sing. Inspire musicians to gladden the hearts of people by filling the air with God’s gift of music and reminding them of the Divine Musician Who created all beauty. Amen.
UPDATE This morning at about 11:45 EST, we became aware of voting patterns that are against the rules of Lent Madness. We discovered some 546 votes for Cecilia cast from a computer in Austin, TX, apparently at St. Andrew's Episcopal School (according to IP address databases). These votes have been removed, and the address in question has been banned. Please remember: vote once only! If you can encourage your friends to vote, that is wonderful. But do not attempt to cheat the system by using a single computer to vote multiple times. Big Lent is watching.
UPDATE AGAIN: A student has admitted gaming the system, apology has been accepted, and we've restored voting to the school in question. Please don't try to cheat. It's Lent, for Pete's sake!
[poll id="176"]
375 comments on “Henry Budd vs. Cecilia”
I liked Henry Budd because of his First Nations roots.
I voted for Cecilia out of fond loyalty for my elementary school and birth parish (Roman Catholic): St . Cecelia's in Iselin, NJ. (Yes, we spelled it differently. )
However, I treasure Lent Madness as a wonderful opportunity to learn about how Henry Budd and many other worthy Christians have served God and humanity. They are great examples!
I'm voting each day on who would win in a no-holds barred fight. Cecilia apparently has Wolverine-like regenerative powers so she gets my vote.
LOL, Shawn. That's not a a criterion I have heard anyone else mention. But I bet you're right about Cecilia v Henry.
ALWAYS for music!
Too much of Cecilia's story seems like myth- Henry is a for real man- who overcame obstacles and worked hard to bring Christ to his people- so Henry for me!!
I agree with Nancy.
as a musician I ma honor bound to vote for St Cecilia! And what a woman!
This is indeed a difficult choice, and I had thought I would vote for Cecilia. However, as I sat with what these two saints represent, I had to go with Henry Budd. Cecilia is already known, and as the patron saint of music, has many deservedly loyal fans. However, to be Native American and to have accomplished so much, even with the inequity of pay and the attitudes of others, speaks to me. The "every day-ness" of his life, compared to the more sensational story of Cecilia endears me to him. Here is someone who dedicated his life to the Lord, who did not get much recognition for it, yet who was committed to the people he ministered to and with. I look forward to getting to know his story better, and I know he will enrich my life as he did the lives of so many others.
I chose Cecilia because, she was very brave. I also found it very interesting that she was executed, or at least tried to be, but it didn't work at all, until she succumbed to her wounds, but still very interesting.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts here,, Sarah Rose. You may an excellent point about Cecilia.
They tried drowning her. They tried burning her. They tried beheading her. #nevertheless #shepersisted. Cecilia all the way.
Glad to see I am among good company in those who had a hard time making a choice today! Bet this will be a close one.
The Foo Fighters didn't write a song about Henry Budd nor did Simon and Garfunkel. That span of incredible music in my boomer lifetime is enough for me to vote for Saint Cecilia who houses those with broken bones and fills empty beds.
As an amateur musician, I was all set to vote for Cecilia. But then I read about Henry Budd and had to go with someone who translated not only the Bible but the Prayer Book so his people could read them.
Thank you, Lent Madness folks, SEC and bloggers alike, for introducing me to this gallant man.
Well, I don't know how to 'rig' votes in favor of anybody, but if I did, I would certainly use those skills to vote for Cecilia. As the patron saint of musicians for her devotion....of course! My mother and her friends began a music festival in St. Louis in the '60's at Trinity / Central West End.... in the honor of Cecilia on Her Day in November....
Trinity/CWE. My parish home away from home here in Missouri.
This is tough. Black pioneer or music saint? This Unitarian has to abstain. You episkies can decide.
Got to go with Celcilia one because she was brave to tell her husband to be he could not touch her. Then Valerian and brother whose I would like to know help all of the dead maytrs which ironically they join. Lastly to die of wounds instead of a direct blow sounds painful showing faith to in God to not give up.
Had to vote for Cecilia. Today, celebrated the sweet life of my friend "Cecilia" who valiantly battled cancer 12 years.
I was really impressed by both the Native American and feminist saints, but many years ago when I went to Cursillo, I was part of St. Cecilia's table, so that's the tie breaker.
I voted for Cecilia because music is such a big part of our lives. I have played the piano for as long as I can remember and I love singing in church. Sakachuwescam has a neat story as well, but what I did not like was that his name was changed. Also, the Europeans converting the indigenous people to christianity was a way of getting rid of their traditional religions and practices, which I find unfair. Also, I love powerful women and am drawn to myths, legends, and magic. Art is a way of for us to join together. Music is an art. Cecilia is the patron saint of music. I have to vote for her.
P.S.
I absolutely love how friendly these comments are!! Keep it up, all!
Henry Budd, all the way! Rational consideration or whimsey - either can determine a Lent Madness vote for me. Former resident of diocese of Michigan here, which called the inimitable Bishop Gordon when he felt Alaska was ready for a change. He was deeply committed to the development of ministry analogous to First Nations ministry in Canada. Bishop Gordon had a remarkable ministry in both states. Henry's enormous accomplishments (at half pay, too!) and respect for the Bishop who performed my marriage compel me, a lifetime chorister, to vote for Henry over Cecelia. (Sorry, Mom, and all the St. Cecelia society ladies who were also great influences in my life. Consider it a vote for Gram's birthplace - Oh, Canada!)
How can I tell if I voted or not...my dog interupted my voting this AM? I hate to miss. If I vote will I get a message if I have already voted?
Yes, you will, Gloria. So, if in doubt, cast your vote. The system will tell you if you've already voted.
As a former Catholic, I can't vote for Cecelia, because, once I became an adult I realized I was never taught about a male virgin saint. That was not a trait early church males were praised for, but I remember females were praised for fighting to the death for their chastity. So maybe when I get over this, I may vote for dear Cecelia in another year.
Far, far upstream, someone asked us to explain how we decide for whom we vote. I find I'm voting for the person whose life resonates with mine, the one I can best imagine as a companion, not necessarily the one I think is "holiest."
After all, they are all already in that great cloud of witnesses that is the communion of all the saints, so we're just having fun here.
Wow such a hard one. In these times I feel almost compelled to vote for a strong woman from the early church but how can i vote against a First Nations missionary? What to do, what to do. I think I will have to go for Cecilia for my daughter.
Cecilia. She was warned, she was given an explanation. Nevertheless, she persisted.
So true. And so timely for our days.
I wear a St. Cecelia medal around my neck (Violist, Vocalist, Violinist), yet still found it difficult to choose. That's all I'm saying about that. 😡
Henry Budd also founded the school at Cumberland House - the first school is what is now the province of Saskatchewan. When working on communications around the flooding and evacuation at Cumberland House a few years ago, I stood on the steps of the school.
Well, cool! (Your work and Budd's, not the flooding).
Cecilia. Simon and Garfunkel song. Purcell and Handel. In honor of my chorus and my music teachers.
I had planned to vote for Cecelia especially since it is International Women's Day. But reading Budd's bio changed my mind.
Another tough one. Went with Budd in the end
Certainly one cannot take away from Rev. Budd that he went through a lot over a long period of time, but as a musician, I must side with Cecelia. And how could I do otherwise, since she's the one who has a song written for her.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a5_QV97eYqM