260 comments on “Nominationtide is upon us!”

1. I am nominating Abbé Pierre (born: Henri Grouès) for Lent Madness 2023! He is a great inspiration to many around the world. He did not speak English and I speak no French, but being at a mass he led for a dozen of us was still amazing, the Spirit spoke through Abbé Pierre.
   https://www.emmaus-international.org/en/our-heritage/biograpy-of-abbe-pierre.html

2. I nominate Pauli Murray, 1910-1985
   First Afro-American woman Episcopal priest, 1977
   Elevated to sainthood in 2012, Feast Day July 1
   "architect of the Civil rights struggle and the women's movement" says the New Yorker. "Why isn't she a household name?" says The Guardian. Pauli's celebrity blogger will have an easy time. We NEED a 20th century saint!

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3. I nominate St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, born Edith Stein. Born into an observant Jewish family, she became an agnostic. Professionally she became a philosopher and converted to Catholicism. Prior to WWII she became a Discaled Carmelite nun. During the War she was arrested & sent to Auschwitz where she was martyred.

4. I wish to nominate the Rev. Dr. (Florence) Li Tim Oi. She was a Chinese woman born in Hong Kong and the first woman to be ordained in the Anglican Communion on Jan. 25, 1944 in Macau, where she served refugees from China, which was at war with Japan. During China's Cultural Revolution, she was persecuted (along with other Christians) and sent to a "re-education" camp. She was later able to move to Canada and served as a priest there until her death in 1992.

5. I nominate Julian of Norwich. She wrote what was thought to be the first book by a female. She served her life as an anchorite while giving Spiritual Direction through one of two windows of her cell. Her spiritual visions are of an ever loving God... Who is our Mother and Father. Pretty brave stuff!

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6. I nominate William Temple, Archbishop of Canterbury, for his scholarly writing, inspirational teaching and preaching, leadership in the ecumenical movement, and his untiring concern for social justice, drawing particular attention to his book, "Christianity and Social Order" (1942).

7. I would like to nominate St. Henry, the patron saint of Finland. He is honored in both the Lutheran and Catholic churches there. Also, he is venerated in some Anglican calendars. He is an ecumenical figure. He is known for miracles and his role in the development of both Finnish culture and faith. Since there seems to be a scarcity of saints from Finland, blessed St. Henry ought to have a moment in the sun.

8. WHY OSCAR ROMERO DESERVES THE GOLDEN HALO

   Óscar Arnulfo Romero y Galdámez (15 August 1917 – 24 March 1980) was fourth Archbishop of San Salvador. As archbishop, Romero spoke out against social injustice and violence amid the escalating conflict between the military government and left-wing insurgents that led to the Salvadoran Civil War. His ministry was also marked by his attention to the most poor, marginalized and vulnerable Salvadorans.
   In 1980, Archbishop Romero was shot by an assassin while celebrating Mass. No one was ever convicted for the murder.
   Actually, Oscar Romero had been appointed Archbishop because of his conservative stance and support of the right-wing government. When his best friend and classmate was assassinated because he was an outspoken critic of the dictatorship and spoke for the oppressed, Romero experienced an Epiphany. He assumed the mantle of his martyred friend and he, himself became a voice for the oppressed. The government in power was not pleased. I think someone said something like “Will no one rid me of this troublesome priest?” And the rest is history.
   No. Wait. That’s wrong. It was Henry II who said that about Thomas Becket. He was another archbishop thought to be in the pocket of the ruler, but wasn’t. Same result. Hmmm. Wouldn’t that make an interesting pairing?
   Romero deserves the halo because, like Jesus, he was the voice of the downtrodden, served the poor, was martyred, and is an example to us all.

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9. I would like to nominate Maximillian Koble...a Polish Priest who gave up his life in place of another in Auschwitz.

10. I nominate Enmegahbowh whose feast is celebrated on June 12th. He is the first indigenous person ordained as a priest in the Episcopal Church. His work in navigating the difficult period of history where white men stole the natives land is good to remember now.

11. I would like to nominate St. Photini (or Photina) the unnamed Samaritan woman at the well in John 4:5-42. Considered by some faiths as an equal to the Apostles, she played a significant role is spreading Christianity.

