After Monday's cardiac arrest-inducing battle between Pandita Ramabai and Damien of Molokai, it was a bit easier on our Lenten hearts to have a close-but-not-too-close contest to determine the Battle of Rome yesterday. Paula of Rome came out on top, defeating Marcella of Rome 57% to 43% to advance to the Saintly Sixteen, where she'll face Gobnait.
Today, in the 16th and final pairing of the Round of 32, it's the long-anticipated Santa vs. Rudolph Showdown, as Nicholas of Myra faces Rudolph of Gubbio. After this battle is complete, will Nicholas remain jolly with his belly shaking like a bowlful of jelly? Will Rudolph's nose remain bright or will he no longer be allowed to join in any reindeer games? These are the questions of the day as we continue to whittle down the field of saintly souls.
Tomorrow, the Saintly Sixteen begins as Martha of Bethany takes on Nicodemus. But that's a contest for another day. Let's go finish up this first round, shall we?
Nicholas of Myra
Telling the story of Nicholas presents a unique challenge because of the sheer volume of historical record, legend, facts, and rumors about his life and impact. It is probably impossible to fully untangle the facts from the legends—and perhaps we don’t want to.
The bare facts are these. Nicholas was born in 270 CE to a wealthy Greek Christian family in Asia Minor. Following the loss of his parents, he went on a pilgrimage to Egypt and Palestine and was likely briefly imprisoned during an outbreak of Christian persecution. On returning from this journey, Nicholas was made the bishop of Myra, and in this role, he likely attended the Council of Nicaea. Nicholas died in 343, and shortly after his death he begins to be venerated for his kindness, generosity, and compassion.
In one of the best-known legends, Nicholas encountered a man with three daughters whose poverty did not allow him to provide them a dowry. Without a dowry, the young women would likely be sold into slavery. And so Nicholas secretly gifted the gold for their dowries—and according to legend, threw the gold through the window whereon it landed on their socks or shoes.
Again and again, the stories of Nicholas’s life come back to this theme of generosity and gift-giving. Whether it is the resurrection of the three youths, sparing the lives of those falsely accused, or returning children to their parents, Nicholas is remembered as the protector of the innocent, especially of children.
Within just a few short generations after Nicholas’s death, churches began to be dedicated to the memory of this kind and generous bishop. As his veneration spread across Europe, the traditions of Saint Nicholas combined with other local traditions, giving us the historical roots for Santa Claus. The remembrance of Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker—patron of children, sailors, the falsely accused, and many others— continues to be observed on December 6.
Regardless of where one chooses to draw the line between the history and the legend of Saint Nicholas, his story has inspired generations of faithful women and men to acts of kindness, generosity, and compassion. Nicholas reminds us to speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves and to act on behalf of those who have no defender.
Collect for Nicholas of Myra
Almighty God, in your love you gave your servant Nicholas of Myra a perpetual name for deeds of kindness both on land and sea: Grant, we pray, that your church may never cease to work for the happiness of children, the safety of sailors, the relief of the poor, and the help of those tossed by tempests of doubt or grief; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Rudolph of Gubbio
Rudolph of Gubbio was born in 1034 just outside of Gubbio, Italy. His father was a feudal lord. When he was about 17 years old, Rudolph encountered Saint Peter Damian and was converted to Christianity. He, along with his mother, now a widow, and brothers, decided to give their castle and possessions to the church. He became a disciple of Saint Peter Damian and joined the Benedictine Order.
While in the monastery, he studied philosophy and theology and excelled in Latin. He became a priest and practiced a rigorous asceticism. Rudolph wore a hair shirt and avoided meat, eggs, and cheese. He slept on a wooden board without blankets. Self-torture was routinely engaged. His body was so weakened by the ascetic practices that he developed a system of ropes to support him as he recited the psalms.
Rudolph’s piety was so well-known that although the church law said he was not yet old enough, Rudolph was made bishop of Gubbio at around age 25. Rudolph reluctantly accepted the charge, but his elevation to bishop did not change his piety. He continued to live humbly and austerely. He would only eat the food that was given to servants. He would often walk barefoot, using wooden clogs only in the winter. As bishop, he paid particular attention to those who were poor and vulnerable. His concern for those in need led one of his biographers to call him a “miracle of unselfishness.”
His long fasts and the severe treatment of his body ultimately took their toll. On October 17, 1066, still in his early 30s, Rudolph died. He was buried in the Cathedral of Gubbio. His body disappeared when the cathedral was renovated in 1670.
