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”
This very day my husband Neil and I visited St. Alban's Cathedral just north of London. A holy place, a holy man and he received my vote!
2 martyrs of importance to our faith, but Stephen gets my vote!
For Stephen, for speaking truth to power!
Gotta go with Stephen. Deacons even today are so misunderstood and unrecognized and are often the "outcast" of the church. Their ministry is in the world to the poor. In the church they are neither priest nor Laity and often voiceless. Their Order is underutilized and is a sleeping giant waiting for the church to embrace it fully. It is no surprise that Stephen was the first martyr of the Jesus movement. In our present climate, we need more deacons!
I voted for the home town boy, St. Alban as the first martyr of Britannia, but wider and name recognition seems to be carrying the day with St. Stephen. Makes sense, he is the proto-martyr. I would add, St. Stephen is honored with a stained glass window in my church while Alban is not. Must remedy that.
I love Alban's story, but Stephan speaks to me and my commitment for Lent. So Stephan gets my vote.
Much as I love Alban, the saint of "family members during uncomfortable holiday situations" is a saint for our times. Stephen! Stephen
Cheri, what was it that Scott wrote in one of his weekly posts in December? Something to the tune of "viewing the majesty of your family from a distance...." Did we feel the headache coming on?
It's got to be Stephen. Patron Saint of headaches.
and his feast day is my best friends birthday
Also, there is St Albans Cathedral in which the left side of the Nave is still or Roman design; A leftover from the Abbey that once stood there whilst the rest is of Norman Architecture.
Have to go with Stephen.
I was sorely tempted to vote for Alban, in loving memory of my husband who was also "not a Christian, but a kind man." However, there is a reason Stephen is so highly revered, and so I have cast my vote for him!
Alban's story, his hiding of the priest, reminds me of the humanity and bravery of Miep Gies and other Dutch folk that hid the Frank family during the Second World War. Alban put himself out there for the other, that person that is different. I pray that I have the courage to stand up against hate and bigotry, like Alban, for all humankind.
Stephen because we named our son after him.
WHERE IS OLIVER??
I agree, Gail. Oliver, we need you back again this year!
Oliver, you are back. I've been looking for you. I also voted for Stephen.
Oliver is here! Look at 10:59 a.m.
Gotta go with Stephen. My grandson's name. Also, Stephen Ministries is dear to my heart.
As a deacon, I must vote for Stephen!
All-in for Stephen. 1st martyr. Speaks truth to power and gets stoned. Forgives his enemies: "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."
This decision was so difficult: came down to "praying for forgiveness for his killers" vs. willingness to trade life to save another human being . . . both actions we learn from Jesus of Nazareth. Still I believe Alban had the harder task and, thus, he gets my vote.
My first year of voting! Definitely not my last! I have to go with Stephen. Love this!
I must choose Stephan...patron saint of Headaches...of all things....my 8 year old grandson suffers from pediatric migranes...can Stephan help? Anyway...impressed with his story, so he gets my vote.
"Good King Wenceslas" makes me cry every time.
Stephen, because he believed Christ was worth living for, and worth dying for.
Probably throwing my vote away, but Alban it is.
I seem to be the opposite of a sucker for the gore. Eyes popping out and heads rolling makes my eyes roll. I agree with the commenters about needing the example of Alban in the world today (protecting those who are persecuted), but because of fond memories singing all the verses of "Good King Wenceslaus" with my sisters (from memory!), I must vote for Stephen.
Caring for a priest seeking Sanctuary meant that Alban got my vote.
I think Alban is a better saint
Stephen has my vote, though I enjoyed reading about Alban, obviously an interesting guy what with that head rolling thing.
I just posted on our church's Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/StJohnsEpiscopalBangor/) about this difficult decision: we have windows in the nave of both of them.
Usually, I go with which one is somehow connected with me or the church, but this is unfair to make me make such a tough decision on the first day of voting.
Couldn't you have eased us into this season gradually?
Both stories are inspiring. I voted for Alban because it was new too me - and eye popping!
My favorite teacher was named Alban, so he gets my vote, plus the fact that he hid a priest in his house, and the father of a friend was hidden during WWII, it had to be Alban
A vote for St. Alban from this parishioner of St. Alban's, Simsbury, CT, the home state of IRIS.
For Lent Madness fans wanting to see giant puppets with eyeballs that fall out and heads that come off, look no further: https://www.flickr.com/photos/photoverulam/sets/72157634291638064
As we pray each day at his shrine:
Among the roses of the martyrs brightly shines Saint Alban.
Almighty God,
We thank you for this place built to your glory
and in memory of Alban, our first martyr.
Following his example in the fellowship of the saints,
may we worship and adore the true and living God,
and be faithful witnesses to the Christ,
who is alive and reigns, now and for ever.
Pray for us Alban, pray for us all Saints of God.
That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Amen
The giant eyeball was amazing. I hope that is an annual event. Thanks for sharing those pics. I was on the fence, but am now definitely voting for Alban!