668 comments on “Nominationtide has arrived!”

1. I nominate St. Katherine Drexel

2. I nominate Saint Hubert. Nobleman wrapped up in himself who was converted to Christ when hunting of Good Friday and was spoken to by a stag with a crucifix between its antlers. Hubert was converted and went out converting. He is patron of hunters. He is also patron of dogs.

   1. I second this nomination. This story is a conflation of an earlier story of St. Eustace, an Italian who was also converted by a stag.

3. Elizabeth of Thuringia/Hungary

   We need some more complex hagiography and franciscan goodness

4. Georges Lemaître - originator of the Big Bang theory and priest. In a time where science is almost quite literally on assault, perhaps it would be good to celebrate someone who sought to understand the intersection of science and religion.

   1. Yes, would love to know more about him, but is he on anyone's official calendar of saints in order to qualify?
      (A Lent Madness requirement that I've come to think of as the Mister Rogers Rule 😉

5. I nominate JRR Tolkein because he made complex spiritual truths accessible to the general public through his works, even though he denies it. He was also a great friend and mentor to CS Lewis (our former Golden Halo winner).

6. She was a philanthropist and worked to help minorities. Native Americans and Black people are only two of the groups I can think of right now.

   1. Who are you nominating?

      1. It was St. Katherine Drexel. (Not my nomination)

7. I nominate the English cleric & poet, John Donne. He was Dean of St Paul’s Cathedral up until the time of his death, and recognised as one of the leading metaphysical poets. He is probably most famous for his poem “Death be not proud.”

   1. I was going to nominate John Donne too, so here is an enthusiastic "seconded" from me!

      1. I should like to third the nomination of John Donne, having just read "John Donne and his World" by Derek Parker.

         1. I'm in with a "fourth!" His "A Hymn to God the Father" in the setting of #140 in The Episcopal Hymnal 1982 is my favorite Lenten hymn. I've been hooked on Donne since reading the poem in high school and delighting in his wordplay.

8. Saint Gertrude of Nivelles - she bucked the system by refusing to marry (at age 10!) opting instead to open a monastery whe she became a scholar, helped widows orphans

9. I nominate St. Alban. Patron saint of refugees and come on, making your executioner's eyes pop out is pretty special!

10. I nominate St. Jude Thaddeus. He is the patron saint of hopeless causes, and our world needs hope!

11. I nominate Isaac Watts. He was a hymn writer, theologian, and logician. He was a prolific and popular hymn writer and is credited with some 750 hymns. He is recognized as the "Godfather of English Hymnody"; many of his hymns remain in use today and have been translated into numerous languages. He wrote the hymn "O God, Our Help in Ages Past" the official hymn of Valparaiso University in Valparaiso, Indiana, of which I am a double grad--BA and JD--and he died on my birthday exactly 200 years before I was born. It happened to be Thanksgiving Day the year I was born. He and I therefore have a very special connection.

12. Admit it; you've said it. St. Anthony, St. Anthony please come down. Something's lost that must be found. I nominate St. Anthony.

    1. Nope. Never said it.

       1. I nominate Anne Frank who died in died at age 15 in a concentration camp in 1945. Her famous diary was found and published around the world. The Jewish community does not recognize sainthood but she inspired me to see that most people are good even though she was persecuted for being a Jew and had her young brilliant life taken from her.

13. I nominate H. Baxter Liebler, who is on the calendar of commemorations of the Anglican Third Order Society of St. Francis (tssf.org). I nominate him to honor his exemplary life of service in humility, love and joy. The Reverend Harold Baxter Liebler established a mission to the Navajo Indians at Bluff, Utah in 1943 named St. Christopher's. He worked there until his retirement in the middle 1960s. In a log-constructed cabin, the mission was the first medical facility to treat tuberculosis and trachoma among the Navajo in Utah. Fr. Liebler was known as endeshoodii to the Navajos—“One whose robe drags on the ground.” He wore his hair in the traditional Navajo bun and learned to pray and lead worship in Navajo. Liebler's mission to the Navajo Indians did not end upon his retirement. Instead, he moved into the Monument Valley area of Arizona and established the Hat Rock Valley Retreat Center and St. Mary's of the Moonlight chapel. He resided in Monument Valley, until his death in 1982. Liebler, even though operating this new religious site, was still intricately involved at St. Christopher's. He was asked to fill both short- and long-term vacancies on many occasions after his so called retirement. He also published a memoir of his work, Boil My Heart for Me, in 1969. This information was compiled from the TSSF Devotional Companion (https://tssf.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Devotional-Companion-2015-Rev-3.Verleah.pdf); Archives West of the Orbis Cascade Alliance (http://archiveswest.orbiscascade.org/ark:/80444/xv38824); and Amazon (https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/0874804647/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i0)

14. Florence Li Tim-Oi, the first woman ordained priest in the Anglican Communion. She is commemorated in (at least) the Anglican Church of Canada (on her proper feast day, the anniversary of her death) and in The Episcopal Church (inexplicably, on the anniversary of her priesting).

    Hers is an heroic story of courage and of hope in the face of despair.

