Let the games begin! Yes, Lent Madness 2017 begins RIGHT NOW. After months of speculation and the crushing ache of anticipation, "Ash 
Thursday" has arrived. Over the next (more or less) 40 days and 40 nights, you will have the opportunity to re-immortalize one of our 32 competing saints with the coveted Golden Halo.
Today we see two martyrs squaring off as Stephen faces Alban. Which one will face yet another ignominious exit? That, dear friends, is up to you and your single (we mean that and we have cameras everywhere) vote.
If you’re new to Lent Madness, welcome! If you have any questions about how to participate, just let us know by leaving a comment. The Lent Madness community is both friendly and helpful, often answering questions before the Supreme Executive Committee arrives in their grand purple, if imaginary, chariot.
We urge you to take full part in the Madness. Leave comments here on the website. Read what others have to say. Enjoy the (mostly) friendly rivalry and trash talk on social media. During the day, check in on the website often to see how each day’s contest is going. And above all, delight in seeing how each saint was a powerful witness of Jesus Christ.
Be sure to sign up for e-mail updates on our home page so you never miss a vote, like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, and encourage your friends to jump into the fray.
We can assure you this will be a wild, joyful, educational, ocassionally gut-wrenching ride. We're delighted to share this journey with you. Let the Madness begin!
Stephen
Stephen is the protomartyr of the Church—the first person to give his life as a witness to his faith in the gospel of Jesus.
Along with six other Greek-speaking believers, Stephen was tasked with serving and providing for those in need, serving as one of the first deacons in the early Jesus Movement. In some traditions, Stephen is given the title of Archdeacon.
Tasked with feeding the hungry, Stephen performed wonders and signs for the people. Unfortunately, these actions did not go over well with some in Jerusalem’s religious power structure, and the Sanhedrin tried him for blasphemy.
Stephen delivered a powerful sermon in front of the Sanhedrin, recounting the relationship between God and the people—his sermon accused listeners of murdering the prophets who foretold the coming of Jesus. While his message seemed to be extremely well-received, with the Sanhedrin shouting “Amen!” and “Thanks be to God,” they immediately took Stephen out into the street and stoned him. With his last breath, Stephen prayed for the forgiveness for his killers.
In death, Stephen has become quite the world traveler. His relics were first identified at what is now the monastery Beit Jimal, just outside of Jerusalem. Stephen’s relics moved around Jerusalem to a location near the northern gate of the city—known to the Crusaders as Stephen’s Gate.
A portion of his relics made a post-mortem trip to Rome, where he was interred alongside the deacon Lawrence (a very polite roommate who made
room for the protomartyr in the crypt of the Basilica of San Lorenzo).
Stephen’s feast day is December 26. He is the patron saint of, among other things, headaches—and, perhaps, family members during uncomfortable holiday situations.
Collect for Stephen
We give you thanks, O Lord of glory, for the example of the first martyr Stephen, who looked up to heaven and prayed for his persecutors to your Son Jesus Christ, who stands at your right hand; where he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.
Alban
The early martyr Alban is regarded as the protomartyr of Britain—the very first person to die for his confession of Christ in the British Isles. Also, while none of the records are terribly clear, it appears that Alban was only a Christian for a matter of days prior to his martyrdom! The story of Alban comes to us through three chief sources—a medieval text connected with Germanus of Auxerre, the account of the sixth-century British monk Gildas the Wise, and the Venerable Bede’s Ecclesiastical History of the English People. As is common with martyrs in the early medieval period, Alban’s story grows longer and more colorful with each step.
During one of the Roman persecutions of Christians, Alban (who was a kindly man but apparently not a believer) hid a priest in his house rather than allow the priest to be caught and killed by the authorities. The priest remained hidden for several days and instructed Alban in the faith. Once the Roman authorities learned of the priest’s presence, they came to the house demanding the fugitive. Alban dressed himself in the priest’s distinctive clothing and was led away to see the judge. The judge (somehow realizing that Alban was not the priest in question) promised to let Alban go if he renounced Christianity and sacrificed to the gods. Alban refused, asserting his full faith in Christ, and was led away to be executed. However, the bridge linking the court to the execution site was totally blocked by would-be spectators. The waters of the river parted, enabling Alban and his execution party to continue on dry ground to the place of his martyrdom. The executioner was so moved by this divine sign that he refused to kill Alban and was executed alongside him instead.
Bede’s narrative adds that upon killing these two martyrs, the replacement executioner’s eyes promptly popped out of his head as punishment. Furthermore, the head of Alban rolled down the hill, and at the point where it stopped, a spring of pure water sprung up.
