It’s hard to believe our Lent Madness journey is nearing its inevitable end. We kicked things off over five weeks ago on “Ash Thursday” with 32 saintly souls (which somehow seems a lot longer than that this year). With your help, the field has now been whittled down to just two: Harriet Tubman and Joseph. Who will be awarded the coveted 2020 Golden Halo? That, friends, is up to you.
Regardless of the ultimate outcome, we’ve met some truly remarkable holy people along the way. Perhaps you learned about some folks you’d never heard of or maybe you renewed acquaintances with saints who have long offered inspiration. Of course the entire notion of placing saints in a bracket is absurd — each “contestant” has already earned a crown of righteousness in addition to a “golden halo.” But at the heart of Lent Madness is the abiding conviction that encountering those who have come before us in the faith enriches and enlivens our own walk with the risen Christ.
In the process of this whimsical Lenten devotion we’ve all made some new online friends, encountered a community of believers who take their faith but not themselves too seriously, learned some things, were inspired by saintly witnesses, and hopefully had some fun along the way.
Of course we literally couldn’t have done this without our amazing Celebrity Bloggers to whom we offer sincere gratitude: Amber Belldene, Laurie Brock, Megan Castellan, Anna Fitch Courie, David Creech, Miguel Escobar, Neva Rae Fox, David Hansen, Carol Howard Merritt, Emily McFarlan Miller, Sandra Montes, and David Sibley. Thanks to Bracket Czar Adam Thomas for his stellar behind-the-scenes work in keeping the bracket updated daily. You all rock!
A special shout-out to Sister Diana Doncaster, of the Society of the Transfiguration, who kept us humming our favorite hymns throughout the season with her brilliant daily musical offerings based on the saintly pairings.
Thank you to everyone at Forward Movement for putting up with our shenanigans and producing a terrific Saintly Scorecard this year.
2019 Golden Halo Winner Martha of Bethany prepares to hand over the 2020 crown.
Finally, thanks to all of you who participated by voting, commenting, drinking coffee out of Lent Madness mugs, filling in brackets, talking about saints with friends, liking us on Facebook or following us on Twitter, and allowing us to play a small role in your Lenten journey. We’ve loved having each one of you along for the “madness” and on behalf of the Supreme Executive Committee we wish you a blessed Holy Week and a joyous Easter.
Before we invite you to cast this final vote, we should note that Sandra Montes has ably shepherded Harriet Tubman through the bracket, while Neva Rae Fox has done the same for Joseph. We’ve asked them for a single image and one quote either by or about their saint. We’ve already heard a lot about Harriet and Joseph — click the Bracket tab and scroll down to view their previous match-ups if you want to refresh your memory. And then, it’s time to make your choice.
The polls will be open for 24 hours and the winner will be announced at 8:00 am Eastern time on Maundy Thursday. Now go cast your vote — the 2020 Lent Madness Golden Halo hangs in the balance!
Harriet Tubman
“God’s time [Emancipation] is always near. He set the North Star in the heavens; He gave me the strength in my limbs; He meant I should be free.”
-- Harriet Tubman
Joseph
Go, then to Joseph, and do all that he shall say to you;
Go to Joseph, and obey him as Jesus and Mary obeyed him;
Go to Joseph, and speak to him as they spoke to him;
Go to Joseph, and consult him as they consulted him;
Go to Joseph, and honour him as they honoured him;
Go to Joseph, and be grateful to him as they were grateful to him;
Go to Joseph, and love him, as they love him still.
-- St. Alphonsus Liguori
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160 comments on “For the Golden Halo: Harriet Tubman vs. Joseph”
As someone asked yesterday, does anyone know the title and artist of the painting of St Joseph and toddler Jesus?
Voting for Harriet but love that photo
Barbara, I am so sorry that you have lost two members of your family this week, and that the virus prevents the family from coming together in person. My heart aches for you. May light perpetual shine upon your aunts.
I went to Google and learned to do a "reverse image search" to try and answer your question. But no luck. St. Joseph is so popular that there are a gazillion sites with that image, and the ones I looked at did not mention who the artist is, or the title of the image. I just wanted to leave a note to let you know you were "heard," though my research was not successful. Happy Easter!
Knew this from the beginning.
Given our current situation, it's a shame that Isidore of Seville, the patron saint of the Internet, didn't make it further. We are certainly beholden to, grateful for, dependent upon, the Internet right now. May its servers remain strong!
Thanks for a great year, Happy Easter everyone, and be well.
