251 comments on “Happy Nominationtide!”

1. I nominate Paul Farmer, MD who established Partners in Health to provide much need health care in Haiti, Peru, Russia, and other places, giving a preference to the Poor. His ministry is described in his book, Mountains Beyond Mountains. I dont know if he is yet recognized as a saint anywhere, but he should be!

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2. St. Luke, physician and evangelist, gospeller. He gave us Christmas as we know it.

3. I am nominating Reverend Hiram Hisanori Kano. He is included in Holy Women, Holy Men, the Episcopal church’s calendar of commemorations.
   Despite being an Episcopal priest he was incarcerated in World War II internment camps because he was a Japanese immigrant. During his internment he organized classes in nature studies and agriculture for other internees, camp guards and German POWs. He also conducted services in the camps. He was known to minister to all those in the camps and is referred to as the "saint of Nebraska". Before and after his release he was a parish priest in Nebraska. He died in 1988 just months before his 100th birthday.

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4. I nominate St. Irenaeus because his creed recognizes so much more than other creeds about the work of the Holy Spirit... AND has one of the longest run-on sentences in Christianity that was not written by Paul.(Against Heresies, Book 1, Chapter 10)

   Ireneaus is dead, as of around 200 C.E., is on at least two calendars (Western feast day June 28; Eastern feast day August 23) and is the only saint I am nominating.

   I think that makes this an official "actually following the rules of Nominatiotide" sort of entry.

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5. I nominate Mother Francesca Cabrini who is a canonized Roman Catholic saint. Motivated by her devotion to Jesus, Mother Cabrini came to America to care for the needs of the large number of poor Italian immigrants who immigrated to the US in the late 19th century. Mother battled the entrenched male-dominated political machine and church authorities to alleviate the suffering of the poor. Eventually she established 67 educational institutions, orphanages, and hospitals. Her legacy survives in the works of the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart in 15 countries on six continents. She was named Patroness of Immigrants in 1950 by the Pope.

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6. Dwynwen
   Hermione of Ephesus
   Therese of Lisieux
   Edith Stein (Teresa Benedicta of the Cross)
   Endellion

7. I want to recommend St Catherine of Alexandria. She was a highly educated princess that converted many people to Christianity and was martyred at the age of 18. The legend says that she was very smart and educated and emperor Maxentius summoned his best philosophers to debate her and turn her away from Christianity, but she was so eloquent that instead, she converted some of the emperor's philosophers to Christianity. She is also one of the saints that appeared and inspired Joan of Arc. Her feast day is November 25 in the Catholic calendar.
   I am a big fan because even philosophers need a patron saint 🙂

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8. I would like to nominate St Philippine Duschenne.
   My nomination reason is personal- her shrine is in St Louis near my wife’s ancestral home and we actually used a 25 km walk to the shrine as the first leg of our pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostella on the English Way’s route from A Coruña (which is actually too short at 80 Km to qualify for a Compostella which requires a 100 Km journey but by recognition of it’s historic English route qualifies if you walk the first 20 Km leg in your home country.)
   She is one of 11 Saints recognized in the Roman Catholic Church from the US. (2nd parenthetical-This Episcopalian is much better at appreciating all the Saints thanks to Lent Madness!! THANKS!!)

   But the obvious reason to nominate her beyond her amazing story of support for the Native American population and her role of advancing education is her recognition as the patron saint of perseverance amid adversity. Who doesn't need that after these last 4 years!!!!!!

   To quote her shrine’s webpage:

   “St. Philippine Duchesne was the fourth saint canonized from the US. and is the patron saint of perseverance amid adversity.
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   At the age of 49, Duchesne arrived in the US from France with the mission of teaching girls in the American frontier. Facing harsh weather and limited resources, Duchesne and her team worked tirelessly opening 6 schools in 10 years in MO and LA. “

   Now if I could just remember it is only one L and two P’s. Well, technically three, but you get the gist.

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9. Chad of Mercia, because the Mercians needed Jesus and Shrewsbury needed a round church.

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10. I would like to nominate Edith Cavell. She was a British nurse in WWI, famous for treating wounded soldiers from both sides without discrimination. She helped Allied soldiers and military age Belgian men escape from German-occupied Belgium. When she was arrested she admitted freely what she had done. Before her execution she expressed gratitude for having ten weeks of quiet to prepare herself. She strove to have no hatred or bitterness toward anyone, and faces her sentence bravely, trusting that her soul was safe and willing to die for her country. I think she should be in the bracket because of her kindness, compassion, honesty, bravery, and faith. She is commemorated in the Church of England on October 12.

