Welcome to the one and only Saturday matchup of Lent Madness 2019. Grab your coffee, cook up some Eggs St. Benedict, read about some saintly souls, and cast the third and final vote of the week. But first, an update on yesterday's battle: William Wilberforce forced his way past Agatha Lin Zhao 59% to 41% to advance to the Saintly Sixteen, where he'll square off against the winner of Hannah Grier Coome vs. Richard Allen.
Don't forget, our online bracket is updated and filled in with the latest results each morning by Adam Thomas (along with his inimitable headlines) on our Bracket Page. This will come in especially handy in later rounds when you need a quick reference guide to refresh your memory on the brilliant earlier write-ups provided by our Celebrity Bloggers. If you're curious about when your favorite saint will be competing, you can scroll down on the bracket page to check out the invaluable and handy Matchup Calendar.
Today we take our first stab at the Monastics & Martyrs side of the Bracket as Ignatius of Loyola faces off against Tikhon of Zadonsk. And we should note that, in a Lent Madness scheduling quirk, Distinguished Celebrity Blogger Megan Castellan has had a saint doing battle on the first three days of this new season - Mary, Wilberforce, and Tikhon. Whew!
So, go vote, don't forget to set your clocks ahead an hour tonight, go to church on Sunday, (where you'll tell everyone at coffee hour to join in the fun over at Lent Madness), and we'll see you bright and early Monday morning as John Chrysostom squares off against Margaret of Cortona.
Ignatius of Loyola
In 1521, few confused Íñigo López de Loyola for a saint. He was vain, enjoyed combat, and sought glory. While recovering from battle wounds, he longed to read about chivalry; he could only find books on the life of Christ and the lives of the saints. Íñigo followed the spirit of consolation he experienced with God and abandoned his plans for glory. It transformed his life and the life of the church. He is now known by the name he came to be called in his life and ministry—Ignatius of Loyola.
After his recovery, Ignatius made an extended retreat where he had mystical experiences and discerned a deeper call from God; this retreat inspired his great work, Spiritual Exercises, which many today use as a guide in their walk with Christ. While studying in Paris, Ignatius met companions who would become the first members of the Society of Jesus, the Jesuit order. Bound together by a vow of poverty and chastity, their aim was “to help souls” wherever the church had need of them. Yet for a group of willing servants, they had a hard time winning approval from the church’s hierarchy. Ignatius’s spirituality attracted suspicion.
Ignatius believed in a simple but profound truth: God is present in all things. If we want to find God, we must look not only to the cloisters of a monastery and the four walls of a church but also to the canvas of our lives as they are lived out in the world. If we wish to find where God calls us, we should listen to our feelings of comfort and consolation, and move away from our experience of anxiety and desolation. This “way of proceeding,” found in Spiritual Exercises, has influenced how countless Christians perceive God’s presence in everyday life and has given many more a way of understanding where God is calling them.
But in sixteenth-century Europe, such a notion was considered radical, and Ignatius was brought before the Spanish Inquisition as early as 1526, and Spiritual Exercises was examined by the Roman Inquisition in 1548. Still, Ignatius insisted that the Society of Jesus be a group of contemplatives in action—present in the world around them where God is found, not confined to the walls of a monastery.
Collect for Ignatius of Loyola
Almighty God, who called Ignatius of Loyola to the service of your Divine Majesty and to seek you in all things; Give us also the grace to labor without counting the cost and to seek no reward other than knowing that we do your will; through Jesus Christ our Savior, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, now and for ever. Amen.
-David Sibley
Tikhon of Zadonsk
Timothy Savelyevich Sokolov (Tikhon’s given name) was born in 1724 in Novgorod, Russia, and grew up to be a famous bishop and monk known as the “Russian Chrysostom.”
His family was very poor: often, he would work an entire day to earn a single piece of bread. At age 13, he was sent to a clergy-run school, where he worked his way through as a vegetable gardener. Because of his intellect, he was awarded a state grant to attend seminary in Novgorod and stayed on at the seminary after graduation to teach. In 1758, he took vows as a monk and received the name Tikhon. At the same time, he was made prefect of the seminary.
