After the heady days of Nominationtide, and the submission of hundreds and hundreds of saintly nominations, the Supreme Executive Committee is pleased to release the highly anticipated 2020 Lent Madness bracket. Following their Spring Retreat, held in a secure, undisclosed coffee shop where Herculean amounts of single origin coffee was consumed, the SEC whittled down the field to 32 saints who will compete for the coveted Golden Halo.
This year, All Brackets' Day just happens to fall, appropriately enough, on All Saints' Sunday. Which means that people everywhere will have something to talk about at coffee hour, besides critiquing the preacher's sermon. Let the bracketological conversations, feuds, and smack-talk ensue!
All Brackets' Day also completes the Autumn Triduum (which will surely appear in subsequent Prayer Book revisions) consisting of All Saints' Day (November 1), All Souls' Day (November 2), and All Brackets' Day (November 3).
But enough of this preamble. Let's get to the 2020 bracket!
This year’s saints include heavyweights such as Patrick, Harriet Tubman, Clare of Assisi, Hildegaard of Bingen, Joseph, and Jude, along with many lesser known yet equally inspiring people of faith. Here's the bracket (click for a bigger version).
As a reminder, or if your new to this wacky online devotion, here’s how Lent Madness works: on the weekdays of Lent, information is posted at www.lentmadness.org about two different saints. Each pairing remains open for 24 hours as participants read about and then vote to determine which saint moves on to the next round. Sixteen saints make it to the Round of the Saintly Sixteen; eight advance to the Round of the Elate Eight; four make it to the Faithful Four; two to the Championship; and the winner is awarded the Golden Halo.
The first round consists of basic biographical information about each of the 32 saints. Things get a bit more interesting in the subsequent rounds as we offer quotes and quirks, explore legends, and even move into the area of saintly kitsch.
Unlike professional and collegiate sporting events, there is no admission cost for Lent Madness, but souvenirs and study aids are available in the Lentorium. The Saintly Scorecard: The Official Guide to Lent Madness 2020 is now available as are Bracket posters. Although Lent Madness doesn't officially kick off until Ash Thursday, February 27, you're encouraged to order your Lent Madness materials now while supplies last (seriously, we tend to run out of these things in the run-up to Lent). Plus they make AMAZING stocking stuffers. With just 114 shopping days until Ash Thursday, it's not too soon to start loading up!
Twelve “celebrity bloggers” from across the country have been tapped to write for the project: the Rev. Amber Belldene of San Francisco, CA; the Rev. Laurie Brock of Lexington, KY; Anna Fitch Courie of Columbia, SC; Dr. David Creech of Moorhead, MN; the Rev. Megan Castellan of Ithaca, NY; Miguel Escobar of Brooklyn, NY; Neva Rae Fox of Somerville, NJ; the Rev. David Hansen of Woodlands, TX; Carol Howard Merrit of Chattanooga, TN; Emily McFarlan Miller of Chicago, IL; Dr. Sandra Montes of New York, NY; and the Rev. David Sibley of Walla Walla, WA. Information about each of the celebrity bloggers and the rest of the team is available on the Lent Madness website.
As you revel in the joys of All Brackets' Day, join Tim and Scott for a special Facebook Live Bracket Release Party at 8:00 pm EST on the Lent Madness Facebook page. Happy Lent!
220 comments on “Happy All Brackets' Day!”
I'll vote for Gabriel/Gabriella!
She/he did some heavy lifting!
I'll vote for Gabriel/Gabriella!
She/he did some heavy lifting!
St. Stephen's and St. Kateri's are two of the churches in Santa Clarita, CA (one Episcopal, one Catholic). Let the crosstown rivalry commence.
St. Stephen's and St. Kateri's are two of the churches in Santa Clarita, CA (one Episcopal, one Catholic). Let the crosstown rivalry commence.
So excited.
So excited.
While I am sad that the blessed St. Edmund of East Anglia has been overlooked again, I look forward to a fascinating Lent Madness and the many saints with whom I am not familiar. Let the bracket begin!
While I am sad that the blessed St. Edmund of East Anglia has been overlooked again, I look forward to a fascinating Lent Madness and the many saints with whom I am not familiar. Let the bracket begin!
Everyone is missing the Real Story! Did you notice that Forward Movement has completed a leveraged buyout of #AdventWord. That means Forward Movement has control of fasting, penitence, and amendment of life within The Episcopal Church.
Next we will have to start paying indulgences to the Rev. Canon Scott Gunn.
Sin and amendment of life is something there will never be a shortage of in this life. Forward Movement knew where to invest
Everyone is missing the Real Story! Did you notice that Forward Movement has completed a leveraged buyout of #AdventWord. That means Forward Movement has control of fasting, penitence, and amendment of life within The Episcopal Church.
Next we will have to start paying indulgences to the Rev. Canon Scott Gunn.
Sin and amendment of life is something there will never be a shortage of in this life. Forward Movement knew where to invest
Upon whose sartorial calendar is Origen listed? From what I remember of history his bones were exhumed an burned as a heretic for not including the Holy Spirit among the Persons of the Godhead. This is not to say he was not a hugely influential early theologian, but I thought Lent Madness had standards. I mean if Origen can get on why not Mr. Rogers?
Well, if Origen can't catch a break, then William Ellery Channing has no hope: he denied the Trinity altogether.
I would vote for Fred Rogers. 🙂
I would vote for Fred Rogers. 🙂
Upon whose sartorial calendar is Origen listed? From what I remember of history his bones were exhumed an burned as a heretic for not including the Holy Spirit among the Persons of the Godhead. This is not to say he was not a hugely influential early theologian, but I thought Lent Madness had standards. I mean if Origen can get on why not Mr. Rogers?
I was in Memphis this summer and remembered the “Constance would go” write-up from the last time she appeared. Her selfless choices and love of the most vulnerable made a big impression on me. Constance for the Golden Halo!
I was in Memphis this summer and remembered the “Constance would go” write-up from the last time she appeared. Her selfless choices and love of the most vulnerable made a big impression on me. Constance for the Golden Halo!
Just out of curiosity -- Gabriel the Archangel??? I thought the saints we e going to consider had to be dead. And when did we start canonizing angels?
Just out of curiosity -- Gabriel the Archangel??? I thought the saints we e going to consider had to be dead. And when did we start canonizing angels?
Hilda of Whitby, who, when she wasn't hosting the Councils of the Church, and keeping order among both female and male embers of religious orders, discerned the gifts of the first English poet, Caedmon, and called him from the cowshed to begin a literary legacy.
Hilda of Whitby, who, when she wasn't hosting the Councils of the Church, and keeping order among both female and male embers of religious orders, discerned the gifts of the first English poet, Caedmon, and called him from the cowshed to begin a literary legacy.
My inbox is swapped with comments ! Need to stop receiving comments !
Thanks
My inbox is swapped with comments ! Need to stop receiving comments !
Thanks
If "Oscar" is Oscar Romero I'm rooting for him all the way. I've been to the chapel where he was murdered and it was a profound experience.
If "Oscar" is Oscar Romero I'm rooting for him all the way. I've been to the chapel where he was murdered and it was a profound experience.
Excited. This is as good if not better than the count down to Christmas.
Excited. This is as good if not better than the count down to Christmas.
We have to give the Golden Halo to Mesrop Mashtots. I mean simply because of the guy’s name. The poor kid had to have been a martyr to that name! Poor dude was a nerd too.
We have to give the Golden Halo to Mesrop Mashtots. I mean simply because of the guy’s name. The poor kid had to have been a martyr to that name! Poor dude was a nerd too.