Welcome to Tuesday in the first full week of Lent Madness action. Today Teresa of Avila takes on Crispin. Medieval mystic vs. 3rd century martyr.
Yesterday, amid some early voting trials and tribulations, Hilary of Poitiers handily defeated Melania the Elder 61% to 39%. Perhaps no one was surprised voting was an issue in a matchup between Melania and Hilary?
In case you missed yesterday's world-changing episode of Monday Madness, you can watch it here. Tim and Scott address the voting issue, while reminding everyone that universal suffrage is a God-given right. As long as only one vote is involved.
Teresa of Avila
Teresa is one of only four women among the 36 doctors of the church. And that’s just one of her many accomplishments as a mystic, reformer, prolific writer, and theologian.
Teresa Sánchez de Cepeda y Ahumada was born into wealth on March 28, 1515, near Avila, Spain. Even as a young girl, she was a dedicated Christian, learning about the saints. When her mother died, Teresa called herself “worldly,” according to her autobiography. Her father enrolled her in an Augustinian convent for education. However, illness sent her home. Recovered and now determined for a religious life, she joined the Carmelites; again, illness sent her home. She eventually returned to the Carmelites but grew weary of what she perceived as the order’s lax rules. She inaugurated a reformed Carmelite order with a more ascetic lifestyle, eventually founding 17 convents.
In her meditative life, she tried to ignore her visions, which included an angel piercing her heart with a golden lance. She was also prone to raptures, sometimes including levitation. Though she found writing burdensome, she was a prolific writer, articulating Christian mysticism and meditation practice. Her writings include The Interior Castle; The Way of Perfection; and an autobiography entitled The Life of Teresa of Jesus.
Teresa is the subject of much artwork, paintings, and sculpture, such as Bernini’s famous The Ecstasy of St. Teresa. She is usually shown dressed as a Carmelite nun holding a pieced heart, book, and crucifix. She is also presented in music by such greats as Virgil Thomson and Joan Osborne; in literature by Simone de Beauvoir and George Eliot; and her statue played a central role in the movie, Angels and Demons.
After her death in 1582, she was buried at the Convento de la Anunciación in Alba de Tormes; her relics are scattered in Rome, Lisbon, Paris, and other locales. Teresa was canonized on March 12, 1622, by Pope Gregory XV, and her feast day is October 15.
She is the patron saint of Spain; sick people; religious orders; people ridiculed for their piety; lacemakers; Požega in Croatia; Cebu in the Philippines; the Diocese of Amos, Canada; and the Diocese of Avellaneda–Lanús, Argentina.
Collect for Teresa of Avila
O God, who by your Holy Spirit moved Teresa of Avila to manifest to your church the way of perfection: Grant us, we pray, to be nourished by her teaching, and enkindle within us a keen and unquenchable longing for true holiness; through Jesus Christ, the joy of loving hearts, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Crispin
Thanks to the Battle of Agincourt and Shakespeare’s Henry V, Crispin’s name may be more familiar to English majors and fans of British military history than the Christian faithful. Yet deep devotion to Crispin and his brother Crispinian can best be captured by a pun—the relationship between the soul and the sole.
Crispin and his brother Crispinian were born in the third century, sons of a wealthy Roman family. As young men, they fled Rome and the anti-Christian persecutions of emperor Maximian to settle in northern France. There, these once-pampered sons became humble shoemakers, working through the night so they could preach the gospel by day. The brothers were known for their generosity and their contempt for material goods, and their witness inspired many to become Christians. Once Roman authorities got wind of their exploits, Crispin and Crispinian were martyred by the governor of Gaul. Some accounts say they were beheaded; others say they were thrown into a river with millstones around their necks. The confusion may stem from the fact that killing the brothers was no easy task—from whips and rods and even shoemakers’ awls, every weapon of torture wielded against them wounded their captors instead. By the eighth century, the date of their execution had become their feast day, October 25.
Crispin and Crispinian are the beloved patron saints of cobblers, shoemakers, curriers, tanners, and leatherworkers. Shoemakers were both common laborers and skilled craftsmen, and they held a particularly important role in medieval Europe. All shoes were custom shoes, and a visit to the shoemaker was not unlike a visit to the hairdresser—shoemakers had to be trustworthy enough to work in intimate conditions (like lifting ladies’ long skirts to better grasp their feet). In England, shoemakers were among the only people allowed to work on Sundays, and over time they became associated with spiritual assistance and support—“sole menders” became “soul menders” in a popular pun. Saint Crispin’s name comes up again and again in the history of labor unions across both Europe and the United States. For example, the Daughters of St. Crispin was a union of female shoemakers—and the first national women’s labor union in the United States.
Collect for Crispin
Almighty God, by whose grace and power your holy martyr Crispin triumphed over suffering and was faithful even to death: Grant us, who now remember him in thanksgiving, to be so faithful in our witness to you in this world, that we may receive with him the crown of life; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
143 comments on “Teresa of Avila vs. Crispin”
Teresa of Avila is my all-time favorite saint. Her prayer, "(Lord), if you will prove me by trials, give me strength & let them come," got me through my doctoral research and dissertation.
A strong woman, she's the best!
Teresa for her humour.
Not sure I’ve ever heard of the Diocese of Amos in Canada. Interesting.