People were drawn to his intellect, piety, and humility. In 1759, he was transferred to Tver and became the archimandrite of the Zheltikov monastery. Soon after, he was also made rector of Tver monastery, as well as the head of the nearby Torch monastery. And on Easter Sunday, 1761, he was accidentally selected as the bishop of Novgorod. The metropolitan (chief bishop) of the area had intended to move him to another monastery, but instead, the bishop of Tver cast lots upon his name three times in a row, and Tikhon was selected as the new bishop.
Tikhon took his new role very seriously. He wrote a series of books for his clergy so that they could perform their tasks with diligence. He required every clergy person to study the New Testament daily. Tikhon founded a school in 1765 and emphasized the importance of education for everyone.
In 1767, he retired because of overwork and exhaustion and went to the monastery in Zadonsk to recover. However, the notion of “rest” was a bit foreign to him; while at the monastery, he wrote a Rule of Life for the local clergy, as well as three more books on the nature and mystery of Christianity.
Throughout his life, he slept on straw, covered by a sheepskin. He was strict toward himself but kind to others. One Palm Sunday, he happened upon two fellow monks eating fish soup, and when he saw their distress, he said. “Sit down, for I know you. Love is higher than fasting.” He shared their soup to calm them.
Collect for Tikhon of Zadonsk
For love does not seek its own, it labors, sweats, watches to build up the brother: nothing is inconvenient to love, and by the help of God it turns the impossible into the possible...Love believes and hopes....It is ashamed of nothing (-Attributed to Tikhon)
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169 comments on “Ignatius of Loyola vs. Tikhon of Zadonsk”
I didn't understand this graf.
Throughout his life, he slept on straw, covered by a sheepskin. He was strict toward himself but kind to others. One Palm Sunday, he happened upon two fellow monks eating fish soup, and when he saw their distress, he said. “Sit down, for I know you. Love is higher than fasting.” He shared their soup to calm them.
Having made the Spiritual Exercises in 1999 and having had a spiritual awakening resulting in a sense of calling and vocation that has changed my life for the better over the past two decades, there is no way I can vote today for anyone but St. Ignatius. Little did I know, while I was growing up in Chevy Chase, Maryland, or going to high school in New Jersey and Delaware, or college in Massachusetts, or teaching in England or riding my bicycle across Europe, or starting my first career as a newspaper reporter, that I would one day be called into service on behalf of my fellow children of divorced parents. It's not a calling I sought out, or wanted, or prepared for in any way, at least not on a conscious level. (None of my formal education has anything to with helping children, per se.) But I find this calling, discerned in the context of the Ignatian exercises, makes sense in a peculiar way, grounded in the particular details of who I am, where I come from, and how I was raised. The shoe fits, so I wear it. And I plan to continue wearing it, God willing, for the next 20 years. Perhaps the most wonderful part is how I've discovered that I am not walking alone along this road. Hundreds, if not thousands, of people are also trying to help children of divorced parents. And one of them is my marvelous, loving, committed, skilled, experienced, and hard-working wife! (Laura is a child and family therapist, God brought her into my life in 1986.) So far I've discovered more than 100 books written in English, aiming to help kids at different ages and stages of life. I've also discovered a number of small group programs, some secular, some religious; and some are quite good. Thanks to hundreds of good-hearted souls (many of whom are parents, grandparents, school counselors, and teachers) who request our free children's books via the Internet, we've been able to help kids in 49 states and 13 foreign countries as of this writing. (Rhode Island is the lone holdout, go figure.) Donors in our parish (St. James Episcopal Church in Downingtown, PA) have opened their pocketbooks in most generous fashion, our rector and vestry are solidly behind us, and we've even just received our first grant from an agency affiliated with the national denomination in New York. As I pray for continued guidance, wisdom, and strength in decades ahead, I cannot help but be struck by how