Whew! Well, that was quite a start to Lent Madness 2018. The epic battle between Peter and Paul did not disappoint. In very heavy and heart-thumpingly close voting, Peter edged Paul 51% to 49% with nearly 9,500 votes cast and will face the winner of Phoebe vs. John the Evangelist in the Round of the Saintly Sixteen.
Today Margaret of Scotland takes on Charles I in a Battle Royale. No, literally, it's a battle between royals -- queen vs. king. But please don't refer to this as regicide. Charles is a bit touchy on that subject.
Looking ahead, tomorrow will be the one and only matchup of Lent Madness that takes place on a Saturday. Every other pairing will take place on the weekdays of Lent. So don't forget to set your alarm, make your coffee, and then vote as Genesius takes on Quiteria.
But first, a reminder about our one-vote-per-person rule. Last night at 7:58 pm Eastern time, the SEC removed 254 votes from Paul. We found that someone in Little Rock, Arkansas, had voted for Paul repeatedly (we can verify that it was not Bill Clinton). This person was cast into the outer darkness of Lent Madness, where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth. We do appreciate saintly passion. But we ask that everyone respect the integrity of this little competition. We do keep an eye on voting irregularities. Think Big Brother -- only more purple.
Margaret of Scotland
Margaret of Scotland is the patron saint of that country. An English princess born in 1045 in exile in Hungary, Margaret was also known as Margaret of Wessex and the Pearl of Scotland, homages to both her social status and her lifelong ministry.
Princess Margaret was married to King Malcom III of Scotland, the same Malcolm immortalized by William Shakespeare in Macbeth. A deeply religious Christian, Margaret was a reformer and social justice crusader. She helped build and restore churches throughout Scotland, including Iona Monastery and the Abbey of Dunfermline, where a relic of the cross of Christ was housed and where she would eventually be buried.
Margaret endeavored to change the aged and dated ways of the clergy in Scotland, bringing that church on par with the religious practices conducted elsewhere in Christendom. For example, she believed that on the Lord’s Day, “We apply ourselves only to prayers.” She was also known to read the Bible to her illiterate spouse.
Margaret was a queen and the mother of kings, queens, a countess, and a bishop. Notwithstanding, of particular significance is that she can be considered the true patron saint of Lent Madness! As an observance of her faith, Margaret insisted that clergy start the Lenten season on Ash Wednesday.
She was a reformer beyond the church as well, establishing schools, orphanages, and hospitals throughout Scotland. Margaret and Malcolm were tireless in their efforts to improve the living conditions of the Scottish clans. Many churches are dedicated to Margaret, such as St. Margaret’s Chapel in Edinburgh Castle, founded by her son King David I in the twelfth century. Today the chapel is one of the oldest remaining buildings in Edinburgh.
Margaret died on November 16, 1093, in Edinburgh, three days after her husband and eldest son were killed in battle. Canonized in 1250, she is honored on
November 16.
Collect for Margaret of Scotland
O God, you called your servant Margaret to an earthly throne that she might advance your heavenly kingdom, and gave her zeal for your Church and love for your people: Mercifully grant that we who commemorate her this day may be fruitful in good works, and attain to the glorious crown of your saints; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Charles I
Charles Stuart was born in November of 1600, the second son of Anne of Denmark and James IV of Scotland. When he was eighteen, his elder brother died, and Charles took his place in the royal succession. Charles I became the king of England upon his father’s death in March of 1625.
As king, Charles did not get along with Parliament. They wanted a Protestant queen to bear a Protestant heir; Charles didn’t listen. He married Henrietta Maria, a Roman Catholic French princess, in May, 1625.
Meanwhile, the Thirty Years’ War was raging across Europe, pitting Protestants against Catholics, so his subjects expected Charles to despise the Catholic countries out of patriotism. Charles fought Catholic Spain but kept running out of money and raising taxes, which did not help national morale.
In 1633, Charles appointed William Laud as Archbishop of Canterbury. Together, they pushed for liturgical reforms, including many that are familiar practices to us today, such as adherence to the prayer book rubrics, use of vestments and candles, and the institution of the altar rail. To a large extent, Charles and Laud shaped Anglicanism in the way that we experience it today.