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11. Rev. Antoinette Brown Blackwell...first ordained women 1852. Recognized by UCC. Award given in her name at General Synod, closest thing to a saint's list. Try to get a seminary education then when only males accepted. Try to get an ordaining call!

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12. St Cuthbert! He worshipped God in the sea in the middle of the night in order to be truly alone with his Lord. He is my patron saint of solitude! He was also ministered to by sea otters, so he was obviously a very good person.

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13. St. Raphael the Archangel - He fulfills every requirement although we don't know if he's effectively dead (does immortality count?) - Of the Archangels it's said he is the Healer. In our present times we need one. Last but not least he is one of my two Patron Saints, and as my Guardian Angel I'm keeping him busier than I really should (does a personal reason count?) - The Committee may decide!

14. I would like to nominate Aelred of Rievaulx for consideration for the 2025 Lent Madness. His writing "On Spiritual Friendship" has inspired individuals for centuries, and has helped many in the LGBTQ+ community find a companion with whom they can walk in their spiritual journey. While his own sexual orientation is unknown, and much of his writing style was more a reflection of monastic style than sexual identity, Aelred's legacy of universal love and inclusivity for all has been very important for a marginalized group. Plus, he is the patron saint for those suffering from kidney stones. Talk about your Saintly Breadth! Aelred's Feast Day is January 12

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15. Hild of Streonshalh!(614-680), mistakenly called Hilda of Whitby, though the Vikings didn't name the area Whitby (White Place, because of the cliffs) until 200 years later. Bede called it Streonshalh, The Place of the Lighthouse Bay. Gosh, Hild was everything - royal relative brought up in the court of Edwin and Ethelburgh of Northumbria; abbess of the most renowned double monastery in northern England; friend, teacher, and counselor of bishops, abbots, and of Caedmon, England's first poet; unwilling hostess of the Synod of 664 which gave away the patrimony of the Celtic Church; and even namesake of the ammonite genus Hildocerus, because people thought fossil ammonites were snakes she had turned to stones! This gal had it all, and was an all-around great human being into the bargain. Go, Hild!

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16. I nominate Petra De San José Perez Florido

    1. Sorry, I forgot to say why I nominated Petra It’s because I had a nun in elementary school who had taken that name … I think all the sisters in our school had names of lesser-known saints. Anyway, Petra’s mother died when she was three years old (that tugs at my heart strings) so she was raised by her father and grandmother who tried to marry her off numerous times till she was in her 30s and her father “gave permission” for her to enter a convent. A few years later she started her own order and built nursing homes (another soft spot). And she took her missionary work to different countries and the order is still active today.

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17. I would like to nominate Blessed Carlo Acutis.

    Blessed Carlo Acutis had a strong devotion to the Holy Eucharist and the church. He once said that the Eucharist is the "Highway to heaven". Carlo had a gift for computers and the internet and used his skills to design websites for different Catholic organizations. His most famous website is dedicated to listing the miracles attributed to the Holy Eucharist.

    Carlo developed Leukemia and died on October 12, 2006 at the age of 15. He is the patron of computer programmers and of youth. He was beatified on October 10, 2020.

    Carlo is an inspiration to all who live in this age of abuse of the church due to misuse of the internet. He is an inspiration to all of us who face all of the difficulties living in this present world of poverty, disease, war. Carlo is an inspiration to young people struggling to follow their faith in Jesus Christ in a world of increasing secularism.

    Blessed Carlo Acutis, pray for us!

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18. St. Anthony is my nominee. In these times, there are days when I feel like I'm losing my mind. Other days, I feel like I'm losing my soul. Still others, my heart, my religion, my patience, my joy, and so it goes...not to mention just flat out losing "stuff." And I don't think it's just me! So I believe St. Anthony would be a great nominee for us all!

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19. Grüezi! I nominate Nicolas of Flüe, the patron saint of Switzerland.

    His counsel prevented a civil war between cantons in the 15th century, and even today, we in Switzerland credit him with the fact that we all get along... rural and urban, Catholic and Protestant, German-/French-/Italian- and Romansh-speaking.

    In a world where so much is trying to divide us, we could use a little more unity!

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20. As the brutal, horrible war between Slavs continues indefinitely, both Ukraine and Russia being traditionally and culturally Orthodox Christian. I nominate SAINT CYRIL. Sometimes called the Apostle to the Slavs, Cyril and his brother St. Methodius brought Christianity to those people. Cyril introduced the use of vernacular language into the liturgy, among other accomplishments, and adapted the Greek alphabet for writing Slavic languages. His name lives on in the Cyrillic alphabet.