my family of origin, my immediate family, my extended family, my church family, and even my denominational family are saturated with divorce, all the way back to the establishment of the Anglican Church in 1534 about the same time Henry VIII was excommunicated by Pope Clement VII because he divorced Catherine of Aragon so he could marry Anne Boleyn! I'm also alternately discouraged and tantalized by the vast dimensions of the divorce problem: an epidemic of marital instability has been raging in the United States for decades, and by now the number of children of divorced parents in America must range in the millions, or tens of millions. So true, what our Lord said, about the harvest being plentiful, but the laborers few. As Episcopalians we say we wish to evangelize; would this not be a marvelous mission field, so close to home? It seems like the disintegration of marriage, as an institution, could be our denomination's undoing, or our salvation. Certainly I'm not the first to notice how the Episcopal Church is ripe for renewal. So much depends on how we respond. To me, it comes back to forgiveness, in this case, one generation forgiving another. And to me, the capacity to forgive my parents and other members of their generation comes from the Holy Spirit. Ideally, we will all respond as Jesus prayed that we (his disciples) would on the night before he died: "May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me." (John 17:23) As David Sibley's brief biography points out, Ignatius encourages us to seek and find God's presence in all things, not just inside monasteries and church buildings. Would it not be a marvelous sign to the world of God's presence within and among us if we were able to forgive each other inside our homes and families?
I went into this certain I would vote for Igantius, but Tikhon the accidental bishop who was hard on himself but kind to others. He stole my heart.
I know the Jesuits have done much good, but they also have done a lot of harm, so that kind of turned me off to Ignatius. But I’m curious about the rest of Ignatius’ life. What happened after the Inquisitions, what did his Jesuits do in his lifetime, what are his miracles, how did he die? Inquiring minds....
I loved the story of Tikhon’s accidentally becoming a bishop! That’s the way it goes in this life—you’re walking down one path, and suddenly you’re called down another. The things you think you can count on suddenly fall away; best laid plans get scrapped on you and you have to start over. How to do that gracefully—that’s the key!
The sentence that really struck me was “He took his position very seriously.” Did he know he had been elected accidentally? It didn’t matter. He followed his new path and took it to heart.
And this is extrapolating way too much, I guess, but it’s good to remember that Russia has such a rich Christian history; politicians may do dirty work, but we have brothers and sisters there to love as well.
I vote for Tikhon, for trusting enough to take new paths, for love, for taking things seriously and doing your best when life isn’t what you’d planned on.
Thanks for highlighting that neat point! When I’ve been in (or perceived that I was) in Tikhon’s position, I’m afraid I tended to focus on the negative.
Food for reflection!
You are welcome!
Another tough choice—given the pool of candidates, it seems appropriate. But I did not hesitate to vote for Ignatius. My faith was shaped by my father, a graduate of Marquette, who helped me sort through the mix of truth and mythology that shaped much of Roman Catholic education when I was growing up pre-Vatican 2. And my dearest friend was proudly christened Anne Loyola! And I share the love of political and Jesuitical.
Jesuits rock!
Ignatius has my deepest gratitude for establishing the Jesuit order, but I fell for Tihko's spirit: love is stronger than fasting.
"Love is higher than fasting." Given his youth, Tikhon understood Jeses's message better than any aristocrat could do. I voted for God's love, not military discipline.
I was the first person in my family to graduate from college thanks to Fordham University which gave me very generous financial aid AND a great education. With gratitude to Fordham and to two of the best teachers I ever had, Fr William (W.M.A.) Grimaildi, sj, and Fr. Thomas Bermingham, sj, my vote goes to St. Ignatius.
Tikhon, who knew that love was and is the higher law.
The Jesuits have had such a profound influence on me and while I seem to be going with all the front runners, I gotta go with Iggy today!
Iggy's prayer is one worth remembering.
