In a year marked by razor-thin margins of victory, the championship round between Teresa of Avila and José Gregorio Hernández did not disappoint! In the end, José snuck past Teresa in a photo finish to win the 2022 Golden Halo. Both of these saints captured the imaginations of the Lent Madness global voting public and both are worthy of this ecclesiastical accolade. We are pleased to award Teresa the (rare) Silver Halo to mark this year's accomplishments.
Rest assured the result, while exceedingly close, is accurate. The Supreme Executive Committee spent the morning in the mezzanine-level review booth conducting a forensic analysis of the voting. There was some cheating involved on both sides and we eliminated those votes (come ON, people!).
José joins previous Golden Halo winners George Herbert (2010), C.S. Lewis (2011), Mary Magdalene (2012), Frances Perkins (2013), Charles Wesley (2014), Francis of Assisi (2015), Dietrich Bonhoeffer (2016), Florence Nightingale (2017), Anna Alexander (2018), Martha of Bethany (2019), Harriet Tubman (2020), and Absalom Jones (2021).
To celebrate José's victory, perhaps you'd like a commemorative mug? You can enjoy your favorite warm beverage (the SEC recommends fair trade single-origin 
coffee, though they understand these also work well with tea) while remembering this epic season of Lent Madness 2022. Order your own mug today! They're just $11 and should ship sometime in the early summer.
Would you like to nominate a saint for Lent Madness 2023? Tim and Scott will be opening up the week-long nomination process (aka Nominationtide) in the coming weeks. While many are called, only 32 are chosen. Stay tuned for details!
Finally, blessings to all as we head into the Triduum and enter into the death and resurrection of our Lord. It’s been a privilege to have you join us on our Lenten pilgrimage. Happy Lent!
81 comments on “José Hernández Wins 2022 Golden Halo!”
Such an exciting Lent Madness this year! Thanks to all who had a hand in the Madness.
I'm adding my voice to those who would like the chance to buy a silver halo mug for St. Teresa. Also, blessings to you both (the Supreme Executives) for this event and your patience with the few - but irritating - cheaters and mistrusters....have a blessed Triduum.
Who are the people who cheat while voting for SAINTS? very confusing
Thank You, Thank You!
Another enjoyable & engaging Lenten season filled with wit & wisdom!
Congrats to Jose! And I am with those who would definitely purchase a rare Silver Halo mug for Teresa!!!
Silver mug, silver mug, silver mug…. Come on folks. A mug for Theresa!
Wow! I humbly admit that I was (the?) one who nominated Dr. Jose Gregorio Hernandez last year. I never thought he would be considered, and much less that he would win the Golden Halo!! It's a great honor indeed. I am from Venezuela, Dr. Hernandez' country, and for 20 years I was the organist of the church where he was buried meanwhile his Canonization was under process ("La Candelaria" Parish Church in Caracas). The 6:00 pm mass was always dedicated towards his canonization, and in gratitude of "favors conceded through his intercession" to people devote of him.
Let us not quibble or feel sad or triumphant about who won the Golden Halo. There were 32 laborers in the Lent Madness vineyard, and one of them received the fewest votes. That holy person "won" because s/he is the last and therefore the first. Matt. 20:16.
I went back and looked up the vote totals and the only one to get fewer votes than Gabriel the Archangel (2,356) was Aloysius Gonzaga (2,063).
In the Saintly 16, Columbanus got the least (1,073) of any one in any round when he lost to Madeleine Sophie Barat (5,382) who got the most in that round. The most votes cast for anyone in any round were for Kateri Tekakwitha (6,263) in the First Round.
In the Elate Eight, it was Juliana of Liege who had the least (1,520).
In the Faithful Four, it was Thomas of Villanova (2,018).
A total number of 218,519 votes were cast across all 31 match-ups. In the First Round 122,266 votes were cast, in the Saintly 16 a total of 50,759 votes were cast, in the Elate Eight 23,815 votes were cast, in the Faithful Four 13,373 votes were cast, and in the Golden Halo Match-Up 8,306 votes were cast.
[These totals come from the results at the bottom of the posts and do not include the extra votes cast by those who attempted to stuff the ballot box.]
Well, I have to admit that I'm a little disappointed that Theresa was not able to nudge Jose aside, but he is definitely a worthy winner. Thank you Tim and Scott for the Lent Madness -- I have looked forward to reading the profiles every (week)day and am glad to know so much about our worthy Saints. I will miss you guys but hope to see you next Ash Wednesday when we can start all over again!
I am delighted to see the good doctor has prevailed. He was my call for the Golden Halo in an earlier match. Also very happy to hear there will be a silver award.
I alway enjoy these contests. Thank you to everyone, Tim and Scott, bloggers, techs, who made this such a time of prayer and learning.
lets go Jose Jose Jose Jose Jose
This Lenten event is so much fun and I can’t wait to check the winners each day! I look forward to this annual event every Lent and I hope it will continue long into the future. We learn so many interesting facts about many we didn’t even know, and your creative humor, illustrations and just good fun are fabulous! Once again thank you for all you do for us each Lent!
