Welcome to the Saintly Sixteen! With your help, we have successfully whittled our field from 32 saints to 16. For this round, rather than the basic biographical information, we enter the realm of Quirks and Quotes. Our brilliant Celebrity Bloggers will provide unusual information or legends surrounding their saints along with quotes either by or about their saints.
Yesterday, in the closest battle of Lent Madness 2022 to date, Thomas Aquinas narrowly defeated Jerome by the absolute thinnest of margins. See the update added at the conclusion of yesterday's post for a note on some voting irregularities. The SEC regrets confusion that was caused by several cheaters -- with a few more people cheating on behalf of Jerome than on behalf of Thomas.
If you’re a competing type and, well, maybe your original bracket blew up, you can start anew with the Saintly Sixteen! This new feature allows you to pit your predictions against others in the Lent Madness voting public. Give it a try here!
But enough jibber jabber. It's time to cast your first vote of the Saintly Sixteen, as Stephen squares off against Teresa of Avila. Go vote!
Stephen
You can find the whole of Stephen’s “authorized biography” in Chapters 6 and 7 of the Acts of the Apostles. It is a fairly sparse account.
We read how Stephen preaches the longest of the sermons recorded in that book – a sermon which ends with the accusation of his hearers: “You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you are forever opposing the Holy Spirit.” Stephen’s honesty is commendable, as is the realization that it directly leads to his martyrdom.
But like many other leading figures of the early church, Stephen’s story is continued in legends and traditions handed down through the generations. And many of these traditional stories concern the holiness of Stephen’s earthly remains – a visible sign of the holiness that Stephen showed in life and the grace that dwelt in him.
According to the Golden Legend, none other than the well-known Pharisees Gamaliel and Nicodemus uncovered Stephen's remains and gave them a proper burial. But the remains of Stephen did not remain in Jerusalem – in death the first deacon was very well travelled!
Augustine of Hippo devotes an entire chapter of his Confessions to the miracles attributed to Stephen when his relics were in North Africa. These included the healing of wounds, blind gaining sight, and numerous accounts of raising the dead.
The remains of Stephen eventually wound up at Basilica of Saint Lawrence outside the Walls – the resting place of Saint Lawrence, one of the first seven deacons of the church in Rome. Apparently, Lawrence was excited to welcome the first martyr of the church and the patron saint of deacons. When Stephen’s remains were brought there, the remains of Lawrence “as if enjoying his coming and smiling” moved over on their own accord to make room for Stephen.
Very early on, the church made the remembrance of Stephan a part of the Christmas celebrations. The Golden Legend proclaims that “Yesterday Christ was born in earth, that this day Stephen should be born in heaven.” The Feast of St Stephen falls on December 26 in the West (December 27 in the East), a reminder of the connection between the Nativity and the call for us to be prepared to lay down our very lives.
The Feast of Saint Stephen is often an occasion to remember his work as a deacon – caring for the poor, hungry, and all people in need. It was just such a remembrance that drove a particular 10th century Bohemian royal to head out into the deep, crisp, and even snow to provide for a local peasants. The carol “Good King Wenceslaus” by John Mason Neale recalls for us the work of Stephen: “Ye who now will bless the poor, will yourselves find blessing.”
Preaching on St. Stephen’s Day, Kaj Munk draws out the Christmas connection of Stephen’s martyrdom: “True Christmas joy, no matter how much or how little of it you comprehend, means that you go where He wants you to go.”
-- David Hanson
Teresa of Avila
Look around and you’ll see the marks of Teresa of Avila all around - in art, popular culture, movies, and common idioms.
As a child, she was known to pray and repeat this quick familiar prayer: “For ever, for ever, for ever, for ever, they shall see God.”
In art, she is the subject of well-known and recognizable portraits by Pieter Paul Rubens and François Gérard. Bernini's imposing sculpture Ecstasy of Saint Teresa is located in Rome, depicting her mystical visions.
In music, she is found in a wide swath of styles: from classical (Marc-Antoine Charpentier’s compositions for her feast for two voices and two flutes); to current ("Theresa's Sound-World" by Sonic Youth on the 1992 album Dirty, and Saint Teresa on Joan Osborne's Relish album, nominated for a Grammy Award in 1996); to opera (Four Saints in Three Acts by composer Virgil Thomson with libretto penned by Gertrude Stein).
Worldwide literary greats highlight her: Simone de Beauvoir, Thomas Hardy (Tess of the D’Urbervilles), George Eliot, and Kathryn Harrison's popular novel Poison.
Numerous films and television shows in various languages portray the life or interpretation of Teresa. In movies, who can forget the blockbuster Angels and Demons where her sculpture is an important link to the tale.Nonetheless it’s her words that are notable and known (how many do you know?):
“Be gentle to all and stern with yourself.”
“There are more tears shed over answered prayers than over unanswered prayers.”
“To have courage for whatever comes in life - everything lies in that.”
“I know the power obedience has of making things easy which seem impossible.”
“We can only learn to know ourselves and do what we can - namely, surrender our will and fulfill God's will in us.”
“I do not fear Satan half so much as I fear those who fear him.”
“Accustom yourself continually to make many acts of love, for they enkindle and melt the soul.”
“Our body has this defect that, the more it is provided care and comforts, the more needs, and desires it finds.”
“To reach something good it is very useful to have gone astray, and thus acquire experience.”
“For prayer is nothing else than being on terms of friendship with God.”
She wrote much poetry, including this popular piece: “God alone is enough.”
Let nothing upset you,
let nothing startle you.
All things pass;
God does not change.
Patience wins
all it seeks.
Whoever has God
lacks nothing:
God alone is enough
The final words of St. Teresa, muttered after a prolonged illness, were telling of her entire life: “O my Lord! Now is the time that we may see each other.”