Collect for Rudolph of Gubbio
O God, whose blessed Son became poor that we through his poverty might be rich: Deliver us from an inordinate love of this world, that we, inspired by the devotion of your servant Rudolph of Gubbio, may serve you with singleness of heart, and attain to the riches of the age to come; 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.
[poll id="254"]
182 comments on “Nicholas of Myra vs. Rudolph of Gubbio”
Finally a contest that didn’t break my heart! Nicholas Of Myra May not have done many of the charitable deeds he was credited with, but he has been a blessing worldwide. Rudolph Of Gubbio was selfless to a fault, and his story provokes admiration rather than love. His excessive mortification reminds me of the bizarre doings at the unnamed monastery in Umberto Eco’s “The Name Of The Rose,” Where rival theologians from different orders debate whether Jesus was poor.
I've been meaning to read that again; thanks for the reminder!
(tears streaming down face. . .) Michael and John, you are both wonders for your postings of parodies and limericks; I marvel at such talent! The SEC has out-done itself! With sides aching from laughter I can only vote for Nicholas! Ruth, you and Lisa summed things up well! Thank you ALL for putting joy (and even prayerful hilarity) into this Lent!
Poor Rudolph needed an intervention from St. Nick.
We all need a lot more Nicholas’ these days.
"It is probably impossible to fully untangle the facts from the legends—and perhaps we don’t want to." So true! I might have voted for Nicholas just based on this sentence, though after reading all the way through there was every reason to vote for Nicholas.
It seems like we've had a lot of ascetics this year and with each one I find it harder to understand how this could possibly be what God wants from a faithful person's life.
Precisely
I just have to support someone who is a giver. I know the legends probably are a stretch but such a good example for the rest of us.
Rudolph sounds decidedly non-jolly. Hair shirts have got to be one of the worst ideas and practices ever. I find myself meditating on the figurative ways we apply them to ourselves and others still. Go Santa Baby - and hurry down the chimney tonight.
Off putting to be distroying the temple of God by lack of care.
I didn't want to vote for jolly ol' Saint Nick, because the legend of his acts of giving are used to justify the obscene excess of gift-giving and holiday madness that permeates our society today, obliterating the most supreme gift of all, the birth of Jesus. I do admit that I relish both forms of "Christmas" but I keep them separate in my mind: Secular Christmas and Sacred Christmas. I don't use Sacred Christmas to rationalize Secular Christmas. They are two different observances. However, I voted for him anyway, because I'm not convinced that God approves of any of us abusing the temple of the body that God has given us while we dwell on Earth. How much more Rudolph could've done if he had taken care of his physical needs? We'll never know. So, I cast my reluctant vote for Nicholas.
I love Saint Nicholas, and love what Carol Myers is doing to reacquaint us with how wonderful a saint he is through her wonderful website, the Saint Nicholas Center! He gave to the poor, and that is what has made him so beloved. It was not just giving extravagant gifts for no reason!
My mother died on 6 December and we have made an annual celebration of St. Nicholas in honor of her memory. I agree with the others regarding Rudolph’s aesectism - that is not the example Jesus set.
I am with Nicholas!
I don't blame Rudolf for his misplaced piety - he doubtless had heard the virtues of such extreme asceticism extolled, as "self-mortification" was thought to be a good thing. But I can't vote for that form of piety today. As others have said, self-abuse only wastes a life, wastes the strength with which Rudolf might have lived longer and served more. Something about him must've been admirable enough that they made him bishop so young. But my vote's still with St. Nicholas, particularly for his creative generosity and care for the vulnerable. (I've always loved the story about him pitching coins into the window of the three young women's home.)
Wow! So early in the day and Nicholas of Myra is pulling a Secretariat at Belmont. Nicholas' protection of innocense addresses so well the terrible loss of today's children by exposure to social media and internet marketing. Childhood, that blissful period when the world is full of wonder and exploration. Happily, the senseless of self-torture as a form of piety so dominant in Rudolph's story is losing its power as a virtue and being replaced by the giving of self in service to others.
Poor old Rudolph wasn't even at the back of the line, so to speak, when I went to vote, so I voted for him,
even though I'm not a big fan of extreme asceticism.
It was a mitzvah.
For many, especially children, St. Nick is the stand-in for the concept of a Loving God until their faith matures. (Hopefully it does.) Go St. Nick!
I find myself not able to vote for the extreme self-mortification crew, so yup, it's Saint Nicholas for me today.