Yet his marriage, wars, and religious changes combined to create a toxic environment for King Charles. The English populace wondered if their king was Protestant or Catholic. Unrest grew. Charles’s refusal to convene Parliament for eleven years threw the country into civil war. Charles was captured in May, 1646. He was tried on charges of treason and other “high crimes” and was executed on January 30, 1649.
At his execution, one historian records that the crowd was overcome with grief and pushed forward to dip their handkerchiefs in his blood as relics. It was commonly thought that Charles was offered his life in exchange for abandoning the historic episcopate, yet he refused. Despite some failures as a monarch, he preserved the historic episcopate in Anglicanism, and ironically, may have enabled the Church to survive the English Civil War.
Collect for Charles I
Blessed Lord, in whose sight the death of thy saints is precious; We magnify thy Name for thine abundant grace bestowed upon our martyred Sovereign; by which he was enabled so cheerfully to follow the steps of his blessed Master and Saviour, in a constant meek suffering of all barbarous indignities, and at last resisting unto blood; and even then, according to the same pattern, praying for his murderers. Let his memory, O Lord, be ever blessed among us; that we may follow the example of his courage and constancy, his meekness and patience, and great charity...And all for Jesus Christ his sake, our only Mediator and Advocate. Amen.
[poll id="206"]
342 comments on “Margaret of Scotland vs. Charles I”
There's no question here - MoS for me! It's like a 1/16 match-up.
Sorry, Charlie, halos are for real saints.
How could I not vote for the patron saint of Lent Madness?
I am both
I am both
I am both Scot and Eng. Margaret of Scotland is my vote,
I am both Scot & Eng. my vote Margaret of
I am Scot.
I am Scot and Eng. vote for Margret of
I m both
I am both Scot and Eng. my vote Margaret of Scotland I am from 6 countries God help me
Charles I? Really? Meh. He may have been personally devout and kind. But the Civil War was primarily caused by his refusal to call Parliament for ten years, and his attempt to raise taxes without parliamentary consent. Same issue the American Revolution was fought over. His defense of the Episcopate also had political motives; it was commonly thought that social control was best maintained through the church, "No Bishops, no King." And the immediate cause of his execution was that he instigated the Second Civil War while in the midst of negotiating with Parliament after having lost the first. It was only after that that the army then overthrew both the King and parliament and executed Charles. Sorry, just can't see him as a saint !
Margaret gets my vote...for all the help she did for hospitals & literacy. And we have a daughter named Margaret !
I have some concerns about what St. Margaret did to the Culdees, and her general advancement of Latinization, but still, she was a remarkable and holy woman and I'll support her over Charles I any day 🙂
This one looks like it's going to be a landslide!
You had me at Iona
St. Margaret's of Scotland in Sarasota FL remains in our hearts even years after moving away. St. Margaret hands down in my opinion.
Margaret of Scotland is my 27th great-grandmother, so I was very excited to see her name in the bracket today! And for the record, I would have voted for her anyway... no nepotism here. 🙂
Trying to figure wwhy Charles is a saint.
Last November 16th, my priest gave a wonderful sermon about Margaret's life and works. I also like that she read the Bible to her husband. Go Margaret! Patron Saint of Lent Madness! Iona! Alba Gu Bràth!
Voted for Charles on the basis of his martyrdom, and for the fact that he was a mainstream Christian martyred by Christian fundamentalists.
While there is a lot of attention given these days to the persecution of Christians by people outside the Christian faith, there is very little attention (IMHO) to the contempt shown by Christian fundamentalists of people of other faiths, of people of lifestyles with which they disapprove, and of mainstream Christians whose faith they do not deem adequate.
It can get worse, and can be transformed into active persecution, as anyone who know the history of the Salem 'Witch Trials knows (and as anyone who has either read - or viewed - "The Handmaid's Tale" can imagine).
With all my respect for Margaret of Scotland, my vote goes (despite his obvious flaws as a monarch) to the Martyr King, as a representative of all the victims of fundamentalist versions of Christianity.
These are valid points, Bob. I couldn’tagree more.
Me too.
Queen Margaret was of course an ancestress of King Charles I though at least two different lines.
I voted for Margaret of Scotland because of her involvement with h Iona Monastery. I had the privilege of singing there, and it is truly one of the most Spiritual places on earth.
