Welcome to the opening matchup of Lent Madness 2022! If you’re joining us for the first time, we’re delighted you’re along for this wild, saintly ride. If you’re 
curious about what this all entails, check out the About Lent Madness tab on the website.
To experience the fullness of Lent Madness, the Supreme Executive Committee (the somewhat benevolent dictatorship that runs this whole enterprise) encourages you to do a couple things. First, like Lent Madness on Facebook and/or follow us on Twitter. Second, subscribe to the Lent Madness e-mails so you never miss a vote — you’ll get each matchup hand-delivered to your inbox on the weekdays of Lent. You can do this by going to the home page of our website and entering your e-mail address.
But mostly, we encourage you to read about the 32 saints participating in this year’s edition of Lent Madness, faithfully cast your (single!) vote on the weekdays of Lent, and add your comments to the great cloud of participating witnesses that gathers as the online Lent Madness community each year. It's true that this is the only place on the internet where reading the comments is actually edifying.
If you’re wondering when your favorite saint will be competing – in order to rally your friends and neighbors (creative campaigning is encouraged, voter fraud is not) – you can check out the 2022 Matchup Calendar. And if you'd like to see all 32 saints (plus Tim and Scott) represented in peg doll form, check out this AMAZING video from our friends at St. James Cathedral in South Bend, Indiana.
Things kick off with a matchup that may just leave you humming a certain Christmas carol, as Stephen faces off against Wenceslaus. Friends, it's time to cast your very first vote of Lent Madness 2022! We’re glad you’re all here. Now get to it!
Stephen
Along with six other Greek-speaking believers, Stephen was selected to be a deacon in the Greek-speaking Christian community in Jerusalem, tasked with serving and providing for those in need. In some traditions, Stephen is identified as the eldest of these first deacons and given the title of archdeacon.
Set to the task of providing for the poor, Deacon Stephen also kept busy performing “wonders and signs” among the people. As is often the case, compassion was met with anger—as was his teaching and preaching—and Stephen was brought before the Sanhedrin as a criminal.
Arguing for his life, Stephen could have chosen the easy path. Instead, he spoke truth to those who held power. He preached a sermon that accused his listeners of murdering the prophets who foretold the coming of Jesus. This went over like a lead balloon.
The authorities immediately took Stephen out and stoned him. Stephen became the protomartyr; the first follower of Jesus to give up their life for the sake of the gospel. And in his death, there resounded echoes of the death of Jesus as Stephen used his last breath to pray for the forgiveness of his killers.
In life, Stephen’s story is tied to Jerusalem, but in death, Stephen has been a world traveler. At various points in time, Stephen’s remains have rested in both Jerusalem and Rome. In Jerusalem, one of the major gates to the city still bears his name. In Rome, it is said that the remains of another deacon, Lawrence, miraculously moved to make room for the first archdeacon of the church.
Stephen’s feast day is December 26, the first commemoration to follow the day of the Nativity of our Lord, just as his death was the first to follow the crucifixion of our Lord.
Collect for Stephen
We give you thanks, O Lord of glory, for the example of the first martyr Stephen, who looked up to heaven and prayed for his persecutors to your Son Jesus Christ, who stands at your right hand; where he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen
-- David Hansen
Wenceslaus
Most of us are familiar with Good King Wenceslaus who goes out on the snowy evening of December 26. But Saint Wenceslaus was not a king, nor did he likely venture out on the feast of Stephen in deep snow. He was, however, a deeply faithful Christian whose life set the standard for a godly ruler for centuries to come.
Wenceslaus was born in Bohemia (modern-day Czech Republic) in the early 900s. His grandparents and his father, the Duke of Bohemia, were faithful Christians, but his mother, Dragomir, remained a staunch devotee of pagan faith. When Wenceslaus was 13, his father died. His Christian grandmother Ludmilla became regent and guardian of Wenceslas, but Wenceslaus’s mother murdered Ludmilla and took control of the government. She instituted harsh penalties against Christians in Bohemia and tried desperately to convert her son to the pagan ways. When Wenceslaus came of age, he banished his mother and took control of the government himself.
Wenceslaus took a vow of chastity and worked tirelessly to share the Christian faith with his subjects. As a leader, he preferred diplomacy to war. One legend holds that as his army faced a challenger, Wenceslaus sent an offer of peace. His opponent viewed the peace offering as a sign of weakness and prepared to attack. Wenceslaus offered to fight his opponent one-on-one to avoid massive casualties. As the two men walked toward each other, his opponent saw two angels guarding Wenceslaus. His opponent wisely chose Wenceslaus’s offer of peace.
Wenceslaus’s brother Boleslav was threatened by this modernization and Christianization of Bohemia. On September 28, 935, as Wenceslaus entered a church to attend mass, Boleslav murdered Wenceslaus by running him through with a lance. Almost immediately, Wenceslaus was venerated as a martyr. Reports of miracles occurring at his tomb led Boleslav to relocate the bones to St. Vitus Cathedral in Prague. Wenceslaus was promoted to kingship posthumously by Holy Roman Emperor Otto I. The Crown of Wenceslaus became the symbol for Czech independence. Within decades of his death, hagiographies, or biographies of saints, of Wenceslaus were popular and established the model for the righteous king, whose power is rooted in piety.