12. I nominate Tekle Haymanot. Reasons: 1) Let's get some Ethiopian content into Lent Madness! It's a corner of Christianity a lot of us don't think about much- let's make a reason to learn more. 2) Only saint of the Ethiopian church also significantly acknowledged outside of Ethiopian. 3) His life involved study, teaching, work to reform the church,and time as a hermit and in some traditions influence on rulers - all around full life. 4) Founder of (among other places) the monastery of Debre Libanos,one of the most important pilgrimage sites in Ethiopia. 5) Ethiopia's in a bad way right now, to massively understate it, and drawing our thoughts and prayers to it while learning about one of their saints seems like a good Lenten exercise.

13. I nominate St. Francis di Giralamo because of his expressions of service, his rescues of children, and his far-reaching searches for souls to gather.

14. Elizabeth Fedde. Deaconess who brought the renewed deaconess motherhouse movement from Europe to the US which inspired many to wash feet and serve God.

15. I’d like to nominate William Wilberforce. He’s in the Episcopalian “Lesser Feasts and Fasts”, celebrated on July 30. I’d nominate him for his crusade against slavery, given the climate of this country the past few years plus that he could combine the competing(?) facets of politics and accomplishing genuine good--not happening much hereabouts these days.

16. I nominate Thurmond Marshall, a Supreme Court Justice for every time, but especially for ours. Most famous for Brown vs Board of Education, which declared the “separate but equal” practice in education to be unconstitutional, Marshall also strongly advocated for women, Native Americans, and the incarcerated. He believed in individual freedom and human rights.
    He epitomizes the wise and fair voice of justice.
    He is commemorated by the Episcopal Church on May 17.

17. Nomination for 2023 "Saint Gregory the Illuminator" of Armenia
    Why?

    reverse nepotism: He's my distant great-grandfather

    He spent nearly 15 years adjusting to "Life is the Pits" - and it wasn't cherries. If you are pilgrim to Armenia, you have to visit his pit.

    He pre-dated Constantine in "establishing" a Christian nation.

    With help from friends, he gave Armenia a wonderful unique and incomprehesible Alphabet.

    His Armenian Apostolic church has proven the most inventive in creating real apostolic Holy Oil --- the Holy Muron! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holy_anointing_oil

    More at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gregory_the_Illuminator

18. Thomas Merton- wonderful mystic, monk in Kentucky, author of Seven Storey Mountain and other book of contemplation. Died as result of tragic accident.
    Had been nominated many years ago but was disqualified because of illegal voting. Please give him another chance!

19. I elect Saint Lawrence (225 – 258), a Roman Catholic saint and pation saint of comedians. During the Valerian persecutions a Roman official ordered Larence to bring him the Church's treasure (Lawrence, a deacon, was entrusted with safegarding chuch properties). Lawrence promised to do so in three days. He then proceded to distribute all Church assets to the poor and needy. On the third day, he gathered together Rome's poor and sick and presenting them to the official, said that these were the Church's treasure. The action sealed his fate and Lawrence was executed by slow roasting over a fire. And the comedic aspect? He was said to have joked at one point, “turn me over, I think I am done on this side“.

20. I would like to nominate the four chaplains who died on the SS Dorchester in the Atlantic Ocean. The SS Dorchester was a troop transport ship that was sunk by a German U-boat near the coast of Newfoundland on February 3, 1943. The four chaplains onboard the Dorchester, Rev. George Fox, Rabbi Alexander Good, Rev. Clark Poling, and Father John Washington, gave their life jackets to troops who didn’t have time to get one and they helped troops get into life boats. These four men went down with the ship arm-in-arm, a Roman Catholic priest, a Jewish rabbi, a United Methodist pastor, and a Reformed Church pastor.

    I am nominating them because they emulate what Jesus said in John 13:31-35 about loving others as much as we love ourselves. Their sacrifice is an exemplar of how one can live out Jesus’ new commandment. A second reason for their nomination is that there is the span of faith traditions makes it worth of being included in the 2023 Lent Madness. Their sacrifice is commemorated as a lesser feast day by the Episcopal church on February 3rd. As a former resident of York, PA, the residence of Rabbi Alexander Good and a current resident near Altoona, PA, the residence of Pastor George Fox, I would be honored to write about them if they are part of Lent Madness 2023.