Margaret. It just had to be Margaret for all sorts of reasons!
Even if Margaret hadn't done all the other things she had, teaching the Scottish nobility to eat with utensils rather than fingers deserves a golden halo. If she wins, there should be a fork (or maybe napkin) produced in her honor.
YES!
Same here. "Martyr"? Perhaps victim, but not martyr or saint.
Heart
Our chapter of the DOK is St Margaret of Scotland and many of us also prayed in her Chapel. Social justice advocate before most knew what that was. Had to vote for someone who was ahead of her time and her commitments are still so important today.
Our chapter of the DOK is St Margaret of Scotland. Her life in social justice was important then and is a role model for all today. Also prayed in her chapel. No doubt about it. My vote went to St Margaret
A woman who worked "to change the aged and dated ways of the clergy" gets my vote. Btw, although I'm a Peggy I'm not a Margaret. I love St M anyway!
Had to go with Margaret, sorry for Charles though always dislike the stories about the ones that died as he did.
I'm certainly no fan of Oliver Cromwell and his gang, and I respect King Charles for having tried to take a stand against them. However, my vote goes to Margaret, the church-builder and reformer. She left a great legacy.
I voted for Margaret because she read aloud to her husband.
No contest here. I voted for Margaret!
Where is Sr.Diana and her wonderful hymns ?
Margaret for me - based on her tireless work for social charge, change in the ways of the church, and the fact that in my line of ancestors we have many Margarets, who mostly went by Maggie. My mother and my daughter are Margarets.
I am almost feeling sorry for Charles.
Margaret has a tiny "grotto" in Drumferline, where it is said she used to like to go to pray in seclusion. They had to cover the entrance to it when they built a car park above it, so they built a new tunnel by which you can descend to this tiny holy place. There actually is not much there, but standing in the dim artificial light, one senses a feeling of great peace.
It was said that she often would go to a secluded spot to pray, and her husband King Malcolm did not know where she went or what she was up to. One day he secretly followed her, to find her in prayer. From that day forth, he supported her in whatever she did. Perhaps she was thus able to be like Eleanor would be to Franklin a few centuries later.
As for Charles, it was his belief that his rule was divinely granted, and if others wished to take it away, that did not give him to right to give it. He would sooner die than betray that trust. And so he did. The snarky comments about Charles are out of place in good Anglican discussion. And sharpshooters correcting someone's grammar! What a shame...
I don't think a rejection of the doctrine of divine right of kings is "snark." Nor do I think the divine right of kingship is Anglican. But peace be with you.
And what is out of place in good Anglican discussion is not necessarily out of place in Lent Madness. My first post of today, in which I trashed not just Charles but the SEC as well and employed the barbarism “coronated” for rhetorical effect, is living proof.
Really! What a joke! Get serious ! Margret!!!!!!
I'm going to vote for Charles, though, to be honest, it's a little bit hard for me. The gist of Margaret is one to which I aspire. I mean, really, just get in there and help. This isn't rocket science. Charles, though, had the task of sorting out the sinister parts of history and retaining the truly useful parts, or at least providing the political legs for a vision of doing some of the same things in a different way. It seems he or Laud had the foresight of bridging a little-seen gap (imagine where we'd be politically if the Catholics and the Orthodox were the only liturgical churches, and you can't say Charles didn't influence the Lutherans). I can't help but throw what little weight I have in the direction of those in the establishment who see the truly good bits despite an angry populist mob; it sounds to me like he was in a terribly misunderstood position. I truly admire his being in the thick of it, and rendering *us* with something so beautiful. (That, and as a former Baptist, I have Calvin baggage. :P)
I do think it's easy for us to forget that civilization and human-made beauty as we know it is something which requires and is worth sacrifice. Sure, Charles only had a subset with which to work, but as Robin Williams as John Keating in "The Dead Poets' Society" said, "We don't write poetry becuase it's cute. We write it becuase we are members of the human race.... poetry, beauty, romance, love, these are what we stay alive for."
In short, we probably wouldn't be here doing this if it weren't for Charles.
We write poetry to woo women, Janis, and to woo men. That's my take-away from the Dead Poets' Society. Carpe diem. Peace be with you.
A more interesting (and challenging) pairing would have been Margaret of Scotland vs. Charles the Good.