What I am going to miss about Lent Madness is the sense of community I've gotten from reading everyone's comments. Often they have opened my mind to different points of view and it's been especially wonderful in this season of having to avoid face-to-face contact with other people. Today I have to go with Harriet as someone we still need to lead us to freedom from spiritual blindness and injustice. Although it seems we go two steps backward for every step we take forward, I pray we can still keep going, as she did.
Thank you to everyone who posted a response. Many times I thought to, but not something I usually do. Thank you to the saints, and they truly are! who wrote the articles on the saints we were considering. I have learned so much about so many saints and will carry much of this forward with me.
In this difficult time it has been a delight to look forward to each day’s new postings
Thanks be to God
I believe I have been following Lent Madness since 2009. Since that time, I start looking forward to the Saintly Smackdown beginning the day after Christmas - St. Stephen's Day. And then it arrives and as fast as it gets here, it is gone but not without the new winner of the Golden Halo! Thank you to all - Tim, Scott, Celebrity Bloggers and to everyone who posts, I learn so much. This particular round was especially important due to the day to day crisis we all face from Covid 19. We formed a family!
I absolutely love Harriet Tubman and I would, against perhaps any other Saint, vote for her. However, I have long believed that Joseph doesn't get the same respect as other key biblical people, and therefore, cast my vote for him. If Ms. Tubman wins, who can possibly be disappointed.
I also would like to thank everyone involved with this for making it possible. The Lenten season is my favorite time of the year, and I always look forward to seeing the posts.
I know that Harriet Tubman will win the halo but I believe that Joseph is an underdog and never really receive the love and appreciation that he so richly deserves. He never asked for the spotlight. He did what was asked of him, even though it was difficult. I hope that someday he will again be a candidate in Lent Madness and will win the Golden Halo. He deserves it.
I thought the voting totals were hidden until tomorrow? Why am I seeing a running total?
and unlike all the other contests, I'm not revealing my choice~
Besides, unlike the Treasury Department, I've got $20 riding on Harriet!!! LOL
Many thanks to all who spent hours to make Lent Madness happen every year!! It also gives me a chance to connect with our now missing and missed Rev. Megan Castellan - undoubtedly related to a Saint. Blessings to all and stay well.
What does it say about our world that it was only in (Lent) Madness that I felt the most sane? Thank you, all, for the blessing of community, the exchange of ideas and the celebration of faith. I will miss you.
Thank you so much, Scott, Tim, and all you fabulous celebrity bloggers. Lent Madness has been a bright spot in this worrisome time.
It looks like Harriet has a comfortable lead for the Golden Halo, and this is the first time in the several years that I have participated that "my" saint has made it all the way! I am currently reading The Water Dancer, which is giving me another interesting, if fictionalized, perspective of her life's work. I will definitely be ordering a mug this year.
Thank you SEC. Lent Madness has given us a community when we were isolated, chuckles when life was dreary, music, art and poetry when we needed it, inspiration when we were uninspired.
In Kansas basketball is a religion and March Madness is close to holy. ("You scheduled your wedding in March? Well if it conflicts with a game, don't expect me to be there. And I'm your mother.") So when it was cancelled the order crumbled. But there was always Lenten Madness to turn to. A gift. Again, thank you.
For Gregory of Ravenna: I have not seen you comment today. Where is "The Stacks," please? (I got the "Green Book"!) I have enjoyed your comments and hope to see you here again next year. Stay well! and THANK YOU!
St. C!
Bless your heart - I thought I had chimed in.
I definitely wanted to thank you for your thoughtful and eloquent posts. You were a special delight this year. Did I understand you are based in the Northwest? (Got that impression, not sure why). If so, me too!
The Stacks is our house, in the way of a good British house, named for a special feature. In our case - books. Stacks and stacks of books. Not to brag...
See you next year!
Portland, St MAA! Stay well!
Wait - how can you see my email?
Not that I have a problem with that, but - how do you do that?
Jesus had his heavenly Father and his earthly father to teach and guide him. St. Joseph guides and watches over our family.
While I think Joseph should be running away with this, I would be perfectly happy if two Golden Halos were awarded, one for each. I think both finalists would also be happy with such a solution to this difficult choice.
I think that Harriet Tubman was a good Candidate with remarkable achievements in America. Perhaps the recent movie helped to spread her story. Saint Joseph on the other hand is heard about at Christmas. His remarkable undertaking led to Christianity. Mary’s fiat perhaps would not have been achieved without the protection of Saint Joseph. He to had to flee with the most precious cargo of Mary and Jesus.
All praise for Harriet Tubman’s discipleship. However,
Know Joseph, know Jesus.
No Joseph, no Jesus.