-- Neva Rae Fox
110 comments on “Stephen vs. Teresa of Avila”
Stephen has always been a big part of my life -- my son is named after him.
In today's intro you mention that Jerome won against Thomas Aquinas, yet the bracket update shows Thomas Aquinas through to the Saintly Sixteen and shows the vote at 50/50 with an equal number of votes! Which is it?
Had to go with Teresa. Her memorable sayings are awesome.
FYI, it looks like your "saintly sixteen" bracket includes Thomas Aquinas as the winner, not Jerome. Wishful thinking, perhaps?
Stephen epitomizes the Christian call to service. Vote Stephen!
Although Stephen is a saint, I hope my life will be modeled more on seeking wisdom and living for the good of others, rather than getting stoned.
If the church rejected everyone who had gotten stoned, there would be little point at outreach.
Looking back to yesterdays match up. The intro today stated Jerome won. The bracket shows Thomas Aquinas moved up. The votes show a tie. So what gives … who moved up?
I signed on to do the second chance bracket and there is a huge mistake. It shows Thomas Aquinas going against Oscar. Thomas lost the round against Jerome. Oops
There’s some confusion about yesterday’s match up between Thomas Aquinas and Jerome. Today’s post indicates that Jerome won…the bracket on the website indicates that Thomas was the winner. ???
Although the circles in a Venn diagram "Lent Madness Voters" and "Deadheads" might not intersect, I feel the need to mention the Grateful Dead's wonderful song "St. Stephen". The opening line, "Country garden in the wind and the rain, Wherever he goes the people all complain", reminds me of the courage it took (and takes) to speak the truth to those who do not want to hear it. An additional factoid- Jerry Garcia’s memorial service was held at Saint Stephen’s Episcopal Church in Belvedere, Marin County, California
So I am really confused. bFirst thing today I go to fill out my bracket and notice before having looked anywhere else that Thomas Aquinas was popping up, (which surprised me as when I voted late last night he was behind by a small bit) now he is being the one to face off against. so I go to vote for today's saintly battle and I see that it says St Jerome won 51 /49. I thought well that's really curious, since Jerome wasn't showing up in the bracket
Then I go down to the voting results from yesterday's event and find that it 50/50 with the exact vote totals so,
what-- is.. what?
I couldn't find a bracket chart anywhere in your e-mails. Even at this late date I'd like to have one. How would I go about that?
Jill Liberty
Jill, I think you'll have to print it off. Do you have access to a color printer that can print 11x17 inch paper? That's probably going to be your best bet. The bracket charts have been sold out for some time.
While I always love a good mystic, and “for ever, for ever, for ever, for ever” is both prolific and heartwarming, I must cast my vote for the first deacon and martyr.
The website says that Aquinas and Jerome each received the exact same number of votes. How did you decide that Jerome won?
I was sure that my vote would be for Stephen, but after reading the wonderful text by the Celebrity Bloggers, the comments, and assorted other information I encountered while scurrying down assorted hagiographic rabbit holes, I had to vote for Teresa.
You have to do something about the voting. I suggest holding the IT team over a hot fire until they fix the code. If people can’t vote, all the fun is gone, and I may go too.
I'm guessing the "IT team" is volunteers, and I do not subscribe to torture especially for volunteers. Let us practice patience, as did our models the saints, and always always always with technology RE-BOOT.
Backing the Ladies again!
As a person in the process to be ordained a Deacon I had to vote for Stephen. May he inspire us all to be servants.
Who won yesterday ???
This morning you said Thomas won. Now you are saying Jerome won.
What happened ? Which is correct ?
Are the democrats at it again ? Ballot stuffing ?
I voted for Stephen for many reasons, but I must say that Neva Rae Fox, with her extensive information, almost convinced me to vote for Teresa. Great group of celebrity bloggers!
Always a fan of Teresa!
I remembered the entire poem at the end of today's write up in the original Spanish from my time studying the language on college.
To the SEC - I'm confused (some would say that's nothing new). In the post (above) this morning, we were told that "Jerome snuck past Thomas Aquinas by the razor thin margin of 51% to 49%."
When I just checked my standing in the Lent Madness bracket,lo and behold, I find that Thomas Aquinas is listed as the winner.
Could you please enlighten me as to the True and Certified winner and end my confusion?
I am afraid Stephen is caught in the backwash of my extreme annoyance that bad-tempered Jerome prevailed over a brilliant philosopher. Sorry, Stephen, you lost me at report of a name-calling sermon. Social media is rampant with pique and spite. Teresa it is.
Teresa is inspiring but flighty; Stephen is the proto-deacon and I am a huge fan of the diaconate, but I suspect his martyrdom may have been triggered by his sermons being too long and too heavy-handed. It's almost 8pm and I'm still up in the air on this one ...so I guess I'll vote for Teresa.
In the day, not having "tl;dr," they just threw rocks. Stephen found out the "hard" way that it's better to attract converts with the GOOD news of grace and not the BAD news that they are a bunch of jerks in his eyes.
I suppose it's heartening, in a disheartening sort of way, that in the year 2022 there are people willing to cheat on behalf of saints. I'm willing to bet that several of the saints would be willing to cheat if it meant some entertainment or succor for their flock, or their fellows, or the sick or down-at-heart among them. I'm willing to bet some of them would make very good cheaters, and I'll bet Teresa would win playing cards with Jesus. Ace up sleeve? Marked cards? You betcha! Just let this sinner in. 'Course Jesus was going to let him/her/them in anyway.
I voted for St. Stephen. Very courageous man - “You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you are forever opposing the Holy Spirit.”
I can't support self-flagellation, admirable as Teresa is in so many ways. And I can identify with Stephen yelling at his hearers--"You idiots! Will you listen to this for once!"--so much that they stone him to death.