(I get fasting on certain days of the calendar, but to the point where you can't support yourself while doing the Rosary? Nopeing out of that!)
Judging ancient practices by today’s standards and psychiatric diagnoses is not what Lent Madness is all about for me. If we excluded those saints and the ones known more by legend, we’d miss out on a lot of inspiration and learning. There’s a great book called, “Saints Behaving Badly,” that reminded me how glad I am that no one has my life under a microscope, and that every saint’s life has something to teach me. It’s also very funny!
Is today the biggest wipe-out in Lent Madness history, or did someone else surf to success even more spectacularly?
Agreement with all those horrified by Rudolph's creepy, self-destructive asceticism. NOT
WWJD!
With a nephew named Nicholas, I had to vote for Nicholas.
Nobrainer for me I’m am not a fan of self abuse. It isn’t saintly in my mind. Nicholas is my choice today. Whether you look at history or legend, who can vote against Santa Clause?
Burgermeister Meisterburger, Toy Santa, and Jack Frost.
Hahahaha!!
I love Saint Nicholas, and love what Carol Myers is doing to bring him back into Christmas with her Saint Nicholas Center website and resources. I've learned so much about him and what he did to love Jesus by giving to the poor. There's lot of crazy folklore about him but at the bottom of it all, he must have been quite a guy to be so revered in the Eastern World for so many centuries. And now he's coming back to the Western World to help us return to the real meaning of Christmas.!!
Had to vote for Nicholas. We live in times when the youngest and most vulnerable need his kind of kindness. Asceticism doesn't help anyone.
As a former newspaper editor, I see the page 1 headline "Santa trounces Rudolph" in 60 pt bold font. Make that 72 pt.
As a journalist I'm with you there. "Rudolph loses lead position" 60 pt bold. Subhead "Confidence lacking" And the daily comments would make a great feature story, especially the back and forth. And has Oliver grown up and left us?
Who could vote against Santa?
Though Rudolph is admirable
For his self denial and aid
Nicholas broad giving to the poor and lame
Makes a clear winner & Santa is his name!
Rudolph seems to be in need of hearing a few good sermons on the amazing grace of God.
But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to His own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, - Titus 3:4-6 (ESV)
And I expect Saint Nick will make it to the Kitsch round, which should be interesting.
Fun fact, the Canadians claim the North Pole as being a part of Canada. The postal code they assigned to it is H0H 0H0.
Funny, folks here tend to lean to the folk legend saints. I usually don't, preferring real people over legends, but this time , I went with Santa Claus. It helped that Rudolph didn't really jazz me, despite his solidarity with the poor.
I think it's pretty well documented that Nicholas and Rudolph were" real people"; time has encrusted their "real" bios with "legends" that often show us Real Truth. These ancient saints didn't just do fantastic tricks; the legends served as demonstrations of God's power. We don't have independent documentation of much of anyone in the Bible or what they did, including Jesus. Does that make them "less real"? Are only people for whom we have photographs real? What is "real" anyway?
I'm not questioning the existence of these two, but, no, I do not believe that Saint Nicholas resurrected three murdered and pickled boys. Saints are supposed to be role models we can try to emulate. I can certainly try to emulate St Nicholas' extraordinary generosity and spirituality, but I don't expect to be resurrecting anybody. That's what I mean by having a preference for real people. I would pick a Dorothy Day or Angela Merici - whose lifetime of corporal works of mercy were extraordinary and humbling to learn about- over a St Christopher any day. The real live saints are astonishing enough for me.
NICHOLAS OF MYRA FOR THE GOLDEN HALO!!!
Although I voted for Nicholas for many of the same reasons everyone else did, i.e., a compassionate saint for our troubled times, I do think today's matchup can offer us a deeper Lenten reflection. Instead of judging Rudolph's extreme medieval asceticism from a modern lens, perhaps we could instead be moved to ask ourselves, "What would I give up for Christ? What comforts would I sacrifice to become a better reflection of God's purpose for me?"
Not to take anything from Nicholas and the more inspirational gifts his legend adds to the Christmas season, but it has also led us down a path of materialism and commercialism. During Lent we should perhaps be a little more open to the message of sacrifice and doing without. I know I should.
Excellent point, Patrice!
Not a fan of self torture. Our bodies are temples. Vote for St. Nick!
Rudolph could have done so much more had he taken care of his own Temple of the Holy Spirit. So, Nick for the win.