Today in Lent Madness it's Wulfstan vs. Katharina von Bora. Anglican bishop of the Middle Ages facing off against an important figure of the Protestant Reformation.
Yesterday, Lazarus was sent back to the grave in a drubbing at the hand of Esther 77% to 23%. Unlike Lazarus, Esther will live to fight another day as she will face the winner of Anna the Prophet vs. Michael the Archangel.
And just in case you missed yesterday's stellar edition of Monday Madness, which seems an impossibility as it's undoubtedly the highlight of your week, you can watch it here. In this week's episode, Tim and Scott answer Viewer Mail. Have a burning question about Lent Madness? Leave it on our Facebook or Twitter page and it just may get answered on the air.
Wulfstan
Wulfstan, bishop of Worcester in the eleventh century, was the last surviving bishop to have been consecrated before the Norman conquest of England.
He was born around 1008 in Warwickshire. Likely named after his uncle, Wulfstan II, archbishop of York, he studied at monasteries and eventually became a clerk at Worcester. He earned an honorable reputation for his dedication and chastity, and his superiors encouraged him to become a priest. Wulfstan was ordained in 1038 and joined a monastery of Benedictines at Worcester. When Pope Nicholas forced Ealdred, archbishop of York, to relinquish his secondary role as bishop of Worcester, Ealdred appointed Wulfstan in his place.
After the Norman Conquest of England in 1066, Wulfstan was one of only a handful of English-born bishops to retain their diocese because William the Conqueror deemed him especially skillful. For the next three decades, Wulfstan became known for his pastoral care, especially of the poor, and as a champion for the vanquished Saxons who labored under the harsh decrees of the Normans. Wulfstan acted as an ambassador to bridge the old and new regimes. An outspoken opponent of the slave trade, he helped end the practice in his region.
Wulfstan oversaw significant rebuilding projects, including Worcester Cathedral, Hereford Cathedral, and Tewkesbury Abbey as well as founding the Great Malvern Priory. After the Conquest, he claimed an unprecedented authority for the church over the Oswaldslow, a large tract of land he held for the diocese as free of interference by the local sheriff. Presumably, he felt the church could better guard the interests of the Saxon peasants. Wulfstan also helped compile the Domesday Book, a land survey of much of England and parts of Wales.
Wulfstan died on January 20, 1095, after a long illness, the last surviving pre-Conquest bishop. Wulfstan was canonized in 1203 by Pope Innocent III. His feast day is January 19; he is the patron of vegetarians and dieters.
Collect for Wulfstan
Almighty God, your only-begotten Son led captivity captive and gave gifts to your people: Multiply among us faithful pastors, who, like your holy bishop Wulfstan, will give courage to those who are oppressed and held in bondage; and bring us all, we pray, into the true freedom of your kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Katharina von Bora
“There’s a reason we remember her as Katharina von Bora and not Mrs. Martin Luther,” according to church historian James A. Nestingen. That’s because von Bora was the original girl boss and a key collaborator of Luther’s, shaping the Reformation not only by defining marriage for Protestant clergy but also by challenging the Reformer in theological discussions.
Born into a Saxon family in Germany that had nobility but little money, von Bora entered a Benedictine cloister school as a young child. Her family later arranged her transfer to a Cistercian convent, where—just two years before Martin Luther reportedly nailed his 95 Theses to the Castle Church door on Oct. 31, 1517—she professed vows to become a nun. Somehow the ideas expressed in those theses, which sparked the Protestant Reformation, found their way beyond the cloister walls. And on Good Friday in 1523, twelve nuns left religious life, smuggled out of the convent in herring barrels. Among them was Katharina von Bora.
The women eventually made their way to Wittenberg, where Luther helped them find homes or husbands—all except for von Bora. Finally in control of her own life, Katharina told Luther’s friend Nikolaus von Amsdorf she would marry only him or Luther.
Luther and von Bora were married—a somewhat scandalous action for a former monk and nun—on June 13, 1525. With von Bora’s determination and hard work, she transformed the town’s abandoned monastery not just into a home but “a boarding house the size of a Holiday Inn,” according to biographer Ruth A. Tucker. She brewed beer and cooked meals for the students and friends Luther hosted in their home. She managed the Luther household and its finances, investing in other properties—and she raised six children.
