We're back for the first full week of saintly thrills and spills! Today we get our first matchup in the Mostly Modern quadrant as Anna Alexander faces Peter Claver. Of course it's all relative -- Anna lived in the 19th century and Peter straddled the 16th and 17th centuries. But what's a few hundred years among friends?
On Saturday, Quiteria the nonuplet warrior defeated Genesius in a fairly close battle 54% to 46%. She will go on to face the winner of Thomas à Kempis vs. Maria Skobstova in the Saintly Sixteen.
For those of you who filled out brackets in advance, is it already busted? Or maybe a saint you really wanted to win has lost, causing you to lose all faith in humanity -- or at least in the Lent Madness voting public. Just a reminder -- it's not really about which saints win or lose (they've all received their Golden Halos) -- it's about encountering Jesus through the inspiring lives of those who have come before us in the faith. So buck up! And live to vote another day.
Anna Alexander
Anna Alexander was the first African-American Deaconess of the Episcopal Church. Deaconess Alexander was born around 1865 on Saint Simon’s Island in Georgia. Her parents, James and Daphne Alexander, were well-educated and emancipated slaves. Her father, James, believed education was the path to a better life for the people on the plantation, and he continued to teach Anna and her siblings in defiance of Georgia laws that forbade the education of slaves.
James and Daphne Alexander instilled in their daughter a strong belief in shared and communal responsibility and the idea that change occurs in the relationships built within our communities. As a result, Anna is credited with establishing an Episcopal church and school in Pennick, Georgia. The community initially met in an abandoned farmhouse and then in an old store, where they converted the whiskey counter into an altar. Faced with antiquated diocesan and societal laws, Anna’s mission church struggled financially, and Anna took up sewing, teaching, and other jobs to raise money to purchase land for a permanent church and school. Through her community relationships, she drew upon the financial support of her fellow brothers and sisters. Through their combined efforts, they were able to build the Good Shepherd Episcopal Church and school.
At a Convention for Colored Episcopalians in 1907, Bishop C.K. Nelson named Anna a deaconess. During the time of her diaconate, it was virtually unheard of for a woman to be recognized as a leader in the church—especially an African-American woman. Anna’s hard work, devotion, and dedication to the Christian formation of black communities ensured that the voices of African-American Christians were heard throughout the Diocese of Georgia. Deaconess Alexander felt that anger about how society treated women and African-Americans was a wasted emotion and believed she could change her community through education and love. She exhibited this love through a devotion to Christian formation. Deaconess Alexander offers us an example of a life of faith rooted in a boundless love of others.
Deaconess Anna Alexander’s feast day is September 24.
Collect for Anna Alexander
O God, you called Anna Alexander as a deaconess in your Church and sent her as teacher and evangelist to the people of Georgia: Grant us the humility to go wherever you send, and the wisdom to teach the word of Christ to whomever we meet, that all may come to the enlightenment which you intend for your people; through Jesus Christ, our Teacher and Savior. Amen.
Peter Claver
Times of great evil are often opportunities for profound witness to the love of God. The deep evil of the transatlantic slave trade was just such a time, and it was into that moment in history that Peter Claver, SJ was born in 1580.
During studies in his home country of Spain, Peter joined the Society of Jesus. The Jesuits sent him out to be a part of their mission to the Americas. Peter encountered the horrors of the slave trade and through the tutelage of another Jesuit was introduced to ministry among the Africans who were being trafficked through the port of Cartagena, Colombia.
After being abducted from their homes in Africa, the victims of the slave trade became a commodity to their captors. They were packed inhumanely into ships, fed minimal amounts of food and water, and sailed across the Atlantic to the Americas. During the horrific journey, about a third of all African slaves died.
Each year, 10,000 slaves would arrive in Cartagena. As soon as a slave ship arrived, Peter descended into the hold—into the midst of the sickness, death, and suffering. He brought medicine, food, water, and words of comfort. As the slaves disembarked, Peter continued to minister among them. After six years of this ministry, Claver made his final profession as a Jesuit. He signed his name, “Peter Claver, slave to the Ethiopians [Africans].”
Peter continued his ministry among the slaves of Cartagena for thirty more years. In addition to his time in the port, he often traveled out to plantations so he could continue to care for the slaves.
During his four decades of ministry, Peter baptized at least 300,000 people. His ability to share the Good News of Christ was closely tied to his compassion and care for the physical needs of the victims of slavery. In considering the connection between preaching and service, he once said, “We must speak to them with our hands, before we try to speak to them with our lips.”
In the face of great evil and suffering, we may feel overwhelmed. Peter Claver reminds us of the profound difference that one person acting compassionately can make.
Collect for Peter Claver
God of grace and glory, we praise you for your servant Peter Claver, who made the good news known in Colombia. Raise up, we pray, in every country, heralds of the gospel, so that the world may know the immeasurable riches of your love, and be drawn to worship you, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
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308 comments on “Anna Alexander vs. Peter Claver”
This combination was tough decision for me. They both had such passion for their ministries but, I finally decided on Deaconess Anna Alexander. A true pioneer!
