The Supreme Executive Committee of Lent Madness congratulates Martha of Bethany for winning the 2019 Golden Halo. Martha became the 10th saint to wear the golden crown by defeating the inspiring runner up Pandita Ramabai. She joins previous Golden Halo winners George Herbert (2010), C.S. Lewis (2011), Mary Magdalene (2012), Frances Perkins (2013), Charles Wesley (2014), Francis of Assisi (2015), Dietrich Bonhoeffer (2016), Florence Nightingale (2017), and Anna Alexander (2018).
To help celebrate Martha's victory, we've invited the creative geniuses who have shared their talents throughout this holy season to honor the Golden Halo winner. We're delighted they answered the call!
Sr. Diana Doncaster has penned one final hymn in her growing saintly hymnal:
What fun among Saints when Lent Madness deploys;
We give them excuses to smile and rejoice.
They smile when we learn and share and long to grow;
And gladly sing praises when love among us flows.
Today is the day when we learned what they knew;
St. Martha’s the one won; the halo is her due.
A hostess, a servant, Confessor, Christ’s Saint.
No one could not love her; rejoice without constraint.
With Martha we grow to trust Christ’s holy grace.
It’s fine to set work down to listen as he says;
“One final commandment I now give anew,
To love one another as I have loved you.”
How Firm a Foundation - Hymn 636 or 637 – (Whichever tune you like better)
John Cabot has graced us with a last limerick:
In spite of His early admonishing
Yet Martha displays faith astonishing.
As a fitting reward
For that trust in our Lord:
A Halo that never needs polishing!
And Michael Wachter offers his final show tune of the season (how did he manage this each day?!), setting it up for us thusly:
Martha of Bethany deserves a special musical tribute to commemorate her Golden Halo victory. Her song chronicles her journey from resentful housekeeper and sister to theologian to miracle-working dragon tamer - in France. Which tune would be most appropriate to sing her praise? Why, "It's a Hard-Knock Life" from "Annie," of course!
It’s a servant’s life for me,
Living here in Bethany!
‘Stead of playing, I get work.
Mary always get the perks.
It’s a hard-knock life.
Set the table, serve the meat,
While she lies at Jesus’ feet!
I complain I (clap-clap) get no rest.
Jesus tells me, (clap-clap) “She chose best!”
It’s a hard-knock life.
When you feel like your life has bitter fragrance
‘Cause your hair smells of sweat and never nard.
You can bear it and work up your impatience;
Complaining how your life is very hard.
Jesus praises your sister who’s a slacker.
Calls you out though you’re giving it your all.
Freud’s not born yet, and still you reexamine
That by serving others you have heard God’s Call.
Ooooh!
Mary goes Round One.
Nicodemus done.
Well Girl’s luck runs dry.
Gobnait’s stung. Oh, my!
Santa Claus, I’ll never see –
Never made it to Round Three.
I’ve embraced my destiny:
Cinderella – First Cent’ry.
Love my serving life!
(spoken)
I gotta stay up till this dump shines like the Ark of the Covenant.
(sung)
When my brother up and died,
On the road while Mary cried.
Raise him if my faith sufficed.
“I believe you are the Christ!”
After Pentecost’s events,
Go to France. We’re mission bent.
Miracles in Jesus’ name
And that dragon that I tamed.
Golden Halo life!
Golden Halo life!
Gol! Den! Ha! Lo! life!
What’s nearly as important as announcing the Golden Halo winner? Sharing the Lentorium link to the winner’s swag! Be the first one on your 
block to order the official Martha of Bethany 2019 Golden Halo Winner Mug. Your brand new mug will ship later this spring in plenty of time for you to serve your friends warm beverages, just like Martha would do.
Want to nominate a saint for Lent Madness 2020? Tim and Scott will be opening up the week-long nomination process (aka Nominationtide) in the coming weeks. Stay tuned!
Finally, blessings to all as we head into the Triduum and enter into the death and resurrection of our Lord. It’s been a privilege to have you join us on our Lenten pilgrimage!
104 comments on “Martha of Bethany Wins 2019 Golden Halo!”