Dearest Lord,
teach me to be generous;
teach me to serve You as You deserve;
to give and not to count the cost,
to fight and not to heed the wounds,
to toil and not to seek for rest,
to labour and not to ask for reward
save that of knowing I am doing Your Will.
It’s about the halos and the bright infinities.
I entered the Madness this morning predisposed to vote for Tikhon because of his name (which he shares with my rector Timon of Khingamsk, aka Father Tim of Hingham, Massachusetts) and a vague mistrust of things Jesuitical. After reading the bios I know a lot more about Íñigo and infinitely more, but still very little, about Timon, whom the Wiki article on Zadonsk describes as “a miracle-working starets” [monastic spiritual advisor]. The Wikiscoop on Timon suggests that he was canonized by the Orthodox Church largely because of posthumous miracles associated with his reportedly incorrupt body.
What I found lacking in these sources, as well as the bio, was what would distinguish Timon from so many, many other saintly women and men as an aspirant to the Halo of Haloes. No doubt his halo, like theirs, is bright as the noonday, but GOLDEN? As one who dares hope to squeak into Heaven and will be very content with “a rusty ol’ halo and a skinny white cloud,” I am much impressed by Tikhon’s résumé, but not awed as I trust I will be by that of our eventual haloee.
With Ignatius, on the other hand, the question seems to be not the metal from which his halo is forged but its carat content. For yes, as the mathematicians tell us is true of infinities, there are orders of golden haloes. They range from one carat (23/24 copper but very bright withal) all the way up to Our Lady’s ineffable twenty-four-carat crown, and Ignatius’s is surely well over the 1K threshold. Of course he was imperfect and, as has been said in an earlier posting, his order has much to answer for; but the Wilberforcean power of his transformation, the purity of his soul, and his great and good accomplishments have unexpectedly won my vote today.
Davis, I like what you said, and I especially like the way you said it. You really have a gift!
A vegetable gardener, who enjoys fish soup with others and who accidently became a bishop definitely gets my vote.
I love thee words attributed to Tikhon in his collect "Love believes and hopes….It is ashamed of nothing". It sounds like something Bishop Curry would say.
However, I had to vote for comtemplatives in action (Ignatius) today. I know that the Jesuits have some not so good history but that is true throughout Christian history. Their dedication to education for all resonates with me. Check out St. Joseph's Indian School (https://www.stjo.org/) in South Dakota.
Unfortunately, Ignatius is tainted by the blood purity regulations of the Society he founded. The resolution passed by the Fifth General Congregation of the Society of Jesus in 1593 remained until repudiated in 1946 - "No one shall be admitted to this Society who is descended of Hebrew stock". This restriction was extended to "parents" back to "the fifth degree of family lineage". The Russian Orthodox Church is implicated in the sad history of programs, but the Jesuit position that fed into the genocidal antisemitism of Western Christianity. A difficult choice - but Tikhon gets my nod.
The 1593 resolution occurred thirty-seven years after Ignatius' death in 1556, and ran directly counter to his actions in life. In a time when Jews and marranos (descendants of Jewish-Christian descent) were routinely persecuted, Ignatius' views were far more moderate. In his "Life of Ignatius of Loyola", his biographer Pedro Ribadeneira writes:
One day when many of us were dining together, [Ignatius], speaking of himself about a certain topic, said that he would take it as a special grace from our Lord to come from Jewish lineage; and adding the reason, he said: "Why imagine! That a man could be a kinsman by blood [secundum carnem] of Christ our Lord and of our Lady the glorious Virgin Mary!" He spoke these words with such a facial expression and with so much emotion that tears welled into his eyes. This was something that deeply impressed everyone.
For a great deal more information, see "St. Ignatius of Loyola and the Jews" by James W. Reites, S.J., in which I found this passage.
http://ejournals.bc.edu/ojs/index.php/jesuit/article/viewFile/3714/3292
I've got to hand it to Lent Madness; it makes you dig deeper.