AGH!! Tough choice again!!
Apologies to my friends, deacons Mary Ellen and Debbie, but I had to vote for Peter. His ministry of caring in a dark place and time. As has been frequently stated, we have Sophie's choice today.
And woe to us when Isaac Watts faces off against Catherine Winkworth!
I'm dreading that one, too, Bob!
What a tough matchup. Anna - an advocate vs. Peter - a pastor. Not every pastor is an advocate and not every advocate is a pastor, though some can be both. I love the work that Anna did, and am truly inspired by her ability to rise above the constant oppression she faced. But, Peter, holy cow. How does one continually pastor every day to a group of people whose life seemed so hopeless? How does one step into the middle of such great pain and sorrow every day and still preach a gospel of hope? Yet he did, for 30 years. That is the gift of pastoral care if I've ever seen it!
We are all called with different gifts to different tasks. Peter knew that his gift wasn't advocacy, but rather pastoral care. We say in the church that people should work within their gift set, but yet so many folks here are passing over Peter for a vote because he didn't step out of his gift and do something more than the amazing work that he was called to do.
My vote could have gone either way today, both are certainly inspirational folks that were filled with the Holy Spirit. But, my vote goes to Peter today since he seems to be the underdog for no reason other than that he didn't do more than he was called to do.
Well said, Rev. Julie Nelson. I voted for Anna but not because I believe that Peter should have done more. What he did was more than I could ever do (pastoral care is NOT my gift) and I am in awe that anyone could have faced that despair for 30 years and worked to alleviate what he could. Anna just resonated more with me because of her dedication to teaching and working within her community to better peoples' lives through that education and love. Truly a tough decision today. Both are awesome saints who have a lot to teach us.
I’m sure that Anna’s personal journey was painful beyond imagination. We have to at least honor the direct experience of slaves and former slaves. The inner strength it took to survive must be acknowledged and honored.
I am with you, Oliver. Peter Claver's ministry reminds me of Mother Theresa's. I think the world needs both social justice and ministry like theirs to bring about the Kingdom of God.
I too want a re-run of Peter Claver!
I was planning to vote for the Deaconess but then came the Jesuit's quote: “We must speak to them with our hands, before we try to speak to them with our lips.” And my vote was swayed.
A very tough one. I decided to go with Anna because I know more about the circumstances in which she ministered -- our own Episcopal Church -- and because of my own vocation in the Christian formation of children, by women, with or without ordination to the priesthood.
The biography of Anna states that her father "continued to teach Anna and her siblings in defiance of Georgia laws that forbade the education of slaves." But if Anna was born in 1865, she was born legally free. Did the laws forbid the education of freedmen [to use the historic term] also? Or is this account a bit overdramatized, or does it actually refer to Anna's father's courageous activities with children born before emancipation? Pedantic readers want to know.
Both candidates were totally worthy today, each serving and using their God-given gifts to the max. Wonderful to meet them both.
Disappointing to hear that this would be about race. A hard job is a hard job. Race will cease to be a hot point when we stop using it as a justification. Anna is worthy of winning this round because of her persistent initiative and creativity to fund her own ministry. She doesn't need any extra help to win this round!
Yes it is about race. Slavery was about race. And until we honor the lives of those who suffered and overcame, we’re not done with this.
peter pretty much gave his life up to teach the blacks slaves. He could of caught any thing. Even though he brought medicine.
Welcome back. Hope you will encourage your fellow fifth graders to post.
A very tough matchup! It strikes me that both Peter and Anna were true deacons at heart, though neither of them were technically "real" deacons -- Peter due to his priestly ordination; Anna because deaconesses were "set apart" rather than ordained, since the Episcopal Church only began ordaining women to the diaconate in 1970. Both ministered with action, not words -- Anna in setting aside her anger and choosing instead to "be of use," as a deacon friend of mine once put it, by teaching and loving, building up a school and a congregation; and Peter by descending into the depths of pure hell to minister to the needs of the captive slaves in ships' holds, dead and dying, thirsty and starving, sick with illness and fear. Both were witnesses, by their actions, that those to whom they ministered were sisters and brothers made in God's image, and worthy of respect, common decency, betterment, and the knowledge of God's love made known in Christ. I am not ready to vote yet. But one thing I will not do -- in this or other dauntingly difficult matchups -- is let my final decision be weighted by the gender or ethnicity of any candidate for the Golden Halo. To me, that seems not in keeping with the marvelous discipline and purpose of Lent Madness, to learn about and fully appreciate each one of the saintly folks being considered.
well said, Lisa!
I agree with you Lisa about how to assess the decision to vote.
I was inspired by the thought of changing my life so radically in the service of God and others. Peter gets my vote.
I voted for Anna, because she "believed she could change her community through education and love."
That's the harder route to take, and in many ways seems like a precursor to the modern way of nonviolence for change!
Too many of the Spanish missionaries, even if sympathetic, were incredibly racist. They may be products of their times, but it still is ok to be uncomfortable with that aspect!
