On Friday, James Holly defeated Kateri Tekakwitha 58% to 42% to advance to the Elate Eight.
Later today, keep your holy eyes peeled for this week's episode of Monday Madness. It will, naturally and inevitably, be epic. But first, go vote!
Columbanus
Like so many holy and notable historical figures, St. Columbanus’s birth was foreseen in visions by his mother, and in those visions, he was predicted to grow into a remarkable genius.
Around the age of forty, after living the monastic life for many years in Ireland, he went to the continent and began his impressive and successful missionary work founding monasteries and converting Celts to Christianity. As the monasteries grew, he often sought solitude in nearby caves. Sometimes, the cave was already occupied. One of the miracles attributed to him to verify his sainthood happened when he spiritually compelled a bear to vacate the cave where Columbanus wanted to pray in peace and quiet. When Columbanus lived in the cave, he relied upon a companion to travel back and forth to the Abbey with messages. The messenger was not, in fact, the bear.
Columbanus was incredibly skilled at winning the patronage of influential people. According to his biographer, Jonas of Susa, “he could be impetuous and even headstrong, for by nature he was eager, passionate, and dauntless. These qualities were both the source of his power and the cause of his mistakes.” He allied himself with kings and grew powerful, which made him the enemy of bishops. Monastic and diocesan tensions flared over matters of grave theological importance: the method of calculating the date of Easter and the proper shape of a monk’s tonsure.
The bishops of France objected that Columbanus and his monks calculated the date of Easter according to the Irish method instead of the Roman one. While this squabble was undoubtedly about power and prominence, it also caused a practical complication around when, in fact, Lent ended and feasting could begin.
The Frankish bishops also disapproved of the way Columbanus’s Irish monks wore their hair. While Roman clerics shaved the top of their heads, leaving a narrow circular band of hair called a corona, the Irish monks wore a different hairstyle. Much scholarly debate has been waged over this crucial spiritual detail–what exactly was the shape of the Irish tonsure? Sources claim the head was shaved over the crown from ear to ear but was it curved across the forehead, or pointed in an exaggerated widow’s peak? Salvation hangs in the balance. Will we ever know for sure? And which is the correct and holy way?
Eventually, the theological controversies died down, at which point, Columbanus rebuked the royal family of Burgundy for immoral behavior and was taken captive by them, but managed to escape.
Columbanus has a few other notable miracles attributed to him. He is credited with multiplying bread and beer for his monastic community, but on another occasion when beer was prepared for a pagan celebration, he destroyed the barrel of beer with his breath. Clearly, he was filled with the Holy Spirit.
Lastly, Columbanus was known as a friend to animals. When he walked in the woods, birds landed on his shoulder and squirrels cozied up in his cowl. While he did not employ a bear as his messenger from his cozy cave, he did tame one and yoke it to a plow.
Madeleine Sophie Barat was the youngest member of the budding order of the Sacred Heart when she was appointed Mother Superior. Before any of her sisters could congratulate her, Sophie knelt down and began to kiss their feet. As one Sister remembered, “such was the spirit of her government”.
The Religious of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (RSCJ) took the traditional three vows of religious life (poverty, chastity and obedience), as well as a vow of education. They were meant not just to teach, but to cultivate “the heart of an educator”, helping people to discover their God-given gifts so that, “they may discover the significance of their lives, devote themselves to others and help transform the world.” In Mother Barat’s words, “Present day society will be saved by education; other means are almost useless.”
The Society made education available to the rich and poor alike. Knowing that hungry students couldn’t learn, Mother Barat and her sisters served a midmorning snack. This practice is known as Goûter (to taste), and continues today. Another beloved Sacred Heart practice still in use is “Congé”. Meaning “to take leave”, in this yearly celebration all classes are canceled and replaced with games, treats, and other fun for students.
Mother Barat didn’t want new students to think of school as a punishment. New arrivals were not to be served “sensible food”, but given whatever they asked for, even if it was trouble for the kitchen. One nun who worked with Mother Barat wrote about a little girl who demanded "potatoes that open with butter inside." Mother Perdrau sat with the girl and listened to her while the potatoes disappeared. When the Sister took the child to her new dormitory, “the child hugged her pillow happily, then suddenly threw her arms around me. ‘Why do you love me so much?’, she asked, ‘You’ve never seen me before!’”
