Sometimes Lent Madness includes well-known saints, sometimes lesser known ones. Today may be the latter for many people as Cuthmann of Steyning faces Leoba for a shot at the Saintly Sixteen. Which among these near contemporaries with ties to England will advance? Well, that's up to you.
Yesterday, Chief Seattle sailed past Botulph 80% to 20%.
Time to vote!
Cuthmann of Steyning
Church planting today is often a data-driven affair. Population growth is examined; demographics considered; community needs gathered and polled. But it’s God who ultimately gives the growth to any new church. Cuthmann of Steyning might argue that because God gives the growth, sometimes, it’s also possible to overthink things in choosing where to start a church.
According to legend, Cuthmann was born around 681 and became a shepherd in southern England. After his father’s death, he was the sole caretaker for his paralyzed mother. The pair fell on hard times; after exhausting all other ends, he felt compelled to go house-to-house begging for alms and assistance. But Cuthmann couldn’t leave his mother alone; he had to care for her, make sure she was safe and secure. So, he built a wheelbarrow in which he could place his beloved mother, using a rope tied to the handles and across his neck to help bear the load, so he could carry her as he went about seeking provision for their needs.
Setting out to the east, Cuthmann’s plan initially worked. They travelled some distance until the rope around the handles broke. Ever ingenious, Cuthmann crafted a new rope from willow branches and decided that when that rope broke, he would build a church on the spot. The rope broke near the village of Steyning in Sussex. According to legend, he prayed: “Father Almighty, you have brought my wanderings to an end; now enable me to begin this work. For who am I, Lord, that I should build a house to name? If I rely on myself, it will be of no avail, but it is you who will assist me. You have given me the desire to be a builder; make up for my lack of skill, and bring the work of building this holy house to its completion.”
First things first: Cuthmann built a hut to keep his mother safe. As the church neared completion, and he struggled to place a roof trestle into place, a stranger visited to help him fix it in place. When asked for his name, the stranger said that “I am he in whose name you are building this church.” The task complete, Cuthmann spent the remainder of his days in Steyning.
Without data, a plant team, or even building supplies, God inspired Cuthmann to plant a church. So who can say that the task of growth is impossible in our own day?
Collect for Cuthmann of Steyning
Almighty God, whose will it is to be glorified in your saints, and who raised up your servant Cuthmann to be a light in the world: Shine, we pray, in our hearts, that we also in our generation may show forth your praise, who called us out of darkness into your marvelous light; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Leoba
Leoba was born at the beginning of the eighth century, an unusual time during which women’s voices were actually welcomed in the church and flourished. Born to a noble family in Wessex, England, her mother had a dream that she would conceive a cherished child of Christ, and her child would serve the church faithfully and with great insight and wisdom. Her parents named her Leoba, meaning “beloved.”
Leoba’s parents placed her in the double monastery of Wimborne for formation and education. There, she studied scripture, languages, the writings of the ancient church fathers, and canon law. Over time, she eventually took vows as a nun. While at Wimborne, she and other nuns and monks attended lectures at a nearby religious house. At these lectures, she became aware of Boniface, a Benedictine monk and leading figure in the spread of Christianity to parts of Germany. Leoba wrote Boniface, inquiring as to whether they might exchange letters on matters relating to theology and the church. Boniface, knowing of her reputation as a wise and devout person, eagerly added Leoba to the number of people he regularly corresponded with about all things faith.
They became friends and colleagues, engaging in deep theological discussions. When Boniface decided to establish monasteries in Germany, he asked Leoba and some of her fellow Wimborne nuns to assist him, so in 748, Leoba traveled with other nuns to Germany. She eventually became the abbess of a convent in the Franconian town Tauberbischofsheim. Leoba’s ministry included not only forming and educating nuns, monks, and converts to Christianity but also serving as a trusted advisor to many bishops, kings, and queens. She was the only woman allowed in the monasteries in nearby Fulda, where she often advised bishops and monastic leaders. When Boniface left the region on his many mission trips, he left his monastic cowl with Leoba, indicating that in his absence, she was his delegate and embodied all his authority.
Boniface asked to have her body laid beside his when she died, “so we who with a like desire and devotion have served Christ here may side by side await the day of resurrection.” Leoba outlived Boniface by some 20 years, dying in September 782. She was originally buried in the same room as Boniface, and her relics were later translated to another church in Fulda.
Collect for Leoba
O God, by your Holy Spirit you give to some the word of wisdom, to others the word of knowledge, and to others the word of faith: We praise your Name for the gifts of grace manifested in your servant Leoba, and we pray that your Church may never be destitute of such gifts; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Cuthmann of Steyning: unknown. Original reproduction uploaded by Neddyseagoon (Transfered by Wikipeder), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Leoba: Kandschwar, CC BY-SA 3.0 <http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/>, via Wikimedia Commons
109 comments on “Cuthmann of Steyning v. Leoba”
I had often wondered if there was an English equivalent to the Russian Lyuba.
Now I have my answer. A beautiful name for an extraordinary woman!
Once again, a pair of outstanding saints. I just had to go with Leoba, a woman who was able to be respected by as important a person as Boniface (has he already been a "contestant"?) enough to be laid to rest next to him.
Today's vote was tough for me because Cuthmann was so devoted to his mother that he warmed my heart, but in the end, after thinking it over I voted for Leoba. She was such an inspiration to many.
