668 comments on “Nominationtide has arrived!”

1. I nominate Saint Philip Neri - one of he the most humble and goofiest of saints. The greater his reputation for holiness the sillier he became - in humble humility. So sorry to miss his feast day for this nomination (May 26). Though, if he were to win the Golden Halo, he'd find some way to have fun with it!

2. I would like to nominate Christian de Chergé, one of the seven monks from the Abbey of Our Lady of Atlas in Tibhirine, Algeria, kidnapped and believed to have been later killed by Islamists. Their story was dramatized in the film Of Gods and Men. He was beatified by the RCC in December 2018 and his feast day is 8 May. Prior to his capture, he wrote a testament to be opened and read if he died by violence. You can read it here: https://www.ocso.org/history/saints-blesseds-martyrs/testament-of-christian-de-cherge/

   In this day of so much animosity between Muslims and Christians, I believe he is an inspirational choice for Lent Madness 2020.

   1. thank you so much for nominating Pere Christian! He's been my nomination for the past several years. This year I've put up Pere Jacques Bunol's name but was feeling more than a little conflicted for not going with Pere Christian. Now I feel better knowing both saints are in the mix.

3. I nominate Saint Gregory the Great. He died while being one of the most prolific popes ever. He improved the welfare of the people in Rome. He is also known as one of the doctors of the church and a Latin father for his Latin writings.

4. I nominate Saint Paul. I nominate him because he is an apostle and is very devoted to Jesus.

5. I nominate Pere Jacques Bunol the real life saint behind Louis Malle's master piece Au Revoir Les Enfants. Pere Jacques was a contemplative at heart who was called over and over again by G-d to live out his contemplative calling in the midst of a busy, deeply painful world: first within the walls of the Catholic school he ran and then within the midst of the concentration camp where he was sent for protecting his Jewish neighbors. It is said that while there he "sought out the abandoned and neglected and made a special point of befriending the communists" because he shared their love and respect for the poor. He died shortly after liberation caring for his fellow prisoners. His life was marked by humility, deep love, and by courage and generosity that was at once quiet and ferocious.

6. John Cardinal Newman would be an excellent candidate for Lent Madness. He is dead, on all the calendars of Saints, wrote beautifully and his biography is very interesting.

7. Sung to the hymn tune McKee (In Christ There is No East or West"

   “In Christ There is No East or West”
   He wrote the tune McKee
   And spirituals came into vogue
   As far as eyes can see.

   Adapting songs learned in his youth
   While on his grandpa’s knee:
   The soulful strains of men in chains
   Who long to be made free.

   While born on Erie’s bitter shore,
   Found fame in N-Y-C.
   His singing altered Dvořák’s work
   At the National Conservatory.

   His hymns are still sung in our church
   Filling our hearts and soul with glee.
   The one I hope will win next year
   Is named Harry T. Burleigh.

   (Other hymns attributed to Burleigh include Go Down Moses, My Lord What a Morning, Wade in the Water, and Deep River, among others.)