    But mostly you should nominate her because she is the Saint I knew.

    In her latter years, she lived in Toronto. When I was at Trinity College, there was this nice little old Chinese lady who came to chapel. It was some time later I discovered who she was.

    You see, in their earthly life, one can’t see their haloes.

15. My son is a firefighter. I nominate St. Florian, the patron saint for firefighters.

16. Piux XII

    For his secret network of spies and war against Hitler.

17. I would like to nominate St. Clare of Assisi. To me she was a very strong, devoted woman who followed her faith throughout her earthly life, established the Order of Poor Ladies and in writing their Rule of Life is considered to be the first woman to write a set of monastic guidelines.

18. Elizabeth of Hungary
    Because we share a name, I bought an icon of her in Budapest and want to know more about her.

19. I nominate St. Anna the Prophet, the first to proclaim the Good News. She is almost tragically under-appreciated.

    1. As I belong to the Society of St. Anna the Prophet, I couldn't agree more.

20. I would like to nominate Archbishop Janani Luwum, who spoke truth to power (Idi Amin) and was martyred for it in 1977. An Anglican friend from Uganda recently lamented to me that Luwum's story is not being told in the church there and young people are not learning about his faith and courage.
    https://www.westminster-abbey.org/abbey-commemorations/commemorations/janani-luwum

21. I nominate St. Wilfrid of the Saxons. He was instrumental in establishing a whole line of monasteries and communities utilizing St. Benedict's Rule. If any one establish Benedictine thought into England in the 600s it was St. Wifrid. Many attribute to St. Augustine of Canterbury Benedictine monasticism. This is not really true. He along with his overlord Pope Gregory the Great were fascinated with the new concepts of Benedictine monasticism but were not apart of his order.

22. Evelyn Underhill...

    Anglo Catholic lay woman, mystic, pacifist. What's not to like?!

23. Brendan the Navigator

    He sailed in a boat to Paradise, and his cross is made of dolphins. If that is not enough, I cannot imagine what is. A wonderful eccentric who was deeply faithful would be a great addition.

    1. I nominate Maximilian Kolbe. He was a polish Franciscan friar imprisoned at Auschwitz who volunteered to die by starvation in place of a fellow prisoner with a family. His writings and story never cease to inspire.

    2. The Rev. Fred Rogers. His humble, caring attitude and short lessons each day, televised all over America and parts of the greater world, remain invaluable to children everywhere. Many of us grew up with Mr. Rogers, every weekday, showing kids (and adults!) how to be gentle and caring with each other.He showed us diversity, and how to confront and deal with things that frightened us. The Presbyterian Church has recognized this man and his work, and had set aside a day that he should be remembered.

24. St. Herman of Alaska. He's a saint in the American Orthodox Church and the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia. The patron saint of North America and beloved by both Native peoples and Russian immigrants to Alaska. What more do you want?

    1. I nominate Anne Frank who died in died at age 15 in a concentration camp in 1945. Her famous diary was found and published around the world. The Jewish community does not recognize sainthood but she inspired me to see that most people are good even though she was persecuted for being a Jew and had her young brilliant life taken from her.

25. I nominate Harry Holt--an Oregon pear grower and lumberman who learned of the plight of half American, half Korean orphans left in Korea after American troops went home from the Korean war. He and his wife, Bertha, (who also could be nominated) spent all their time and resources after that to aid these orphans and established an agency that now, world wide, has placed thousands of children in "forever homes" as well as adopting eight children to join their family of five. Harry,whose health was not good, died in Korea after rescuing yet another baby. Bertha continued with Holt International well into her 90s.

    1. Forgot to say Harry Holt is venerated in churches in Korea.

26. I nominate Florence Li Tim-Oi, who was a woman of extraordinary courage, humility, and devotion. She endured the dangers of war, the challenges of priesthood, and the frustrations of church politics, demonstrating always grace and love for God and humanity.

    1. She's a great nominee! If I hadn't already done mine, I would second her!

27. St. John XXIII revolutionized the Catholic Church through Vatican II. His emphasis on inclusion and pastoral care continue today. In addition, as Bishop of Bulgaria, he shielded Jews from Hitler’s persecution.

28. Jarena Lee - Licensed to preach in the AME in 1819. She traveled throughout the US—risking her own life and freedom to preach. Her bravery and dedication to her call (especially after it was initially denied by Richard Allen) is inspiring.

29. I nominate Margery Kempe. She wrote what was possibly the first autobiography in the English language, describing the visions she had after the birth of her son, pilgrimages she went on to Italy, Jerusalem, and Germany, and the many many accusations of heresy her public speaking and displays attracted.

30. Huldrych (Ulrich) Zwingli is my nominee. Besides his emphasis on the gospel and his role in the Reformation, he'd be fun:
    1. His name is cool; it "zvings."
    2. He secretly married, then married publicly after preaching against the rule of celibacy for priests.
    3. He and Luther had a falling out over the Eucharist, in which Luther saw Jesus as present and Zwingli saw symbolism of the Last Supper.
    4. He opposed veneration of saints, so his nomination would be truly ironic.