I had not been aware of the anti-semitism embedded in Jesuit documents. I see that it was repudiated after WWII. I'm not defending this stance, but it is worth noting the comparative history. France's "Code Noir" of 1685, which regulated the new world colonies, expelled both Jews and Protestants from all the colonies. The Code Noir lasted until 1848. The reformed church in France condemned anti-semitism in 1942. Prior to 1962 the Roman Catholic church included a prayer in its Good Friday service for the conversion of the Jews. So acknowledgement of a strain of anti-semitism infecting Christianity has been slow in coming and efforts to eliminate it are highly belated. Nevertheless, such work has made good progress. (I would caution however that "evangelical" support for Israel has nothing to do with anti-semitism but instead promotes reactionary policies that employ fanatical fervor as fuel.) I trust today's Jesuits would combat anti-semitism as vigorously as they would combat poverty and the darkness of ignorance.
as an ex-lutheran i grew up believing ignastiness had horns and a tail—so go Tikhon, go, go, go
Tikhon for me! Love makes all things possible!
Light dawns: Inigo Jones! The ever-resourceful Wikipedia has an interesting piece on the name, which is unrelated to “Ignatius” and turns out to have enjoyed a period of popularity in Wales as well as the Iberian Peninsula. Who knew?
I am at this time undertaking the Spiritual Execises, and have found Ignatius a very real saint of very real humanity. There is so much wisdom in his teachings and his descendants (Richard Rohrbaugh, James Martin) have taught me so much ... I must vote for St Ignatius!
Vegetable gardening as the first step on the path to sainthood! Hooray! I'm on the right path!
Loving all the comments today. G&S and Bernstein! A very erudite music group in our midst!! And, yes indeed, we need a “like” button. Such brilliant observations, one and all.
I am devoted to Ignation spiritualality and the Daily Examen, but found the fish soup story very compelling - so the Russian Chrysostom it is!
“Love believes and hopes...it is ashamed of nothing”. Tikhon. Yes, my choice.
And maybe it had something to do with the vegetable garden, and fish soup recipies in the kitsch round?
Perhaps I am actually voting for Megan Castellan—she has such a way with words!
I usually look for the link of the 2 candidates - why these particular saints and what do they have in common? Today they are both Accidental Bishops andat j they both teach love, education, and finding God in the everyday.
As to the fish soup: Fast Days abounded in all Christian churches, and Palm Sunday was no exception. It was not the celebration that it is today and it would have been more forgivable to find the monks drunk and naked than eating on a Fast Day. Tikon saw and acknowledged that eating on a Fast Day is not a great a sin and joined them to prove it. He could have been sleeping on a feather mattress as the Accidental Bishop, but chose to live as humbly as he expected his clergy to.
They are both great men, teachers, lovers of God and Christ, and seers of God's love in the everyday. I think I have just talked myself into voting for Tikon.
If by Lot 3 times he was chosen to be Bishop then who am I to go against the lots? So my vote goes to the accidental Bishop.
One Catholic and one Lutheran debating and voting after breakfast each morning. Ignatius
gets our vote today.
Ignatious of Loyola has always inspired me. I’m so glad he’s here!
I am glad to learn of Tikhon. His commitment to love and the importance of education for all gets my vote.
Interesting that both men concerned themselves with penning a Rule of Life that adherants might follow. Great minds inspired by the Great and Holy Spirit!
I’ve been a fan of Ignatius since I stumbled across that British Pray-As-You-Go.org podcast, which was my first intro to his “finding God in our day to day” contemplative practice. As to Tikhon, I got lost in the story of the clergy who in such distress over their fish soup... but it was fun imagining his show of solidarity and calming influence as he sat and ate with them. Like a modern day teacher joining the kids in the lunch room eating food made from gross USDA commodities.
I’m tempted to vote for the edgy Orthodox - the underdog, and, I have a neighbor named Sololovsky....perhaps their related?
A close race today. I voted for St. Ignatius because of his faith that God was not confined to churches and monasteries. Also, my son graduated from Jesuit College Preparatory School in Dallas.