I demand a Recount!!!!
Thank you for another playful and inspiring Lent Madness celebration. With regard to the vote cheating, it is my opinion that it is a result of operator malfunction using the website. Perhaps a refresh of the webpage for voting be performed to save the ballot counters time and aggravation.
I absolutely love Lent Madness. It is such a treat to look for the e-mail each morning. Thanks for making it happen.
I always learn something, but also laugh with Tim and Scott
each Monday!!
Jose seems like a great winner tho I had pulled for Teresa
since day one!
Will there be a Teresa (silver) mug? The previous silver halo got a beer glass, as I seem to recall ….
It's me again, just reading through the comments. I understand the disappointment of some, as Teresa de Avila is a towering character in the Saints Calendar, and losing to a "New Kid in Town" (Dr Hernandez' Canonization was only a few years ago) by thin margin IS a schocker- still even for me.
BUT:
Although Dr. Hernandez' canonization happened recently, the process took almost 50 years, and he was already a highly revered "God's Servant" during my tenure. As I posted before, I was organist of "La Candelaria" Parish in Caracas, Venezuela for 24 years (1980-2004), and passed Dr. Hernandez' tomb there three times a day, and it was quite impressive.
The place was constantly visited by pilgrims, and not just a few, but hundreds, from all over the world, ranging from celebrities to humble peasants and average citizens from far away. He was well known in the Americas and Europe, long before he became officially a Saint.
So it's not that surprising that he got so many votes.
And yes, out of solidarity I join the pleas for a Silver Halo mug for Teresa. And out of fairness I won't nominate any Saint for the 2023 Lent Madness season.
Rut-ro! Jose has only recently been beatified…. Is he a legit saint? Not trying to play the Birther card….
Many people are saying Hernandez was actually born in Kenya . . .
What were the actual numbers???
Congratulations to the Supreme Executive Committee for another fine Lent Madness! I'm so glad that you've awarded Teresa of Avila the very rare silver halo. With you awarding her that accolade, it makes me feel much better about my very poor record of picking saints this year. I consistently picked the loser in each and every round. Perhaps a little remedial reading on the saints would help. Again, thank you Scott and Tim for a wonderful Lent. Perhaps next year I shall fare better in my picks!
why do we only see the winner and not the final standings
ie someone named stephen won?
I love my Julian of Norwich Silver Halo cafe au lait size bowl. It holds two cups of coffee and has her famous quote All shall be well etc. If St Teresa gets a Silver Halo mug, I hope it's just as big and has one of her quotes. I already ordered two Jose Hernandez mugs- one for me, and one for my doctor daughter. Hurray for Lent Madness!!
José Gregorio Hernández is the first Latino saint! Of course, I don't believe that means much in the celestial realms.
Kudos also to Teresa de Avila as well as to Eva Suarez (San José de Venezuela) and my homie, Neva Rae Fox (Santa Teresa de Avila), for your excellent, informative, and insightful narratives.
Scott & Tim, this was yet another wonderful sojourn into the inspirational lives of 32 saints. Thank you!
Excuse, first Latino winner of the Golden Halo!
Just wanted to say THANKS so much for all the work by all involved to help us learn & enjoy--thanks as always for your humor & creativity in the 1st place!
SO sorry that some people cheat (!) & make more work for you 🙁 That amazes me, of all the places to NEVER EVEN CONSIDER CHEATING, this is prime!
Thanks again & Blessings
Just checking back to make sure no one has overturned the election of Jose for the Golden Halo…
Why are you not showing the total vote count like you did in all the other matches? While I do believe the committee, it still doesn't instill confidence in the final result. I would appreciate the final count!
Thank you for another great Lenten Madness.
Thank you to Tim and Scott, all the Celebrity Bloggers, the Bracket Czar, Maestro Shiloh Roby, the staff at Forward Movement, all the saints, the Lent Madness Global Playing Community and Commentariat for another wonderful Lenten journey. It's meant a lot to me this year. A Blessed Triduum and a Joyous Easter to all!
I really enjoy Lenten Madness and learn a lot from meeting so many saints, too. I am happy Jose Hernandez won!
I first learned about this event a few years ago when our local parish, All Souls Episcopal, Washington, DC had a Mardi Gras celebration for our neighborhood community. Among the tables offering free information about various organizations was one unattended one full of bracket posters. What is this, I wondered? Checked it out and have been participating ever since. I wonder now how others learn about it? Word of mouth? Thanks!
Hello Tim & Scott!
Thank you, and the celebrity bloggers, and everyone else involved in making Lent Madness happen. I have been playing for the past few years, and I find it to be a great addition to my Lenten devotion. Or, is that a respite from my Lenten devotion ... ?! In any event, this year's Lent Madness was just excellent! Thanks to all of you for all of your hard work!
Thank you for my 1st lent madness, I learned so much any the great cloud of witnesses!
I’m so very happy this kind & caring man won the Golden Halo. He is in good company with all the saints and angels. If it hadn’t been for Lent Madness I would never have heard about this man who inspired so many people in their faith. Thanks to all the people that make this happen.