I, for one, hope there will never be a "like" button in Lent Madness - the thoughtful, multi-word comments are half the learning and fun.
Thank you for another wonderful way to guide us through Lent in a new way. Continue to have a solemn Maundy and Good Friday until we celebrate the lightning of the first fire of the Easter Vigil.
Such a gloroius way to end this Lenton Madness, now to go into the final few days with due reverence for what Christ has done for us as Christains!
Tonight we will share a PASSOVER dinner then Followed by the washing of our feet by our Church ,members one by one, watching the bandages float in the murky water, doesn't matter, it IS HOLY WATER correct?
After the service we, the Altar Guild must strip, the Altar and everything removed and black cloths cover the cross and anything we cannot physically remove to be ready for Good Friday service!
Then good Friday service , and also the famous Fish & Chip dinner --take a breath on Holy Saturday and prepare the Altar for the EASTER SERVICE AND HOLY BAPTISM! Watch out our Rev. Sue. Will baptize all in the congregation with the palms branches left from Palm Sunday! Of course, there will be an Easter lunch after EASTER SERVICE, THE MANDATE OF THE CHURCH OF ST.DAVID &ST.MARKS , Windsor, Ont. Canada To feed the SOUL as well as the BODY! A BLESSED. EASTER TO ALL,. ⛪️. . . .
My admiration is unbound for the wonderful poems and lyrics. Thank you all so much. And please give George T. Dog my love.
Learning about the saints was awesome!!
I've been doing Lent Madness since 2013 but I think this was the best one yet, with all the poems/songs, thoughtful comments, and people who respectfully disagreed with each other. It really felt like a community. I'll miss you!
Many of this year's Saints were lesser known and some unknown to me. I was glad to learn. Peace!
Hurrah for Martha!
Carol Smith
To echo all that’s been said, I’ve followed Lent Madness since 2013 (Dorothy Day vs Oscar Romero — STILL flummoxed how one could choose) and maybe read the first few comments. (And in 2015, my theology students and I played LM together!) But this year, I commented for the first time and read all the thoughts of my fellow followers. It’s remarkable how you all became a part of my life, especially as I talked about the comment section with my husband and friends. It has been great to learn about the saints, but moreover, to learn from each of you. And the limericks and show tunes were the icing on the cake! Here’s to Martha, Martha, Martha and 2019! Hoping for another 10+ wonderful years. Blessed Triduum to all
Please add me to your email list for next year.
This is my second year participating in Lent Madness and I'm just "mad" about it. Time passes so quickly! Congratulations to Martha! Well deserved of the Golden Halo. Looking forward to 2020. God bless. Love and light.
Doreen
It has been fun, educational, and a joy for Lent. I have been so impressed with the creativity of the comments! Looking forward to next year!
So typical for the pious So Called Christians to vote for imaginary Martha!!!! Get a life people please!!!! Pax! TNC
Of what order are you a chaplain, Tom? FSJ does not stand for any order that I know.
Congratulations Martha! An excellent Lent Madness X! I've enjoyed learning about the Saints, and this year have been inspired to learn more about bees! Thank you to Tim and Scott, all the Celebrity Bloggers, the Bracket Czar, Maestro Shiloh Roby, the staff at Forward Movement, Maria Virginia-the Lent Madness Celebrity Chef(thank you for the information about honey), Sr. Diana Doncaster, John and Michael, all the Saints, the Lent Madness Global Playing Community and Commentariat-as always, I've enjoyed reading and learning from all the comments as part of my Lenten journey. A Blessed Triduum and a Joyous Easter to all!
I’m wondering if Gobnait shouldn’t get an honorable mention.
https://www.cnn.com/2019/04/19/europe/notre-dame-bees-fire-intl-scli/index.html?ofs=fbia
This is my first Lent Madness and I am full of gratitude for it! So grateful to Tim and Scott for all the work and effort to bring the saint’s gifts and challenges alive, grateful to Michael for his extremely moving and delightful lyrics! Thank you for bringing me closer to God through the saints and the saintly acts of all of you.