Lent Madness 2018 has officially begun! After months of soul-aching 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 heavyweights facing off in the Apostolic Rumble. Will we rob Peter to pay Paul or will Paul get robbed to pay Peter? That, dear friends, is up to you and your single (we mean that and we have spies 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. You can view and/or print out the full bracket of saints by clicking here.
We urge you to take full part in the Madness. Leave comments here on the website. Read what others have to say. Enjoy the friendly rivalry and trash talk on social media. Do additional research. 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 (upper right corner) 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!
Peter
The disciple who makes us all feel better about our failures, Saint Peter was one of the twelve apostles of Jesus. Peter is traditionally considered the first bishop of Rome—or pope—having been ordained by Jesus who dubs him the “rock of the church.” Originally, Peter was named Simeon, often simplified to Simon in modern English. Peter was married and originally worked as a fisherman with his brother, Andrew. In fact, Andrew introduced Peter to Jesus and gave him the name Cephas (Peter), which means rock.
Peter was a leader among the disciples and witnessed events seen by only a few apostles, such as the Transfiguration and the raising of Jairus’s daughter. According to the gospels, Peter confessed Jesus as the Messiah, then denied knowing Jesus three times under threat of arrest, and then felt shame and remorse over his betrayal. After Easter, Jesus forgave him his failure and implored Peter to “feed my sheep.”
At the start of the Acts of the Apostles, Peter emerges as an effective leader of the early church. He preached with authority at Pentecost, began to work miracles, and participated in the council at Jerusalem. Historical witnesses confirm his later presence in Rome, although they do not verify the legendary story of his martyrdom. According to this tradition, under Emperor Nero, Peter was crucified upside down. He requested this unusual method of execution out of humility, not wanting to be killed in the same manner as Jesus. Hence, in Christian symbology, Peter is often represented by an upside-down cross, along with the keys to God’s kingdom. The Vatican claims Peter’s remains are housed beneath Saint Peter’s Basilica.
St. Peter’s feast day is June 29, and he is the patron of fishermen, net makers, and shipbuilders.
Collect for Peter
Almighty Father, who inspired Simon Peter, first among the apostles, to confess Jesus as Messiah and Son of the living God: Keep your Church steadfast upon the rock of this faith, so that in unity and peace we may proclaim the one truth and follow the one Lord, our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Paul
Behind Jesus Christ himself, perhaps no person has shaped the face of Christianity more than Paul of Tarsus—the pharisaic persecutor of the church turned apostle and the primary writer for a majority of the New Testament.
Paul, as an ardent and educated Pharisee, was dedicated to what (at Jesus’ time) was a somewhat new belief—that the law given in Torah could be applied to everyday activities to sanctify the course of ordinary life. As such, Paul’s early interactions with followers of Jesus were as a persecutor, seeking to restore the norms of pharisaic dogma to the followers of the sect known as “The Way.” But Paul underwent a dramatic conversion experience along the Damascus road. He saw Jesus, who addressed him by his Hebrew name, asking “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” Blinded by this vision, Paul’s sight was restored by Ananias, and a transformative ministry began.
Paul’s message in his epistles speaks to the transformative power of God’s grace, revealed in Jesus, crucified and risen from the dead. Having experienced grace in his conversion, Paul argues that the grace of God is extended to all—Jew and Gentile alike. As he writes in the Epistle to the Galatians, social distinction must break down when all become part of the body of Christ: “There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus.” As the Apostle to the Gentiles, he was at times in direct and fierce conflict with Peter; Paul argued with Peter for the inclusion of Gentiles in the table fellowship of the earliest church. Using the privileges Roman citizenship afforded him, Paul traveled widely to preach the gospel: His journeys took him across the Middle East, Asia Minor, and eventually to captivity in Rome. Paul died in Rome, still longing to travel to more communities with the good news of Jesus Christ.
Collect for Paul
O God, by the preaching of your apostle Paul you have caused the light of the Gospel to shine throughout the world: Grant, we pray, that we, having his wonderful conversion in remembrance, may show ourselves thankful to you by following his holy teaching; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
UPDATE: At 7:58 p.m. Eastern time, the SEC removed 254 votes from Paul. We found that someone in Little Rock, AR had voted for Paul repeatedly. This is a reminder that you should vote -- and tell your friends to vote -- but once only.
[poll id="205"]
496 comments on “Peter vs. Paul”
Right off the bat I was faced with a difficult choice between Peter and Paul. I love Peter, he is so eager in his love for Jesus, rushing in, making mistakes, but repenting and being forgiven. It's easy to identify with Peter. In the end, though, I voted for Paul because he was inclusive - and while it's sometimes difficult to follow his run-on sentences in the NT, he also wrote some absolutely wonderful, uplifting passages.