I could really use Cuthmann's church-building skills right now....
"So who can say that the task of growth is impossible in our own day?"
Thank you for that thought! Very timely generally, and something to ponder during Lent.
I was moved by Cuthmann's dedication to his mother and determination to honor God with the building of his church, but Leoba got my vote not only for her gifts of grace, knowledge and wisdom, but for her connection to Fulda, Germany where my youngest son was born.
Cuthmann of Steyning reminded me of a man my husband saw on a medical mission trip in the mountains of Mexico. The man had his mother in a chair tied to his back while he hiked the unbelievably steep way up the mountain seeking medical help. I voted for Cuthmann for his devotion and his faith.
Cuthmann of Steyning has my vote today. His faith is not just needed to plant new churches. His faith is also needed where so many churches are in need of revitalization. Many congregations are going over budgets. This is needed, but not sufficient. Cuthmann's faith is even more important.
Strong arguments for both. The Cuthman bio, however, omits his battle of wits with the Devil which resulted in the Devil's Dyke, one of the most beautiful sights on the South Downs in Sussex. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Devil%27s_Dyke,_Sussex https://poynings.net/poynings/devils-dyke . Cuthman -- or his soulmate Sister Ursula -- tricked the Devil into thinking that dawn had arrived, before the Devil finished digging the mighty ditch that would have drowned the new Christians in the Sussex Weald. The Devil's Dyke survives to this day, overlooking the pristine Weald. Btw, the Steyning church is now surrounded by a beautiful and vibrant village, so Cuthman and his mother were not wrong in siting the church there!
I wasn’t going to vote since neither story grabbed me. But the comments changed my view. A story can be inspirational and that can effect change and goodness. Cuthmann gets my vote even though it’s likely a myth. Or parable. Seems that someone else taught through parables.
I enjoyed learning about both these saints, but I voted for Cuthmann for the same reason: we can learn a lot from myths and legends as well as from factually verifiable stories.
I had goosebumps at the sentence "I am he in whose name you are building this church." I also took care of my disabled husband for 25 years; another reason why Cuthmann has my vote.
I am caring for a crippled husband, so I know the challenges this can be and the endurance it takes. I loved the Leoba story, but I voted for Cuthmann -- the caregiver.
It's super-hard for me to resist someone who took such good care of his mom, not to mention Cuthmann's ingenuity, trust in and love for God, and the delightful blog post written about him. But I have to go with Leoba! I love her combination of deep theological thought and practical action. And her roster of accomplishments is splendid.
Steyning is a pretty town in West Sussex, and there is a church dedicated to St. Andrew and St Cuthmann. His original church build to wood has been replaced by a stone one. St. Cuthmann is not just a legend.
In the 60's there were bumper stickers: "Bloom Where You Are Planted". St. Leoba was planted where she obeyed and learned to work with and around men (a "double monastery" is one where priests and nuns both reside). She bloomed into a (best) friend and colleague. St. Cuthmann of Steyning literally planted himself where a willow rope he'd fashioned, broke. (and a church grew from there). A little less clever, he might have planted himself when the hemp rope gave out. God was going to get a church out of him, one place or the other. Few of us are obedient enough to "bloom" where we were first planted.
My vote is not being counted. What is wrong?
Gotta love those mama's boys!!
What matters most? Scale or the devotion in the heart? Leoba born noble did many great things. Cuthbert devoted his life to the care of a helpless woman, his beloved mother, carrying her to beg for food. In the end, God gave him a church. Cuthbert gets my vote.
Sorry - Cuthmann not Cuthbert
I didn’t vote until later today because this was a hard choice. I so admire women who were celebrated for their spiritual AND intellectual abilities gifts, so I wanted to vote for Leoba. However, as someone who was a caregiver for her mother, I had to vote for Cuthmann. Not only did he faithfully care for his mother, he kept his vow to build a church and his faithful commitment brought Jesus to help him finish it. May we all be blessed in our faith journeys.
I too love to do my bit in celebrating women leaders; but Cuthmann had to have my vote for his utter trust in God's providence and love and faithful love to his 'neighbour' - his mother - in desperate circumstances. And above all for the hope his story engenders in our times, reminding us all that the church is God's, and will flourish and grow in response to faith and love.
When I study about these people, beyond the Lent Madness pamphlet, I am just amazed at the dedication and commitment many early leaders had to the concept of Christianity. I sense more than know that the Holy Spirit moved amongst all these people in mysterious and beautiful ways. I find it hard to choose between these two people. I was sure I'd chose Leboa because she was a woman and a leader in a time when women were not allowed to take leadership role. .. and while I'm quite sure Leboa, from a wealthy family who chose to work tirelessly for Christ, will win today...(it is Womens History Month and she certainly was a leader) I will likely pick the least favored choice.
I was humbled by the simple man, who lived in scarcity, and who created a cart to carry his mom as he walked many miles looking for handouts, and who then simply trusted that even he..a simple man of poverty could build a chapel to God. One that continues to exist and inspire people to this day. The builder who builds on the foundation of Christ. So...I voted for Cuthmann.
Leoba had me at "when women's voices were welcome in the Church."
Cuthmann won my vote and reminded me of another story of caring and building.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h5dCFGJp__0