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21. I nominate St. Genesius. As a musician, I am always looking for saints of the arts. St. Joseph University sums this up better than I could. St. Genesius was the leader of a Roman theater troupe that would mock Christians. Upon being converted, he refused to continue the mocking, and was beheaded for not recanting. St. Joseph University's website says this:

    "In honor of his sacrifice, Genesius was venerated as the patron saint of actors, clowns, comedians, converts, dancers, musicians, printers, epileptics and those who have been tortured. The newly founded Fraternity of St. Genesius supports those who work in theater and cinema. His feast day is Aug. 25."

22. Righteous Gentiles
    Remember, People of Israel, the Righteous Gentiles, who have placed their own lives in danger for the sake of our persecuted and tortured brothers and sisters during the Shoah, 1939–1945, and who were as shining stars in the overwhelming darkness of evil

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23. Hello, Supreme Executive Council.
    I would like to nominate Fr. Hiram Hisanori Kano to be considered for 2025 Lent Madness.
    Fr. Kano moved to the US from Japan following a conversion experience in which Jesus talked to him while he was suffering a severe illness. He became a priest in Nebraska, and was imprisoned in a WWII internment camp. He turned the camp experience into a mission field.
    I knew his daughter and have heard stories of him from those who knew him. He was recently recognized by the Episcopal Church. Here are the details: https://episcopalnewsservice.org/2015/07/02/a-sainted-life-hiram-hisanori-kano-turned-internment-camp-into-mission-field/

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24. We nominate Saint Verena . We think that any saint who promoted medicine and personal hygiene is worthy to be considered for a Golden Halo!

    Coptic Saint Verena, the Egyptian who taught Europe personal hygiene

    Staff writer, Al Arabiya English
    Published: 10 April ,2017: 12:00 AM GST
    Updated: 20 May ,2020: 10:51 AM GST
    3 min
    read
    Many Egyptians do not know that this Egyptian woman - Coptic Saint Verena - was buried in Europe in the fourth century. Many historians consider her the mother of nuns in Europe. She died in 344 AD, a church was built over her body in Switzerland. 70 churches in Switzerland and 30 churches in Germany bear her name.
    Verena, whose name means ‘the good fruit’, is originally from Garagous near Luxor. Her icons are always drawn uniquely. In one hand, she holds a jar of water and in the second a comb because it is she who taught the Germanic and the Gaul the traditions of personal hygiene and herbal medicine. She succeeded with her love and dedication in attracting the pagan cruel Germanic people to faith and civilization while the swords of the Romans failed.

25. I nominate Saint Cecilia, patron saint of music and musicians.
    Sing a joyful song unto the Lord!!!

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26. I nominate St Eulalia. Patron saint of Barcelona torture victims, widows, and inclement weather. She was martyed in Barcelona during the reign of Diocletian. She was a goose herder.

27. I nominate St Melangell. Saint Melangell was a female saint of the 7th century. According to tradition she came to Wales from Ireland and lived as a hermit in the valley. One day Brochwel, Prince of Powys, was hunting and pursued a hare which took refuge under Melangell’s cloak. The Prince’s hounds fled, and he was moved by her courage and sanctity. He gave her the valley as a place of sanctuary, and Melangell became Abbess of a small religious community. After her death her memory continued to be honoured, and Pennant Melangell has been a place of pilgrimage for many centuries. Melangell remains the patron saint of hares.

28. I would like to nominate an unorthodox choice, a comic genius, and a proud Episcopalian: Robin Williams. Williams struggled with mental illness through his life and self-medicated through substance abuse and humor. It was said that no one could make Johnny Carson laugh the way Williams did. He even incorporated his Episcopal faith into some of his stand up routines.

    He was also known to take in the homeless. To be generous and loving to others. His broken heart, which struggled to love himself, loved others deeply. Like Martin Luther, he was vulgar and depressed. Like Jesus, he loved his neighbors, especially those who were less fortunate than he was.

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29. Please consider this nomination of St. Kevin, the 6th century Irish monk. He founded a monastery, lived simply as a hermit in a cave, loving and giving to all God's creatures. The most well known legend about him tells how a blackbird laid an egg in St Kevin's outstretched hand as he was praying. He took pity on the bird and vowed to leave the egg in his palm until it hatched. Our world today is losing birds and short of loving kindness; St Kevin reminds us to care for God's creation with love.

30. Margery Kempe.

    She doesn't fit neatly into the mold of saintly meekness (she kinda...overflows) but she's commemorated November 9 nonetheless.

    Note to SEC & potential Celeb Bloggers: Find B Lurie's "Bears With Pears" paper at Cal State for a taste of this fascinating woman and her story.

    FWIW IMO when Kempe finally gets her own biopic she needs to be played by Jennifer Coolidge. Read her Book and tell me I'm wrong. But that's an advocacy for another time...

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