Congratulations! You survived the very first day of Lent Madness 2019. Which is more than we can say for Mary of Bethany, who was bounced by her sister Martha 58% to 42%. Martha becomes our first saint to qualify for the Saintly Sixteen, where she'll face the winner of James the Greater vs. Nicodemus.
You should also congratulate yourself for having participated in a record setting day in the annals of Lent Madness history. Yesterday's sibling matchup received nearly 10,500 votes, with over 500 comments, and more page views than we've ever had on a single day (almost 39,000, for those keeping score at home). And, despite a few shaky moments, you didn't crash the server!
Today, in saintly action it's William Wilberforce, the 18th century English abolitionist and reformer, squaring off against Agatha Lin Zhao, Chinese Christian and educator.
Don't forget that tomorrow is the ONLY SATURDAY MATCHUP of Lent Madness 2019. After Ignatius of Loyola faces Tikhon of Zadonsk, voting will strictly take place on the weekdays of Lent, giving everyone a needed breather from the intensity of everyone's favorite online Lenten devotion.
William Wilberforce
William Wilberforce was an English politician who underwent a dramatic conversion experience and spent his life trying to abolish the slave trade in the British Empire.
Born in Yorkshire in 1759, he lived with his aunt and uncle for a number of years, who influenced him with their love of Methodism. However, during his years at St. John’s College in Cambridge, their religious influence waned, and he was known as a man about town, fond of “theater-going, attending balls, and playing cards.” The horror.
He decided to run for Parliament when still a student, based on the solid premise that his friend was also doing it and it seemed like fun. Wilberforce turned out to be good at politics, being persuasive and gifted with a great speaking voice, but his persistent disorganization and proclivity for lateness meant he wasn’t much of a powerhouse.
In 1785, Wilberforce had a conversion experience, and after a period of discernment, he decided to use his public position to spread Christian ideals and ethics. He began meeting with several other high-profile politicians in England who were concerned about the moral depravity of the slave trade. At the time, the so-called Triangle Trade contributed about 80 percent of British income that derived from trade. The group, which included William Pitt, Thomas Clarkson, and others, became known as the Society for Effecting the Abolition of the Slave Trade.
The group launched an intense and long-lasting campaign, with logo, pamphlets, and chapters that sprang up across the United Kingdom—effectively the first grassroots human rights campaign in history. Wilberforce’s group networked with abolitionists in France, Spain, Portugal, and the United States and brought together Quakers and Anglicans on the same cause for the first time.
Finally, after a long and difficult fight, Wilberforce and his society succeeded in banning the slave trade in the United Kingdom in 1807. Wilberforce continued lobbying and working for a total abolition of slavery. He received word that a total abolition law would be enacted three days before his death in 1833.
Collect for William Wilberforce
O Lord, reassure me with your quickening Spirit; without you I can do nothing. Mortify in me all ambition, vanity, vainglory, worldliness, pride, selfishness, and resistance from God, and fill me with love, peace and all the fruits of the Spirit. O Lord, I know not what I am, but to you I flee for refuge. I would surrender myself to you, trusting your precious promises and against hope believing in hope. Amen.
(-Attributed to Wilberforce)
Agatha Lin Zhao
Agatha Lin Zhao devoted her life to educating others about traditional Chinese culture, the world, and her faith. Ultimately, that commitment to education cost her life.
Early on, two conflicting commitments were made in Agatha’s life. Her parents had committed Agatha to be married to a young man whom they thought would help secure their family’s future. Meanwhile, Agatha had committed herself to serving God and the church.
Agatha’s parents were no strangers to the sacrifices of faith. Themselves Christians, Agatha’s father was in prison for refusing to renounce his faith when his daughter was born in 1817. When they found out about her commitment to God, her parents released Agatha from the betrothal. In the following years, Agatha pursued her education under her religious tutors, coming home at intervals to care for her parents.
At twenty-five, Agatha Lin Zhao took religious vows and was sent out as a missionary and educator. She proceeded to the frontier of Southern China, weaving together traditional Chinese culture and Christian faith as she taught in the local villages of the Hmong, Hmub, and Xong people (collectively known as the Miao by the Chinese).
Agatha did not see the Chinese culture of her childhood in conflict with her faith, but the Chinese authorities disagreed. Refusing to renounce her Christian faith, she was arrested and beheaded on January 28, 1858.
The work and sacrifice of Agatha Lin Zhoa was recognized as a martyr saint of China canonized by Pope John Paul II in 2000. She is remembered on February 19 alongside Anges Tsao Kou Ying and Lucy Yi Zhenmei.
Collect for Agatha Lin Zhao
Lord Jesus Christ, who willingly walked the way of the cross: Strengthen your church through the witness of your servant Agatha Lin Zhao to hold fast to the path of discipleship even unto death; for with the Father and Holy Spirit you live and reign, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
[poll id="240"]
234 comments on “William Wilberforce vs. Agatha Lin Zhao”
I was all set to go with Agatha as she was willing to stick with her convictions of Christ as Lord even if it meant martyrdom. However, in the overall good of the world, many more lives were touched and saved by Wilberforce's persistence and dedication.
Wilberforce for me since he was instrumental in having Chaplins accompany the first fleet to Australia. I’m also relieved that he was a tad disorganised- a real person, quirky and flawed.
Go Agatha!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
No slight to Wilberforce's work for abolition, but I vote for Agatha. She carried out her mission during the Opium War in China, when Britain worked to tip the economic balance in its favor by pushing opium consumption in China. As a woman she would have been very much a second-class person, and her Christian faith ran counter to the Imperial government that ruled under the "Mandate of Heaven." Not an easy mission for anyone.