Mother Barat’s own words are perhaps the best way to encounter her legacy:
“What is needed for winning parents and children is to be busy about them, at their service from morning to night; to forget oneself and enter into what concerns the children, body and soul; to listen to them with interest; to console and to encourage them; finally to sacrifice for them everything except one's soul; and become for their sakes gentle, patient, indulgent, in one word, a mother.”
“Let us respect childhood; let us honor the soul of that small creature of God who can already make choices of the best if we take the time to awaken her reason and make her use her judgment.”
“We don’t live with angels; we have to put up with human nature and forgive it.”
“Let your heart be more attentive than your head, for the Holy Spirit is love, and to take hold of her, it is more important to love than to understand.”
In perhaps the ultimate act of quirkiness, Mother Barat is said to have predicted her own death, which took place on the Feast of the Ascension, May 25th 1865.
-- Eva Suarez
81 comments on “Columbanus vs. Madeleine Barat”
Ack! I got the dreaded circle of dots when I tried to vote this morning! In the interests of not wanting to be perceived as double voting and incurring the wrath of the SEC, I will not try to vote again. But Columbanus was my choice this morning.
You had me at "don't make a new child eat anything sensible." Sitting with a child who wants baked potatoes with butter (what! no sour cream?) and listening to her? That woman is a saint! This woman has my heart. As for the monks of the 6th century, if only they had had the "fade" and could cut symbols into the hair with razors. That would be worth fighting over.
Yes, the fade would have been brilliant! Imagine how the different houses could have their own brand image shaved into the monks' tonsures.
She had me at baked potatoes!
Sorry, Amber—thank you for the laughs, but Sister Barat’s words leave no room for any other choice!
I gotta go with the educator of children: Madeline!
I believe that in this round, quirks and quotes, the more modern saints have a definite advantage over most of the older ones. The modern saints' words are more likely to have been recorded, either in their own writings or in those of others. A large trove of Mother Barat's documents still exist and her work has been published widely. What we have of Columbanus is fragmentary and in many cases oral legend. Good writeups, however quotes straight from the saint's own writings or from fairly recent eyewitnesses make much more of an impression than "it was said" or "legend has that..." about a saint.
The quotes overshadow the quirks.
Alas: I was all ready to keep voting Columbanus, but given the options of a loving mother to children she's never seen before, vs a guy who'd turf a bear out of his own house...
I am saddened by the description of Columbanus which in my view focuses on the trivial. In the fifth century, in the midst of war and conflict, Columbanus traveled throughout Europe ( Italy, France, Germany, Austria ) bringing the word of God and establishing monasteries and seats of learning. Many of these centers of learning and their libraries serve as a resource for scholars even today.
One might suggest the documentary, Columbanus: The Monk who United Europe to gain a more complete view of his life and contributions.
Thank you.
I think that's a result of this being the "Quirks and Quotes" round. Also that as one commenter pointed out, there often aren't quotes available for older saints, but plenty for more modern ones. So Madeleine Sophie Barat's profile is packed with quotes, but Columbanus' profile can only be quirks.
Thank you for the info on the documentary; I'll check it out!
Madeleine had me at mid-morning snack.
I agree with Mother Barat--education is the only solution to the problems we face in society and children must be seen, heard and nurtured. I have many friends whose children and grandchildren have been educated by the women of the Sacred Heart, and who have learned how to think, analyze and love.
No matter what his hair looked like, I think it was rather rude of Columbanus to move the bear out of the cave just so that he could sit there and think. Ever heard of sharing??
"Une cave" in French is a wine cellar, and perhaps the bear was tapping the barrels. I too would find that "unbearable."
Vote for columbanus
I haven't seen anything online yet that indicates Madeleine Barat was influenced by Francis de Sales, but his gentle spirit certainly seems present. And he was French! Anyone know if there is a connection?
thanks.
Yes, there appears to be a connection through dedication to and devotion towards the Sacred Heart. See https://www.guardofhonor-usa.org/about-us/saintly-members/st-madeleine-sophie-barat/
Thanks! Interesting link.
