The end (of Lent Madness 2022) is near! It's hard to believe we kicked things off over five weeks ago on “Ash Thursday” with 32 saintly souls. With your help, the field has been whittled down to just two: Teresa of Avila and José Hernández. Who will receive the coveted 2022 Golden Halo? That, friends, is up to you.
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, Neva Rae Fox, David Hansen, Miriam McKenney, Emily McFarlan Miller, David Sibley, and Eva Suarez. Thanks to Bracket Czar Adam Thomas for his stellar behind-the-scenes work in keeping the bracket updated daily. You all rock!
Thank you to Richelle Thompson and everyone at Forward Movement for putting up with our shenanigans and producing a terrific Saintly Scorecard this year. Special gratitude goes to Ashley Graham-Wilcox for helping get words and images into the website each day.
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 Neva Rae Fox has ably shepherded Teresa of Avila through the bracket, while Eva Suarez has done the same for José Hernández. We’ve asked them for a single image and one quote either by or about their saint. We’ve already heard a lot about Teresa and José, so now it's time to make your final 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 2022 Lent Madness Golden Halo hangs in the balance!
Teresa of Avila
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.
Teresa of Avila
José Gregorio Hernández
"Dr José Gregorio offers himself to us Christians and to all people of goodwill as an example of a believer, a disciple of Christ, who made the Gospel the criterion of his life…Following the example of Dr José Gregorio, may you be able to recognize each other as equals, as brothers and sisters, as children of the same country. May you show your willingness to serve, and have sufficient humility to let yourselves be served, to help and let yourselves be helped, to forgive and let yourselves be forgiven."
Pope Francis, Statement to Mark the Beatification of Jose Gregorio Hernandez
With an election too close to call, the Supreme Executive Committee will certify the vote and announce the winner later today. Stay tuned!
118 comments on “For the Golden Halo: Teresa of Avila vs. José Hernández”
I voted for Teresa because I need to hear her wisdom. Whoever has God lacks nothing and let nothing startle you. Thanks Teresa!
Once again I was unable to vote. It’s a close one, and my vote for Dr. Jose might have tipped the scales! If anyone is listening, please record my vote for Dr. Hernandez. A reminder, in our modern day, of how to live our everyday lives following Jesus. And you don’t even have to be a cleric!
MAN, a TOUGH CHOICE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I will not say with whom I went, but so close! Thanks for all the new saints I encountered, and for all the new information I gleaned about more familiar names. I am still somewhat bitter that Thomas Aquinas isn't up there at THE TOP, but I did enjoy this Lenten exercise.
Again, many thanks - and now I can hardly wait for next Lent!
This is going to be clooooose! Happy for either to win. After much contemplation and spiritual wrangling… I felt like Dr. Jose needed to be on a mug. It came down to that. Thanks to everyone for the informative bios and insightful comments, and Happy Easter to all!
Teresa has influenced women (and men)for centuries.
Jose is a modern example of a servant leader in the world.
Such a close race! This female Deacon votes for Teresa.
This is going to be a squeaker.I had to vote for the humble doctor even though Teresa is a worthy candidate.
I just realized that since Teresa of Avila is considered a Doctor of the Church by the Roman Catholic Church and José Gregorio Hernández served all God’s people as a Medical Doctor, it is a certainty that a Doctor will win the Golden Halo this year.
The only question is which type of Doctor.
I hope the Golden Halo knows the way to San José.
Just thank you for this wonderful experience of "Lent Madness".
With almost half the House effectively voting against diabetics in need of insulin, my heart went straight out to José Hernandez. I usually vote for contemplatives over social activists, but the holy doctor won me over.
Thanks to the SEC, bloggers, and commenters for another terrific Lent. And a huge THANK YOU for the “like”/heart button option this year. We’ve been asking for that for a long time. Haha. Many thanks!
