251 comments on “Happy Nominationtide!”

1. St. Bede because although he wrote about saints and miracles, he did try to have a source. He also is responsible for popularizing dating years from the birth of Christ (AD or in these days BCE). Apparently he was devout, painstaking, and hardworking, and, which doesn't always happen with people with those characteristics, well-liked. (In college I did a paper on Anglo-Saxon saints, so it was a hard choice among Bede, Cuthbert, and Hilda.

2. I would like to nominate Frederick Howden, who is on the calendar of saints in the Diocese of the Rio Grande. Father Howden gave his life both as a serviceman and military chaplain, AND by giving his rations in prison camp in order to save others.

3. I'm so happy that the Supreme Executive Committee reached an outstanding decision about Lent Madness for the coming year. I LOVE it because I learn about those that walked in Jesus's path. Thank you Supreme Executive Committee.

4. I would like to nominate Righteous Judith, who is commemorated December 11th, because
   1.) of her demonstrable devotion to God, first personally and then publicly by saving Israel and The Holy Temple; and
   2.) so few know anything about her (even though the book which bears her name is included in the intertestamental scriptures), and it would be an excellent way to teach more folks about her, and in return deepen their own devotion to God.

5. John Donne, the poet extraordinaire of love, both sacred and profane.

6. St Anthony of the Desert

   My first choice was Mother Cabrini as mentioned above; however, I recently heard about St Anthony on a podcast about the early church. He was born in Lower Egypt to wealthy landowner parents. When he was 20 years old, they died and left him with the care of his unmarried sister. Shortly after, he decided to follow the gospel exhortation in Matthew 19: 21, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasures in heaven." Anthony gave away some of his family's lands to his neighbors, sold the remaining property, and donated the funds to the poor and support of his sister. He then left to live an ascetic life in the desert and became known as the "Father of Monasticism" in Christianity with many of his writings surviving to today. His Feast day is January 17.

7. I nominate St. Benedict, the founder of Western Monasticism who produced The Rule which has formed the basis of monastic rules ever since. I hope he will be deemed worthy to attain a place on the Saintly Scorecard of Lent Madness.

8. St. Kevin...the saint who helped unwed mothers and their baby. Gave medical care, cared for the deceased who could not be buried in a catholic cemetery. Babies could not be baptized as they were going to hell with their mother. St. Kevin did this with his soul friend St.Keron.

9. I would like to nominate Chiune Sugihara. He is in the 2016 "A Great Cloud of Witnesses" with the July 16th Righteous Gentiles. He was a Japanese diplomat who converted to Russian Orthodoxy. He defied the orders of his superiors to issue thousands of visas to Jews trying to escape from the Nazis and lost his career because of it. He would also provide more Asian representation to Lent Madness. Here's his Wikipedia page. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chiune_Sugihara Here's a copyright-free Russian Orthodox icon of him. Nazhttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Chiune_Sugihara#/media/File:Chiune_Sugihara_-_%E6%9D%89%E5%8E%9F_%E5%8D%83%E7%95%9D_-_Pavlo_Sergeyevitch.jpg

   1. Several years ago, I very much wished to nominate Chiune Sugihara, but failed to locate any evidence that he's a saint on any church's calendar of saints.

      Because he was a Russian Orthodox Xian who was a Japanese native, Japanese citizen, &, at the time of his saintly activity, a Japanese diplomat, I fear that the Russian Orthodox Church will never have him in its field of vision for when that Church considers adding further saints.

      He's certainly deserving, yet has the problem that some other highly deserving people of the past have: there being no obvious denomination to lobby for his or her addition to its calendar of saints.

10. Hello!
    I am interested in nominating Maximillian Kolbe to Lent Madness 2025. I am fascinated by history and the thought of someone sacrificing his life to save another while in a concentration camp shows me that there is love all around us. The times we live in are "dark" according to my young adult children and finding hope and peace and reconciliation if only through the saints in Lent Madness, gives me pause for renewal. Thank you.

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11. I nominate the Rt Rev Charles Brent for his commitment to ecumenism, his service as chief of chsplzins in WW2, his helping to found the Council of churches, and a noted pastor, and finally as a respected and beloved Bishop of Western NY.