Along the way, she so impressed her husband that he referred to her as “Doctora Lutherin” and, unusually for the time, made her his sole heir when he passed away in 1546. But the law required a guardian for widows and children, making Luther’s will unenforceable and leaving von Bora pleading for money from benefactors. Six years later, von Bora died after an accident involving her horses and wagon in Torgau while fleeing a plague in Wittenberg. Still determined as ever, her last words reportedly were, “I will stick to Christ as a burr to cloth.”
Collect for Katharina von Bora
Great Lover of Souls, you call us to companionship with you and with each other: Grant that we, like your servant Katharina von Bora, would have the deep courage, fearless love, and lively energy to embrace the vocations to which you call us and to stand as strong support for those with whom we live, work, and bear your love into the world. We pray this in the name of him who first loved us, Jesus Christ. Amen.
[poll id="214"]
280 comments on “Wulfstan vs. Katharina von Bora”
this was hard but my instinct for women's rights wins out. Katarina it is
It was a hard choice, but being the Anglophile I am went with Wulfstan. Especially noted how he tried to help the Saxon peasants. Having had to read Ivanhoe in high school know that the Norman occupation was not a pleasant experience for many.
Also the fact that he was a Benedictine. a big fan of Ellis Peters' Brother Cadfael series, about the mystery-solving monk of Shrewsbury Abbey, set in the century after Wulfstan.
Yes!
I'm with you Patrick!
Glad to find another fan of Brother Cadfael ! Visited that area the last time I was in England.
That was pretty much my reasoning. Really enjoy the Brother Cadfael books also.
I've long belonged to an ecumenical clergy group in Worcester, MA, called the St Wulstan Society (Wulfstan), with Unitarians & Episkies & Catholics. Need to vote for him.
She had me here, "She brewed beer and cooked meals for the students and friends Luther hosted in their home." Her final words also underline her pluckiness, “I will stick to Christ as a burr to cloth,” nailed it for me 🙂
Wolfstan for me. Somehow he survived the Norman Conquest to retain his bishopric and served the poor and vanquished Saxons for over thirty years. Saved a large tract of land from the jurisdiction of the sheriff (anyone remember the sheriff of Nottingham?), which would also mean tariffs from the king. He ended slavery in his region. He walked the talk.
Amen - Huzzah Wulfstan!
That's why I voted for Wulfstan too.
Updatable. I love Hereford cathedral, without it we wouldn't have our cup of coffee and a brownie (in the cafe in the cloisters) when we go to Hereford! A bit unfortunate he's also the patron saint of dieters - I'll remember that next time we're there.
What’s this about? More comments for Wulfstan but Katharina is winning! Interesting.
I’ve noticed the same thing with other votes. Somehow those who vote for the underdogs are also the more eager to communicate.
I have long noticed that the commentary diverges from the actual vote count, sometimes considerably. I think the vast majority of people simply click on the name of someone whom they have some memory of, some connection with from lore or family history. The commenters, however, often reflect on the relative merits of the two saints and allow new considerations to sway them. I love the commentary for precisely that aspect: that people learn and assess and try new "flavors" of religion and spirituality. The "commentariat" is where it's at!
I rarely comment myself because I vote later in the day - however, I read through all of the comments to learn more (Lent Madness voters are well informed). After people have already made the "Bora bora" jokes, voted in favor of the beer server, and talked about the patron saint of vegetarians, there's not much to add except my vote! Keep commenting, please!
Same here. I learn so much from comments. Thank you!
Thank you, St. Celia, for articulating my thoughts about commentaries. I have to discard comments about “ oh, that’s my cat’s name” and that sort of reasoning. And it feels that pitting male against female always gives a big advantage to the woman (which I understandstand, but still....) I love the thoughtful reasonings and have learned a lot from the.
To quote my late father, "Behind every great man stands a great woman -- pushing!" I voted for Katharina.
Katie all the way. She was educated, intelligent and multi-talented. She kept things going.
You get it!