Collect for Alban
Almighty God, who inspired your servant Alban to lay down his life for the cause of the Gospel; grant us the grace to follow his example that our own lives may be reflections of your love and witnesses to the truth of your power; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
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470 comments on “Stephen vs. Alban”
As an archdeacon, I must go with St. Stephen. Nothing like telling truth to power, regardless of the consequence. He is a model for us all.
Regardless of which church has what name (St. Martin's?), St. Stephen appears to be a bit more deserving.
Alban was very unfamiliar (except for St. Alban's VT) and I still haven't learned enough, so I'm going with old familiar Stephen.
As a deacon, I am naturally biased toward Stephen! His sermon deserves it's place alongside the Sermon on the Mount.
In these days of unrest regarding sanctuary and refugees, I had to vote for Alban!
I chose Stephen, because he choose to follow in the word of the lord and he was fearless, even though he was stoned to death, he still prayed for the forgiveness for his killers. It seems like he cared for every one, even if they were bad or good.
Since both my grandfather and my son are named for St. Stephen, that's a clear sign for me.
English voters: vote, vote, vote for Alban, our own proto-martyr. Incidentally, he should walk it in a contest with George for Patron Saint too.
Not only that all, but Stephen has the distinct advantage of probably having actually existed!
How could you not vote for Alban with a story like that?! God at work in mysterious ways! Plus the church I use to attend was named St. Alban's.
I was ordained deacon on St Alban's Day --so much vote for him.
MUST Vote!
I love St. Allan's story too. He is featured in a small stain glass window right over the columbarium where my son is buried..how could I not vote for him?
I hope my son does not begin to question my Anglophilic tendencies here, but, . . . well, . . . what Kim Crecca said in the second sentence of the post above.
Don't know who will end up winning, but want to begin with Stephen,as a Biblical witness to Christ. Some of Alban's story might come across as "fake news" and we have too much of that already. Stephen to begin!
I am a first time visitor. Our Pastor gave us a to do list for Lent. Learning about a Saint was today's mission. While both men were Holy speakers of our Lord, my vote goes to Stephen. God Bless you all. I will be visiting more often.
Maureen, please do continue to participate and enjoy.
St Alban who is patron of refugees and must be terribly busy these days!
As one who took in a stranger and protected him, Alban seems rather timely. I am now inspired to check out the original St. Alban's (as recommended above) and our local one on Cape Elizabeth, Maine. Looking forward to the daily inspiration of saintly examples.
I think today that we need many more reminders to shelter the persecuted, and I'd like to hear more on that. So, in hopes of following further, Alban. Not that Stephen isn't also important...
St. Alban, in honor of the courage of the modern day saints who hid Jews and dissidents from the Nazis, with a prayer that I would have such courage if needed, but a further prayer not to be tested.
I may well be on the losing side, but I had to vote for Alban, since it was at St. Alban's on Staten Island NY that I was first introduced to the Episcopal faith.
41 years ago my husband married I had been raised as a Preset, he as a Catholic. Before our marriage we agreed we would have to find a common ground in worship. After sever al months of visiting different churches, we arrived at St. Alban's in Annandale VA, a wonderful, welcoming Episcopal Church (they were using the 'Green Book' then) and we found our home. Today we are active members of St. Paul's Alexandria but Alban will alway be 'our' Saint!
STEPHEN! Without him, we might not have had Alban or even be Christians ourselves. "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit" (vii, 58). Little did all the people present, casting stones upon him, realize that the blood they shed was the first seed of a harvest that was to cover the world.
A Blessed Lent to everyone, it's great to see you again.
I am joining my friend John in voting for the underdog... Alban for the win
Heads will roll!
While I'm not convinced that the extant early lives of St. Alban are Gospel (or in this case Acts) truth, the associations with him (including one of my first Episcopalian friends, who graduated from St. Alban's School in Washington, and my deep admiration for Sir Francis Bacon, who reportedly died a martyr to science) tip the scales in his favor.
My name is Stephen and I was baptized on St. Stephen's Day long ago, so Stephen it is!
So when the Roman soldiers came to the door, the homeowner said to the fugitive priest, "Hey, I'll fake out the soldiers by putting on that white robe of yours. What's it called?" "An alb." "Guess I'll be albin' it." And so he was.
Since I am a migraine sufferer, my vote goes to Stephen!!!
British by birth, St. Stephen's parishioner. Difficult choice.
However, I am inclined to vote for the saint who opted to serve those who needed to hear the Gospel in their own language and who preached a sermon to the Sanhedrin. Alban is a worthy opponent but I wonder how much of his fervor was that of the brand-new convert. My vote goes to Stephen.
Deacons ! Unite and be as one ! We keep our heads and our wits about us even while under assault from all sides ! After 28 years as a Vocational Deacon, I still keep Stephen as a role model and hope he wins today and becomes the ULTIMATE-GOLDEN HALO!