Had to go with Pete on this one. I identify with the way he whole-heartedly dives into screw-ups. 🙂
Paul: “There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male or female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus.”
Are all of the pair-offs this close, or is this because it’s Peter and Paul????
I voted for Paul because he teaches us that sometimes we have to change our ideas and listen closely to God.
Wise beyond your years, Andrew!
Looking over ALL of these comments is a joy! How wonderful that this match-up roster invites so many of us to share our Faith! Whether St. Peter or St. Paul is today's winner...we all win by being involved. Thanks to Everyone
Paul scares me, Peter comforts me..
Paul got my vote.There are times when I think about him and how he was tried often.When I am going through trials I think of him praying that sometimes he did that which was wrong instead of doing good that he desired to do.I am thankful for Paul's teachings.
I never thought I'd vote for Paul because he seems so egotistical at times, while Peter is more down to earth and willing to admit his faults. But I voted for Paul because of the beauty of his language and the impact he has made on billions of people through the centuries.
S0 somebody thought it would be fun to cheat on the first day of Lent Madness . . . I doubt that either Paul or Peter would be pleased . . . Both of them learned some very hard lessons about thinking they knew what was best . . .
Did Sarah Saunders Huckabee have the day off? That ballot stuffing did occur in Little Rock.
I voted for Peter, because I don't like Paul Ryan who quotes the worst of St. Paul. Welcome back Oliver, you are the best!
Paul has always been a favorite of mine. He made huge mistakes by persecuting Christians but God chose him to spread the Good News to all Jews & Gentiles alike. He had a major impact on the Christian community across Europe & the Middle East due to his status as a Roman. If God used someone like Paul to spread His Word than I believe he’s also using a sinner such as I.
Choose between St. Peter and St. Paul?
Impossible!!
At a very low time in my life, I was overwhelmed by the way our Savior forgave Peter his sin of denial. I love his Holy Spirit-inspired speech at Pentecost. I love his restlessness to get back to fishing after the Resurrection and how our Risen Lord met them on the beach for breakfast after an unsuccessful night of fishing, and the huge haul they made after following His directions. For his humanity and his faith, Peter it is.
I remember a priest pointing out that Peter had to be told everything three times before he got it. I can be that way sometimes. That's why I identify with Peter.
I have always been impressed that Jesus appeared to Paul and turned Paul's life around. Also I think Paul's writings have been so important to the church. Without them we would know so little about the history of the early church. So, although I can identify with Peter in many ways, I feel we are more beholden to Paul.
Both these men were critical to the formation of Christianity...it is next to impossible to choose one over the other...they both are the "Creme de la Creme"
I voted for Peter. He included gentiles, too, and he never told slaves to obey their masters.
Paul got my vote for his evangelism. He traveled far and wide to invite everyone to hear the good news of hope and indeed did "make disciples of all nations".
Paul easily has my vote. Just reread the first sentence of this biography. That pretty much says it all.
Jesus cured Peter's mother-in-law,but what ever happened to Peter's wife?
Paul had a low opinion of women. Seriously Jesus transformed both men's lives &
Peter & Paul became faith- filled spiritual leaders. Isn't it wonderful that God loves us
flaws & all. Tough choice, but I voted for Paul.
If I can't decide between Peter and Paul, can I vote for Mary? #CravingAMoundsCandyBarForSomeReason
I'm going for Peter. A humble fisherman who got a second chance. Also, my brother's Name is Peter!
I vote for Paul. He was the subject of my first Sunday school class as a teacher and as so often happens, I know I learned more than my students ever did and his inspiration has kept me curious to know more about all of the Saints. What a welcome way to start Lenten Madness!
Although I belong to St. Paul's in Alexandria VA, I have to not for Peter as my "little brother" is Peter!
I have to vote for Peter - He's my namesake!
Though, I often wonder how my parents were so prescient. How many times I have to extract my foot from my mouth.
Peter, because of my own failings, and because he was the first to go to the Gentiles and kept it up for the rest of his life.
PS. Luke, not Paul, was the largest contributor to the NT.
Good write-ups, but I believe Jesus gave Peter the name Cephas (Rock), not Andrew, as the author of this bio implies. I love both these great saints. I voted for Peter because I love his impetuous enthusiasm for Jesus and his showing us by example how to repent and accept forgiveness (though of course Paul did so too in his own way).
Tough match up, but it's a great way to start Lent Madness! I've learned a lot from reading all the comments. Happy Ash Thursday!
I voted for Peter because he is the patron saint of shipbuilders.