Katerina showed great strength and courage during a time of religious upheaval, but Wulfstan showed how the church can play a key role in keeping peace and protecting the poor during political turmoil. He showed how wisdom and tact can be brought to restrain the violence of rulers and how Worship can be a weapon for peace and unity. I think it’s Wulfstan we need now. Vote W.
Oh, dear. I am afraid that "Vote W" will forever be a tainted slogan. You'll sink Wulfstan for sure with that bumper sticker.
I came intto today intending to vote for Katherina but in reading theie "bios" again, I was led to vote for Wulfstan for the very reasons you list, Andy. Minus the bumper sticker as St. Celia pointed out. Team Peter all the way!
Thank you! Well said. It was a tough(er) choice for me today than usual. I'm with W.
Wolfs tan, from another Saxon born (likely part Celt, but not easy to count!) I know so little of my birth country's Church history, and want to learn more.
Before you vote. For Esther again read the whole book. She was a pretty vicious lady.
Gotta love it when a priest marries a nun.
Although I love Katharina's name and her story, as a vegetarian I went for Wulfstan.
I'm a vegetarian, an Anglican, and I can't stand beer, but I voted for Katharina. Tough choice today, though!
A good administrator versus one of the key movers and shakers for the Protestant REformation. I am voting for the mover and shaker Katharina.
Wulfstan for our vote today, though it was a hard choice between these two worthy competitors.
I went for Wulfstan because he help get rid of slavery in his area and he cared for the poor.
I admire Katherine, but I went with Wulfstan, because of his focus on pastoral care, the poor, a champion for the underdogs, an ambassador / bridge, and because he ended slave trade in his region - wow! He sounds like he was a humble and hard working guy. We need more men and women like this - may God send workers like Wulfstan into the harvest fields today!
Katerina's escape via herring barrel grabbed my attention. Her determination in the face of difficult odds is inspirational. I wonder if she served many fish dinners in the boarding house...especially during Lent.
I had to vote for Wulfstan - a man ahead of his time and a voice for our own.
Incredibly hard choice. But I vote for Wulstan. It must be an english thing.
I voted for Wulfstan for his early opposition to slavery (too bad those Anglo Saxons who benefited didn't extend that courtesy to Africans), but what tripped my trigger in the article (but didn't affect my vote) was the phrase "girl boss" about Katharina. Really? Would any male be referred to as a "boy boss" except if referring to a young male? I expect better from Lent Madness.
Continuing to get drubbed in my bracket. The insight is 'vote for the woman every time'. Too late. I completed my bracket in advance. Katerina is worthy.
Another tough choice. Was tempted to go Wulfstan because of his work against slavery, and also because he and my grandfather were born in roughly the same location (very far apart in time, of course). But von Bora won me over because she's the embodiment of the "Woman of Valor" described in Proverbs 31: smart, skilled, generous, good with finances, etc. I'm not a fan of Martin Luther (he of the recommendations to burn the synagogues and the Talmud, etc.), but even though his wife may have shared his opinions on that score, we have no proof of it, so I'm giving her the benefit of the doubt.
Seems to be the year of the woman. Go, Katharina!
Voted for Katharina in honor of my great grandfather who was a Lutheran minister.
Katherina is totally admirable, but I went with Wulfstan. He won me over with his opposition to slavery and his care of the conquered Saxons. Also, he's the patron saint of dieters, and I had no idea there was such a thing.
Ahhh, a rallying cry for the ages: "I will stick to Christ as a burr to cloth" - (Now excuse me, please, as I must flee the threat of illness!) Sorry, Katie, but Wulfstan served the poor and downtrodden and helped to end slavery, so "No contest", for me!
There is much to love about Wulfstan, and I usually like to put my vote with antiquity. But I’m voting for Katharina, and I just realized why. My mom raised four kids, and our home was full of our our friends, full of our laughter and music and conversation all the way through college. My mom never blinked an eye at having to add one or two for supper; she has always welcomed them to spend the night when they were in town—long after we all moved out and married. I vote Katharina for her hospitality, and for my mom’s big heart.
Having done pilgrimage to Worcester Cathedral and Tewkesbury Abbey, I have to go for Wulfstan... What gifts they are....