12. I nominate St. Thorlak Thorhallsson. Rather than rewrite to blurb in the Textus Wikipedius and try to pass it off as my own, here is what that text provides:

    Thorlak Thorhallsson (Icelandic: Þorlákur Þórhallsson) is the only canonized saint native to Iceland, and since 1984 has functioned formally as the country's patron saint despite centuries of devotion.

    By the time of his birth, the Catholic Church was firmly established in Iceland following contention between Norwegian and German missionaries with native pagan religions in the two centuries preceding.

    Thorlak was born into an aristocratic family in Hlíðarendi in 1133, Thorlak's parents noticed his budding intellectual capabilities and asked a local priest to instruct him. He was ordained a priest at age 18, and subsequently studied in Paris and perhaps England. After returning to Iceland in 1165, he founded a monastery of Canons Regular and devoted himself to a life of contemplative prayer.

    He was ordained a bishop by Augustine of Nidaros in 1178 and worked to reform the Church and religious life in Iceland. He died on December 23, 1193, and his relics were translated to the cathedral of Skálholt in 1198.

    His informal veneration in Iceland began less than a decade following his death with the translation of his earthly remains. Pope John Paul II canonized him in 1984, instituting his feast of December 23 on the liturgical calendar and designating him as patron saint of Iceland.[1] The same pontiff visited Iceland five years following, at which occasion the Icelandic saga Þorláks saga helga (the Saga of Saint Thorlak) was republished in commemoration of the papal visit.

13. St. Therese of Lisieux

    One of only 4 female Doctors of the Church
    Suffered from and overcame anxiety/sensitivity as well as a dark night of the soul.
    Wrote about the above in "The Story of a Soul"
    Promulgated her "Little Way" of doing small deeds with great love

14. Joseph de Veuster (aka Father Damien of Moloka'i) provided spiritual care, comfort, and advocacy to those identified as lepers between 1873 and 1889. Individuals with (or suspected with) Hansen's Disease anywhere in the Hawaiian Islands were removed from their life and sent to live in Kalaupapa, Molokai, Hawai'i, away from family or friends as deemed necessary. Father Damien arrived there to provide to their spiritual needs, and never left, and is beloved to this day for his support and dedication to these essentially imprisoned people. He was canonized as a saint by the Roman Catholic Church in 2009.

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15. Once again, I nominate Fred Rogers. He is remembered on the official calendar of the PCUSA on March 20. His life and legacy are beacons of joy we all can aspire to. Others have nominated him this year as in previous years. Plus, you can see how many people have already "liked" those posts. Surely, you can feel the groundswell of enthusiasm for including Fred Rogers in next year's contest! Also, there is no shortage of stories, quotes and kitsch (I have some myself) from which the celebrity blogger can chose.
    “I hope that you'll remember
    Even when you're feeling blue
    That it's you I like,
    It's you yourself
    It's you.
    It's you I like.”

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16. I nominate Saint Agnes of Rome: Because of the legend around her martyrdom, Saint Agnes is patron saint of those seeking chastity and purity. She is also the patron saint of young girls and girl scouts. Folk custom called for them to practice rituals on Saint Agnes' Eve (20–21 January) with a view to discovering their future husbands. This superstition has been immortalized in John Keats's poem The Eve of Saint Agnes.

17. Dear SEC,
    This isn't really a nomination, but an idea or suggestion to ponder over the next year or 2. There are many unknown and unsung saints. We all know them and have them in our lives. Why not give the Celebrity Bloggers a sabbatical, and let the Lent Madness Viewing Audience nominate a person (now deceased) from their own past to receive the Golden Halo? The basic bio would be fairly easy for a viewer to write. Quirks and Quotes would be challenging. Kitsch next to impossible. Some re-structuring miht be in order. But think about it. Where else we we learn about the people who have shaped our Christian formation in some way?

18. I would like to nominate Reverend Dr. Pauli Murray. Born November 20, 1910 and died July I, 1985. I Found out about her when I was visiting the mint in Philadelphia a few months ago and bought a few “HOPE” quarters. She was the first Black Woman to be ordained an Episcopal Priest. She was a Lawyer, an Activist, a Scholar and a Priest. Co Founder Of the National Organization of women. She worked Tirelessly to advance Gender and racial Equality. There is so much to write about her and I have enjoyed learning more over the past few months. I love her famous quote “ Hope, A song in a weary throat. “ She is a Saint in The Episcopal Church (2012) voted to be honored as one of its Holy women. To be Commemorated on July 1st the anniversary of her death.