Love the songs and singing the choruses today; both winners. I voted for Agatha and her courage.
Such compelling lives, such commitment to their Christian journey.
Such a hard decision but, I had to vote for Agatha who walked with
Christ, never denying him, even to the end.
The biographies, as well as the many comments, are thoughtful and thought-provoking. Wilberforce dedicated his life to pursuing the noble goal of abolishing slavery in the UK. He worked his entire adult life to achieve this, and he is to be honored and respected for doing so.
Agatha Lin Zhao is new to me, and I was struck by the fact that she was named for a Christian saint, a saint who was brutally tortured and killed for her faith. Agatha Lin Zhao’s own father was imprisoned for his faith, which helps tip the scales slightly in her direction.
What finally convinced me to vote for her was Agatha herself. She rejected what I assume would have been the comfortable life of being a well-to-do matron to pursue religious training and then go out and spread the Gospel. She knew full well that dedicating her life to Christianity was undoubtedly a death sentence as it was a period in Chinese history when religious (Christian) persecution was rampant.
William Wilberforce spent his adult life changing an evil law, but he did so without having to compromise his lifestyle or his safety. While he was prompted by Christian ethics, his achievement falls more under the heading of Social Reform (when compared to Agatha).
Agatha knowingly put her life on the line in order to spread the Gospel. Her entire life was a dedication to God. Therefore, Agatha Lin Zhao gets my vote.
(Note to the SEC: You certainly aren’t making these choices easy for us!)
Agatha. Two very praiseworthy people, but he died an old man in his bed and she was killed in her prime. Gotta go with the martyr.
It's hard to not vote for a martyr, but I must stand with William Wilberforce against the slave trade!
Originally our thoughts leaned toward Wilberforce because of the slave issue. He's widely known because of the movie and it's easy to vote for someone you recognize. However, he might of been reviled, but his faith was never in question. But Agatha, she made the sacrifice of her life for not renouncing what she believed.
Agatha gets our vote.
Today is International Women's Day. Agatha gets my vote.
Another tough one today! I voted for Wilberforce but could just as easily gone with Agnes... both exemplary humans.
Though discision, but Wilber's work against slavery has had more far reaching impact even to this day.
So glad to learn about Agatha, a dedicated servant of God. Voting for Willy the Force (as a previous commentator called him), committed to eradicating an utter evil, the slave trade. We need voices like his today. (Less to the point, I'm happy to learn he was disorganized and always late.)
Tough to compete with someone the subject of a recent movie with a cause that so resonates today. But
I don’t know there’s something about being beheaded....
Wilberforce has long been my #1 favorite saint, so the vote was easy. But I will remember and honor Agatha, who is very much worth knowing about. Lent Madness invite more than choose-one-reject-one.
It's International Woman's Day!
Look, I love Wilberforce's work and Methodist influences.
BUT Female saints and women of color get the vote EVERY TIME for me!
I appreciate her martyrdom and what seems to be her very healthy understanding of Christ and indigenous culture.
VOTE AGATHA FOR INTERNATIONAL WOMAN'S DAY
Wilberforce’s work saved thousands and influenced America to to move toward abolitio
After visiting The Legacy Museum : From Enslavement to Mass Incarceration yesterday in Montgomery, Alabama, I welcomed the chance to caste my vote for William Wilberforce today. His opposition to slavery, America's "original sin," was truly saintly. May he serve as a witness to us all.
This is so hard!! (I know, SEC, that we say that every year, but it remains true!)
Wilberforce's tireless work to abolish slavery and to oppose cruelty to animals pulls me to vote for him. St. Agatha is new to me, and I deeply admire the courage and the faith that led her to reject a more comfortable life and to risk all for the Good News. Will need to think about this a while longer, but will rejoice in learning about these 2 fine Christians and be happy with whichever wins this match.
It’s International Women’s Day amd we have a martyr for the faith. Thos was easy, sorry Wilbur.
I had to ponder on this one. But after all I voted for Agatha. Brave to venture out into the back country to share her faith. But I especially like the fact that she showed people that there need to be no problem in keeping their culture when becoming and being Christian.
I relate more with Wilberforce, a card playing man fighting the good fight on slavery, but how can you not vote for Agatha. She gave her life spreading our faith in an unwelcoming land. I've never been to China, but I can only imagine the fight and struggles. She also suffered as a child since her dad was locked up for our faith. It's a shame if she doesn't rally and win this round.
I like Wilberforce, an abolitionist and a person willing to jump into something because his friend is doing it and it sounds like fun. He’d be great to have adventures with! I went with Agatha, though. I have a soft spot for martyrs and underdogs.
William was working within his own society that held Christianity as its basis, and at a time where his sharing of beliefs did not demand public punishment for heresy.
Agatha was working as a tiny fraction, a voice in the wilderness, as was Christ, daring to oppose a mighty government. She knew the risks she faced and persisted.
She gets my vote.
Love Wilberforce, but how do vote against martyrs??
Another Hard choice. Thank you for introducing us to lesser known saints. I’d never heard of Agatha Fantastic life and ministry.
But I voted for Wiberforce -
I loved learning about both and I have admiration for both. To be able to hear that voice inside even when it calls one to do something that challenges the existing powers know ing that what lies ahead is struggles and difficulties is what we need more of. They should both win!
What time do you cut off the voting? I'm here in Hawaii way behind Eastern time... can you let me know?
Does my vote count after a certain hour here in Hawaii?
You're good. Voting's open for a full 24 hours. Starting at 8 am Eastern time.
LIKE! LIKE! LIKE!
Agatha Lin Zhao, in honor of my mother and aunt who were both teachers.