Peter Claver's reach was far surpassing that of the Deaconess. That's why I voted for him. Even in his brief encounters with the enslaved, he tried to heal a broken world.
After reading the various comments, new thoughts were thrust upon me; but I don’t regret my vote for Peter. Anna’s story is very commendable. She achieved much at a time it would have been considered impossible and deserves her lauds. However, considering Peter’s time, 300 years before Anna, he went over and above, ministering to “chattel” and the “unseen” for 40 years. The idea of exponential increase from the 300,000 is mind-boggling. Also, Jesus came to minister hope, love and mercy where the people were at, not to end poverty, slavery and imprisonment, etc. Give us the grace to get through it, as we pray for the Parkland folks, in a situation not immediately changeable.
Peter gets no snaps for assisting in the coerced conversion of enslaved peoples and further perpetuation of their bondage. It is offensive that hes even a saint and in any way being equivocated as similar to Anna. Dollars to donuts every single African-American in history would much rather have had someone fighting for their liberation and the ending of enslavement and the slave trade than someone who was helping to strip them of their humanity by converting them and nursing them back to health so that the salve masters could make money off of selling them into a lifetime of bondage.
Peter is an embarrassment to the gospel.
This is a tough choice for me: I spent my years of ordained ministry concentrating on pastoral care, preaching both with presence and aid and with words. But I revere some of my ancestors, who were Quakers in pre-Civil War North Carolina, for employing only free black people on their farm, and probably risking their lives to teach them (in a school on the property) all that most people learned in elementary school at the time. They also built a church on their land where the people could worship as they chose. Deaconess Anna made a conscious choice to avoid acting out of anger and pour her energy into loving, helpful action in education and religious life. This can be a very difficult discipline indeed. I vote for her.
This week as I watch youngsters,who cannot exert franchise or legislative power to effect a change, march and speak and lie-in, I’m especially touched by Peter Claver. He did what he could to mitigate the suffering he saw despite his political powerlessness. Thanks be to God for Peter Claver, and God speed to our own youngsters in their mission.
Amen.
Amen again. How sad but brave to see a Children's Crusade against violence in Florida and Washington, DC. Adults like Peter Clavier and Anna Alexander need to step up and protect these kids.
An another AMEN!
I voted for Peter, because though both Anna and Peter were exemplary Christians, Anna did her work from a more stable position where people went to her. Peter, on the other hand, seemed to be a wandering minister who sought out his struggling flock. That would be a more difficult lifestyle.
Anna did not do her work in a stable condition. She struggled and sacrificed. By the way, so did the people who worked with her, and those she served.
Yay! Two people that I knew nothing about, and now know something. Both worthy of the knowing. I went with Anna because I could really stand to pay attention to the idea that anger about injustice is a wasted emotion.
I have to vote for the deaconess. As a deacon myself, it seems what I have accomplished is very pale in comparison to what many deaconesses had done. I also relate to her choosing not to act out of anger, an exceedingly difficult thing to do these days.
I voted for Deaconess Anna Alexander 1) because I, too, am a deacon but more importantly because 2) she was an educator an helped children find their gifts as Children of God. In a time when women were not recognized as being called to Ordination and certainly not a woman born to former slaves, she never let anyone let her feel that she was less for her sexy or the color of her skin.
"we must speak to them with our hands" almost got me, but as a deacon, I am with the deaconess.
Being from Georgia I almost didn't read about Peter Claver... but upon doing so was swayed. It is harder to leave a life of comfort and take on that ministry to the slaves then to work to improve the world which you are born into [rich man / eye of a needle and all that(!)]. I voted for Peter Claver.
Peter’s life could not have been as hard as the slaves he ministered to or their descendants.
This was a tough decision for both did such good work. I agree with Peter's idea that it was needful to see the slaves physical needs before speaking to them about Jesus. In the end, however, I went for Anna and her belief that change comes about through education and love - still so very important today - and she faced the added challenge of being a woman in a man's world.
All honor to both saints today. This was another tough choice. I voted for Peter Claver because he went down into the holds of the ships, hell on earth by anyone's definition. Like St. Damian of Molokai, he died of a disease he caught in the process of ministering to extremely sick people. May they all rest in peace and rise in glory. They've earned it.
Could have voted either for Deaconess Anna or for Peter SJ. Both exercised profound ministries of compassion.
Both opted to care for the victims of injustice, rather than to challenge the systems of injustice that created the victims. (Both ministries, however, are essential. Neither should be despised.)
In the end, I voted for the one whom I perceived to be the "underdog" in this match-up: Peter Claver.
As the previous person posting said, "May they all rest in peace and rise in glory."
A tough choice, but Anna got my vote. She had to emancipate herself from mental slavery. She knew that none but ourselves can free our minds.
Love some Deaconess Anna!
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=M0oaSNYQ7YU&sns=em
Peter ministered and cried with the slaves. (I will read more on Peter. I do not think he fought for freedom.) Peter had lovely compassion. But my vote is for Anna.