Blessed are the shoemakers ... St Teresa of Avila is so worthy and will likely win, and the insightful comments about her almost swayed me, but my vote today is for St Crispin.
This morning I had a strange vision of Teresa's picture on a collectible mug with a golden halo hovering over her head.
I trust in my visions and voted accordingly, but all honor also to the worthy Crispin!
While I admire Crispin - and his brother - neither one of them can hold a candle to feisty Teresa of Avila. Teresa was not only a spiritual role model but one of the most down-to-earth saints in the entire Calendar. One has to love a saint who has been quoted as chastising God with a pithy, "If this is how you treat your friends, I'm not surprise you don't have many of them!"
It's obvious Teresa will win - but I have to vote for the patron saint of unions. Solidarity forever!
Another hard choice for me. I listened to Monday Madness and am so disappointed that time has to be spent on those that cannot follow the rules. If one is inclined not to follow the one vote rule and think it is funny they should not be allowed to join in our fun. I love this Lenten time and learn so much. Boo to those cause this extra work.
My vote, Crispin, favors the brothers. As exiles from Rome, hunted, tortured and killed for Christ is worthy of sainthood. It’s a chilling story, however.
I cannot help but hear this when I think St. Crispin:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-yZNMWFqvM
And this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZmYcpUtvR9U
Though I cannot see a humble pair of cobblers in exactly this context, the music is heavenly and the faith, even in blood, profound.
I agree with the poster who said that St. Teresa's story was more compelling than St. Crispin, although I learned much from both stories. Go, St. Teresa.
As a priest in the Diocese of Southwest Florida, I look forward to meeting Fr. Tim on March 22nd. I only know him from Lent Madness which I love dearly, so it will be another experience of learning more about someone familiar.
If you mention Crispin, first image that comes to mind is Laurence Olivier in that ridiculous armor inspiring the British troops. Devotee of Shakespeare that I am, I must say that is not enough for me to vote for Crispin over Theresa. I am a bit put off by her severity--Doesn't she look like she's thinking how best to describe the wayward behavior of a fellow nun in that painting--I have to vote for her and her incredible accomplishments.
Thank you celebrity bloggers Neva and Eva (is this another SEC setup?) for your wonderful prose and humor!
I don’t know why but the last few votes, I am unable to cast my vote.
One of my grandfathers was a shoemaker. I wonder if he prayed to Crispin.
Thank you for the chance to focus on Teresa of Avila. On Tuesdays I lead a study group of tatters. We gather to make lace with shuttles. Today is a fitting reminder of the history of our craft.
I have to support Crispin in honor of the Daughters of St. Crispin, the labor union formed in 1860 in Lynn MA, a very early MA settlement (1629). I live in Springfield MA (settled 1636). And yes, I have seen Henry V.
Received no validation that my vote was recorded from my IPad. Same thing yesterday when I tried to vote on my laptop.
Put me down as a vote for Crispin
Crispin spoke to my heart with the news of today, so my vote goes there
Power to the makers of this world! Using their hands that God gave them to make what we need to live and pass down the skills to give others a way to serve! Three cheers for Crispin! And one Vote!
I am still unable to vote—yesterday I could select a saint, but the site timed out. Today, I can’t select at all…and making the decision can be difficult enough. I’m on a fully updated iPad, my only net enabled device, if that helps. I was able to cast my vote for St Stephen on day 1, but none since.
Let us IPad users lament, and then go find another device. Unless you have a different browser than Safari—if so, please tell the rest of us. Something wrong in the fancy new website code, I'm afraid, that does not render the voting buttons as live.
As a Registered Nurse and Union member I strive to be a soul mender but I can only do so with the aid of good soles! Thank you Crispin and Crispinian!
iPad voting is difficult if not impossible. Not sure if I voted because when I clicked Results it reads Thanks for voting even though my vote didn’t seem to register.
I voted for Crispin primarily because I did not know about him until this Lent Madness. Teresa is so well-known that I believe she has had her recognition, so let's encourage more about Crispin!
Good point! Let's hear it for the undersaints!
In the write up about Teresa of Avila, not much was said about her work in establishing convents and how she influenced the Church of her day - and afterwards. Perhaps leaving more to influence us in later rounds of Lent Madness? However, I cannot but vote for her in this Women's History Month (and the day after International Women's Day) - due to her influence in the Church and work of other holy women named Teresa/Therese.
I had to vote for Crispin, Henry V would have been disappointed if I didn’t.
Let’s get back on track with St. Teresa today.
I like her perseverance in returning time & time again after illness. Determined to follow a monastic lifestyle & writing.
GUYS! Crispin, is a AWESOME name, so you should have voted for crispin because he is cool! Teresa of Avila is cool, but the name is not as awesome.
I am for Crispin. My father-in-law was a wholesale shoe salesman who knew good shoes. The first time I met him, he looked at my feet and said, You're wearing a 5 and a half medium, but you should be wearing a 6 narrow. He was right!
Also, the first national women's labor union was a huge boost to this former schoolteacher.
Go, Crispin!
As much as I admire and love Teresa, I love a good show more. Once again, my vote is lost in the avalanche for ToA, but things could be worse. She was a soleless Discalced (barefoot) Carmelite!
I meant a good SHOE!
I voted for Crispin because I know Theresa will win snd I like voting for the underdog.