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.
[poll id="172"]
470 comments on “Stephen vs. Alban”
Here's what I'm thinking. Alban paid the refs. It's rigged.
I loved St. Alban, but had to go with Stephen, both because he is the patron saint of the church I have belonged to since 1972, and because I was born on St. Stephen's Day.
I'm voting for Stephen because I am a Stephen Minister.
Very hard to choose one over the other. They are both very moving accounts of true faith. I chose Stephen because of his forgiving.
I can't bear having the first martyr be the very first to go in Lent Madness so St. Stephen for me!
As someone who frequently suffers migraines, I have to vote for the patron saint of headaches!
In a world where so many have need of shelter, even still from political persecution, the generous example of St. Alban points the way for Christian behavior.
I voted for Stephen, even as I thought I need to vote for BOTH, 'cause Stephen is really my hero, speaking up in a crowd that was obviously against him and praying for those who stoned him up to his last breath. I should be so brave!
For an 'infant' Christian, what Alban did in the name of Christianity was beyond heroic. He is a model for all Christians and that's why he gets my vote.
My mother was born on Dec. 26, 1911. I have always known that was St. Stephen's Feast Day. So, the first saint I knew of becomes my vote!
Thank you again for presenting , Alban'.
Serve the people, and speak truth to power. Stephen all the way.
My mother was born on Dec. 26, 1911. I have always known that was St. Stephen's Feast Day. So, the first saint I knew of becomes my vote!
I'm learning things already and it's only day one! Thanks for this Lenten discipline, and for all the comments. Had to go with Stephen this morning.
For an 'infant' Christian, what Alban did was beyond heroic. He is a model for all Christians. That is why, for me, it was noe contest and Alban got my vote.
I voted for Stephen because of the big speech he made as he was being stoned to death. I would surely want to do the exact same thing in a similar circumstance.
I am in discernment for the diaconate, so my vote goes to St. Stephen. Just last night I read an account of his martyrdom in a biography of St. Paul. Go, Stephen!
Although I loved to read St. Alban's story, I had to go with Stephen, since I'm born on his feast day! Singing Good King Wenceslaus in my head as I vote.
I voted for Alban because he acted first in compassion for another person in need, regardless of anyone's beliefs, and later discovered the face of Christ in the one he sheltered (Mathew 25:35-26). In the current political climate of America, this saint reminds us that it is imperative that we serve and protect our neighbors...all our neighbors.
O Supreme Executive Committee, if I voted twice today please forgive me. I tried to do it from my phone while riding the bus to work but my vote didn't seem to go through as I was having connectivity problems.
I vote for Stephen. Family members in uncomfortable situations need a heavenly helper!
Even though I attended and was married in St. alban's church in D. C, I voted for St. Stephen in honor of the great Stephen Ministry program I have served in for many years.
For the sake of my sister, daughter, and daughter-in-law, with horrible headaches, it is Stephen!
Hooray for St. Alban! A recent convert to Christ who becomes a martyr in place of his priest gets my vote!
I voted for Stephen - feeding the poor and homeless, first protomartyr, Stephen ministry, and headaches. (Should also be the patron saint of Vestries!)
And YET, in the current client of refugee and immigrant persecution, Alban modeled and revealed a path for Christiandom. Tough call...
Bring Alban back in a new challenge!!!! Maybe a consolation bracket?
St. Alban's eye-popping narrative wins my vote!
I can't believe you are doing this to us. We at St. Stephen's, Oak Ridge, TN, have Stephen as our patron saint AND St. Alban as our chapel saint. Scott Gunn does this have anything to do with the auto accident when you were here?
As a Deacon and sufferer of migraines, I vote for Stephen.
Tough decision but I had to go with Stephen since his feast day is celebrated on my birthday! Also there have been so many wonderful deacons I have known over the years who are such inspirations and dear friends.
Does anyone else (I haven't read all the comments) see a strong resemblance between Alban and the familiar image of Christ Pantocrator?
I chose Stephen because his story is so beautifully simple, direct, moving and, probably, pretty close to fact. I love pious legends, but for me they don't compete with history.