    Gratefully,

    Rev. Mark W. Fischer
    Pastor, First Lutheran Church, Portage, PA

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21. Pauli Murray! Despite last year's documentary, her amazing life remains too little known--a "Freedom Rider" years before they were given that name, an influence on Eleamor Roosevelt and Ruth Bader Ginsberg on human rights (and specifically, women's rights), ordained to the priesthood when a woman, especially a woman of color, and definitely a person who now would likely be using they/them pronouns would be an unlikely priest, a legal scholar--and a gifted writer of both prose and poetry. Her life was a struggle, but it was all about that baptismal vow to "Respect the dignity of every human being."

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22. I nominate Thomas Merton! I recently read several books by about him. Marvelous insights on the man and his life journey

23. Saint Katharine Drexel. 1st saint to be born a US citizen, 2nd person born in US to be canonized as a saint. Venerated in Roman Catholic Church, beatified 11/88 and canonized 10/2000 both by Pope John Paul II. Feast day March 3, Major Shrine Cathedral Basilica SS Peter and Paul, Philadelphia PA, US. Founded sisters of the Blessed Sacrament (served as 1st mother superior although she had only recently become a nun), founded Xavier U of Louisiana, was the first to establish mission schools and long term orphan homes for Native and African Americans in the US western territories and states. This is a start for ya.

24. I'd like to nominate Sr. Thea Bowman (1937-1990) African American Franciscan Sister of Perpetual Adoration
    one of her quotes: "God's Glory is revealed because we love one another across the barriers and boundaries of race, culture and class" sentiment we need now as much as ever.

25. My wife and I would like to nominate Botulph, also known as Botwulf of Thorney, as a competitor for the 2023 Golden Halo. Botulph was a Saxon born in the early 7th century, educated in England then sent to Europe to become Benedictines during a time of war in his homeland. He returned to England in 647 to establish the Benedictine Order. He established a monastery in East Anglia where he attracted many persons and the monastery grew, developing the surrounding area. He worked as a traveling missionary in some lawless parts of East Anglia. Sixty to 70 churches in England are named after him. He is known as the patron saint of travelers and itinerants. Several towns in England are named after him, originally Botolph’s Town, then Botulphston, and finally Boston. This includes one of our favorite cities, Boston, Massachusetts. Botulph is venerated as a saint in the Catholic, the Anglican, and the Lutheran church, so he meets the qualifications for nomination. We think he is worthy of your consideration as a nominee.

26. I nominate St Apollonia, patron Saint of dentists.
    I found out about her while touring a museum in Milan. There was a painting of her with her teeth being pulled out. I had never heard of her before. What a horrible way of torture.

27. So many other worthy nominees already! I would like to nominate William Wilberforce and all that went in to his life’s work – from discerning a call that wasn’t what the one he’d hoped for, to giving of himself emotionally and physically, utilizing his own resources and stewarding others’ to the benefit of neighbors far and wide, and skillfully using his position in public life and government to affect profound social change. It seems the world could use his example right now – a reminder that the call may not be the one we want. It may not be easy. It may require risking whatever privilege we possess. But properly discerned and fully lived into – one person can indeed move mountains.

28. I want to nominate John Brown, the abolitionist. He was one of the only white people who truly believed in the equality of white and black people in his time. He was hanged after leading an armed insurrection in an attempt to free slaves in the South, essentially touching off events that would lead to the Civil War. I am not sure if he is on an official list of commemorations of a specific church body, but he has been commemorated repeatedly based on Wikipedia.

    I am nominating him because he genuinely pursued the equality of all people, including defending enslaved people with his life.

29. Wilhelm Loehe
    January 2nd is his day.
    He was a pastor from Germany influential in Iowa missions. There is a Loehe society that continues to this day. His focus on both outer mission and inner mission of the church. He has some wonderful writings. He is an inspiration to me.

30. I nominate Servant of God Fr. Emil Kapaun, a midwestern farm kid who served as chaplain in both WWII and Korea and died of disease and malnutrition, along with many others that he ministered to, in a Korean POW camp.

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