A suggestion:
Some of the pictures/photos do not transfer well to mugs. How about a quotation instead? St. Theresa’s would be perfect (if she wins, of course!) Faith vs. works today!
Would an Easter miracle PLEASE fix the voting?
I've been participating in Lent Madness for several years now, but I can't ever remember a year that featured so many lesser known saints for us to discover. It's been wonderful, and I hope next year is the same. Thank you, SEC, bloggers, and thoughtful commenters for the best Lenten discipline ever!
vote teresa
Vote Jose!!!
Wow, so close! May have to have a Silver Halo again!
I would also like to see a Silver Halo. Very tough choice today.
Wow! What a battle to the finish! Thanks to all for enlightening me . Have a joyful Easter!
As we await to see who will win the 2022 Golden Halo, I would like to express sincere thanks and appreciation to all who make Lent Madness possible. It has gotten me through some dark days, and I hate to see it end this year. I have enjoyed the comments and online comaraderie with other participants. I'm sad that I will not be able to attend Holy Week services. My elderly mother is scheduled for a procedure on Good Friday to determine if she has cancer, and I am caring for her this week/weekend. Hope to "see" everyone for another round next year.
praying for your mom. I just finished my last chemo, please God, about an hour ago
Prayers for healing for you, Beth, and for Jane’s mom and for Jane. The healing hands of Jose and all healthcare workers are powered by God, who is “always enough” (with gratitude to St. Teresa).
Slainte y shalom to you and your mom.
(And also looking forward to seeing everyone again next year.)
You would think I had money on this contest. This is the third time I have checked the score. I'm voting for the non-ordained this year as I believe we have to step up to the plate, but I appreciate that passions are running high for the contenders.
gonna be close
This is such a stellar final matchup — I'm excited for whomever wins!
I have voted for both since the first round and today I had to choose. I chose Jose' Hernandez. He captivated me like no other saint since Francis Perkins.
But if Theresa gets the golden halo that's ok too!
But let's hear it for Lay Ministry!
Opened this 'vote' today expecting the choice to be hard - but it was made harder by the beautiful prayer of St. Teresa which spoke to this New Yorkers heart today.
Thanks to all the bloggers who made all the Saints come to life to me!
My pragmatic 'faith in action' side won out and voted for Dr. Jose. In this divided world, where refugees are seen as others and not brothers and sisters, he spoke louder to the example I need to keep uppermost. But I will praying that prayer of St Teresa daily. Blessed Easter to you all
Teresa quiets my soul. . .but Jose challenges my spirit.
Thanks you for Lent Madness. I will miss learning daily about these special saints.
To vote for the doctor, thinking of Covid and all health care workers and so many sick people…or to vote for ‘let nothing trouble you…God alone is enough’ while agonizing over the Ukraine war and mistreatment of the poor, the refugee, the person of colour, and the Church’s role in those mistreatments…this time, I checked the counts first and voted for the one who’s behind. No better outcome than a dead heat!
Notes for the SEC: Put the hot links to past contests back on the Brackets page. Makes it much easier to find them. And in redesigning web pages, favour functionality over fanciness, next year. A blessed Eastertide to all.
Looks like it’s going to be a really close race for the Golden Globe❤️ I’ve checked the race a couple times today and it’s been crazy clothes all day long.
Thank you so much for all the time and effort that you have invested in this Lenten Madness. I have learned a lot and have drawn so much comfort during this crazy time.
Many thanks
This was the hardest one yet. My vote put it at exactly 50/50
My thanks to all who contribute to Lent Madness each year, including those whose comments I eagerly look for each day. I have learned a tremendous amount and appreciate our online community. I almost hate to see Lent end.
Will there be a Lent Madness corner at GC?
Thank you for another great year!
Thank you bloggers and everyone who makes this practice such a fun community every year. I enjoy your comments and learning about these amazing saints. What an inspiration!
I am hoping for silver haloes this year. They both deserve it!
(And please fix the banner!!)