Collect for Wenceslaus
Almighty God, you gave to your servant Wenceslaus special gifts of grace to understand and teach the truth as it is in Christ Jesus: Grant that by this teaching we may know you, the one true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
-- Laurie Brock
UPDATE: At about 10:30 EST, we removed just over 600 votes from Wenceslaus due to some cheating. Remember that we encourage you to vote once and once only. Voting too many times gets you banned from the Saintly Smackown.
[poll id="332"]
277 comments on “Stephen vs. Wenceslaus”
I cannot help but vote for Wenceslas as the brave president of Ukraine stands before his people and speaks to those citizens of Russia about loving each other and coexistence in peace. Stephan is a worthy saint who put the well-being of others before himself.
Yes!
I love the picture of Stephen with rocks on his head. But Wenceslaus's bravery in defending peace wins for me, these days.
I went to St. Wenceslas's tomb in Prague a few years ago. Stunning old cathedral, and wonderful story of eastern European perseverance. Plus my mom's family is Bohemian (Grandpa said not Czech, Bohemian!!). How could I not vote for Wenceslas?
His chapel in the Cathedral is truly a wonder, an enduring memory among many others from our trip to Prague.
Voting for St. Stephen in honor of all of the deacons (currently 6) at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, in thanksgiving for their shared and individual ministries to/with the congregation and the community of Amarillo, Texas.
We share an email address but not opinions so one for Wenceslaus and one for Stephen from same email address. Hope that's OK.
I am sure that the Supreme Executive Council will grant you an indulgence!
i like wizards
go stevpjen
Both dedicated disciples of Jesus Christ, both courageous, both worthy of a vote. Such a hard decision! I went with Stephen - compassionate servant, inspired preacher, first martyr, with the words of Jesus on his lips when he died, "Father, forgive them."
looking at the 2022 bracket, will be voting for the underdogs
Had to vote for the first martyr, Stephen."But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. " Incensed, they drag him out of the city and stone him, and his last words are those of forgiveness. Can't beat that.
Well, a disappointing first round unless a miracle happens. What's the matter with folks today? Hanging on to Stephen instead of seeing the incredible visionary actions and steadfastness of Wenceslaus against paganism and his brother's lance? He has always been the underdog seems to me. Stephen IS in the Bible after all.
I agree! I cast my vote for Wenceslaus as well.
So glad to be back to the Madness. It's one of my favorite parts of Lent. Since I began my service in the Church as a vocational deacon (until I figured out what I wanted to be when I grew up and became a priest), I had to vote for Stephen. Still, I never knew much about Wenceslaus outside of the carol and was glad to learn new things about him.
So, the Order of Deacons is for those who haven’t grown up? You may want to reconsider your wording as I imagine that isn’t what you really meant to say.
Another challenging start to Lent Madness. My birthday is on the feast of St Stephen so I have always thought he was such an example for us all. Wenceslaus is certainly worthy as well. What a dysfunctional family! Got to give my vote to Stephen though.
Yikes! What a tough first choice. The current events have lead for my vote Wenceslaus. I can’t think how much better off we all would be if the fight were just between the leaders of the countries, rather than involving citizens who are involved (mostly) not by their own choice. Also, you just have to root for the underdogs sometimes.
The Wenceslaus write-up was very informative, and I even learned one thing new about Stephen. However, being of the order of St. Stephen, I just feel the call to vote for Stephen. Good start to Lent Madness!!
Given the current conflict in that part of the world, gotta go with Wenceslaus on this one...
Exactly.
Wenceslaus got run through with a Lance. That's a pretty cool way to be martyred. Nuff said
Do we need to resubscribe to get the daily emails? I received Monday's email, but nothing today. Nothing in my spam folder. Thanks!
It may be so - because of the new website
I started singing as soon as I saw the names! Cute . This is much needed. Thank you for keeping this going! And yes,I voted for Stephen
So glad that it's time for Lent Madness! Today was hard, though, and we've only just begun.
Dear Supreme Executive Committee,
Please, oh please - will you add a "like" button. There are so many comments I would love to "like". I feel it would be redundant to repeat them with one of my own.
Go Wenceslaus!
Like.
Like
Like 🙂
Like
St. Stephen today 1st martyr, 1st vote.
Moral Victory for Wenceslas in support of Ukraine,
Last year, I so looked forward to two special comment-tors. One was a young person, very wise with pithy comments. The other a poet in responding. Where are you? I need your comments!
My husband's family is Bohemian and Czech. In honor of husband and his family and with my last name, how could I not vote for Wenceslausla
Today is the 10th Anniversary of my ordination to the diaconate. So how can I not vote for Stephen?
It takes a lot of nerve to bani8sh MOM!
Very happy about the growing number of Deacons in The Episcopal Church, and happy to vote for one of the first Deacons! (Sorry that he was martyred though!)
I've always loved the Christmas Carol tho....
In honor of my late friend, Stephen -- active Episcopalian, PK, gone much too soon -- I'm voting for Stephen.
While Laurie Brock wrote for my church's journal, I had to vote for Stephen since Stephen is the patron saint of Grace and St Stephen's Episcopal Church. Go Stephen!!!
Oh, the ironies! SEC, you have gone and done it again! Two saints who spoke truth to violence. Stephen has always been a special one in my personal devotions, while Wenceslaus seemed almost mythical but considering the times, I am compelled to go with Wenceslaus.
I was fascinated by the ‘real’ Wenceslaus, but Stephen gets my vote. Without Stephen, there would be no Wenceslaus.