Voting for Madeleine Sophie Barat in honor of Fred Rogers!
These two saints are each worthy of a win, but I am very sorry that the author of Columbanus’ blurb was done so poorly. It is really a disservice to an amazing monk and monastic founder. Just shows how much words can influence or sway people unjustly.
The author of the blurb on Columbanus is a child of God and is and has done excellently well. Indeed, God preveniently pronounced her "good." More to the point, she is doing this work during Lent as a VOLUNTEER. I suspect her witty, good natured, and amazingly energetic effort on behalf of Columbanus would have won a lot of votes had Columbanus not been up against a woman who let children EAT JUNK FOOD. I'll bet had Mother Madeleine been asked for a can of compressed whipped cream so that the child could spray the entire can into her mouth, she would have allowed it and sat with the child and enjoyed her pleasure. What's a monk out foraging with the forest animals to do? His defeat is unbearable, sure, but these brackets return, so I'm guessing, animal lover that he is, that he'll be bach(man's sparrow). SO many puns! While we're appreciating all these saints, let's appreciate the bloggers for their hard work and selfless service on behalf of this Lenten community.
While I admire her care and understanding of children, I voted for Madeline Barat because every day, I know I don't live with angels, and need help living with people.
While Mesrop Mashtots has the more unusual name, I voted for Madeline. Her concern for educating young people, especially girls, from a position of love and concern really impressed me.
It helped that my mother was a classroom teacher for several years and then a reading instructor and my sister was a music teacher for quite a while and is currently a director for a local city-wide children's choral group. Both have had a true concern for the emotional health of their students.
Had to vote for Madeleine. Education is definitely more improvement than hair styles and the exact date of Easter
I was all prepared to vote for beer and bears, but Madeleine won my heart with her understanding of children.
Columbanus did much to spread a holistic Christian ethos and monastic practices from his Irish origins to the rest of Europe. I wish he’d received a more sympathetic treatment here as he was about far more than calendars and tonsures. That said, any early monastic missionary would have slim chances against someone so compelling an educator and lover of children. They came from very different worlds.
Well, I didn't pick either of these contenders, so I am not swayed by worries about my bracket. After reading Columbanus' bio, I was all prepared to vote for him, even though he seems to have been a bit of a grouch, but the story was charming and humorous. Then I read Eva Suarez's bio of Madeleine and I was almost brought to tears. How could I vote against her?
Wow - a friend to animals, but really MEAN to the poor bear. HEY, that bear was there first, and then to make it plow his fields. BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
And then here we have Madeleine - sounds like a good nun, a good teacher, and nice to kids - I mean, a nice potato with butter? Sign me up!
I find these two write-ups very different in substance and that does not do justice to Columbusanus. I think it's important that all writers are on the same page as to what the parameters are for each time they present their saints.
Thought I would be going for Columbanus but couldn't find a reason to do so after reading the offerings for the day. I found myself scratching my head. What? This is what made him a saint?
Maybe if Columbanus had gainfully employed the bear as an ecclesiastical messenger, I would have been more tempted to vote for him.
Voted for Madeleine Sophie. As the wife of a man who spent his life training teachers and creating an atmosphere of acceptance in the classroom I certainly couldn’t vote for a man who unhoused a bear! (Surprised he didn’t get clawed )
If anyone is paying attention to the other March Madness, the University of Kansas, in a program founded by basketball creator James Naismith , is now in the final four. Naismith, a Christian chaplain has already reached sainthood in the Sunflower State
I love reading about the Saints. I knew hardly anything about Madeleine Sophie Barat, but she reminds me of Saint Hilda of Whitby, a woman well before her time - even if her time
were now! JOY
Definitely Barat all the way. I’m inclined not to believe the bear story of Columbanus. Seem unlikely and fable.
Madam Barat today because we certainly don’t live with Angels!
I have a bit of a bear phobia so I had to vote for Columbanus. You never know when you'll need a bear-taming saint on the trail.
In this year's Rental Madness, this is the first time I appear to have voted for a winner!
My post was supposed to read : In this year's Lenten Madness, this is the first time I appear to have voted for a winner.
Everyone for whom you have voted in this Lent Madness has been and is a winner. 😉