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19. I nominate Rachel Carson to be included in the saintly list for 2025. Why she has not been one of the nominees before this astounds me....or maybe she has, long before I joined the fun.
    Rachel Carson should be listed as a saint in any event because of her passionate and devoted work and writings done on behalf of Mother Earth, the Natural World and all its creatures. Because of Rachel Carson, the United States FINALLY banned the use of the pesticide DDT, in 1972.
    I don't know if Rachel Carson appears on any church's list of saints or near-saints, but she should !
    So, here is my nomination, and best luck to her - Rachel Carson.

    1. http://churchinthecliff.org {headquartered in the Oak Cliff section of Dallas, TX} is "a post-modern, emergent Baptist church." It's part of ALLIANCE OF BAPTISTS, around 140 congregations & approximately 4,500 individual members, going back to 1987.

       *** Rachel Carson is viewed as a Saint by Church in the Cliff, but not by the Alliance of Baptists. ***

20. St Josephine Bakhita (c1869 - 1947). A victim of human trafficking into slavery, she eventually gained her freedom in Italy. She converted and became a Canossian Sister in Italy. St Josephine is a patron saint of Sudan and trafficking survivors, and her feast day in February 8. She was recently named the patron saint of a diocese in Columbus, Ohio after three other dioceses were combined into one. An example of a marvelous life of perseverance and compassion.

21. Frederick Buechner

    Fulton Sheen

    Ruth ( from Bible)

22. Saint Thekla: Equal to the apostles and the first martyr.

    I'm nominating St. Thekla because she was widely popular saint in the early church, particularly for women and women monastics. She had an unusually early story and was considered to be "equal to the apostles." Some traditions have her as Deacon, or perhaps a woman named for her was a Deacon.

    As with all very early saints, it's hard to say if she was real but her widespread early commemoration implies she was. She is still commemorated in the Eastern churches.

    More information: https://almoutran.com/2011/03/403/

23. Saint Marina
    I nominate St Marina of 3rd Century Anatolia. Her Saint Day is July 17. I love her depiction of going after a demon with a claw hammer. Born to a pagan family her Nanny introduced her to Christianity. She was persecuted and tortured for her faith and was gladly martyred in the end. We have an icon and coffee mug with her likeness, acquired in Istanbul. Read more in the web link below.

    Steve and Darlene Abel

24. St. Hilda, Abbess of Whitby (680 AD)

    Hilda founded the abbey at Whitby, which included both nuns and monks; she was sought out by secular and church leaders for her wisdom and counsel; she nurtured several monks who became bishops; and she was a mentor to Caedmon the poet.

    In addition, she hosted the 663 synod that brought together representatives of Celtic Christian traditions and those who followed the Roman order. As Lesser Feasts and Fasts tells us, "Hilda favored the Celtic position, but when the Roman position prevailed she was obedient to the synod's decision." Her rule of justice, devotion, charity, and peace reflected her fierce love of Christ and the Church.

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25. I nominate Queen Emma of Hawaii who not only brought the Anglican church to Hawaii for the spiritual welfare of her people, but as well cared for their health by raising money to build a hospital which continues to this day to provide care for Hawaiians of native ancestry.

26. I nominate Pauli Murray. At the end of her life she served as an Episcopal priest, but before she became a priest she became an attorney, she worked with Thurgood Marshall on civil rights law and, I believe, did much of the writing/research which was used to argue Brown vs. Board of Education. In her hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee, Ruth Bader Ginsburg credited Pauli Murray with laying the groundwork for a legal framework for women's rights. She wrote an autobiography entitled "Proud Shoes: The Story of an American Family" first copyright 1956, latest copyright 1999. Her's is a deeply human, deeply powerful story of a life lived in the midst of incredible contradictions that she was only too aware of from the time she was young. Finally - born in 1910 in Baltimore but due to family struggles grew up in the home of her Grandfather/Grandmother in North Carolina. It was in 1973 when barriers against women deacons in the Episcopal Church came down that she studied for Holy Orders at General Theological Seminary in NYC. Made a deacon in 1976 and in 1977 was one of three women and three men ordained to the priesthood in Washington Cathedral. On Lincoln's birthday Sunday in 1977, she conducted the service and celebrated the Holy Eucharist in the Episcopal Chapel of the Cross in Chapel Hill, NC, in the same chapel where, church records show, her grandmother Cornelia Smith, "one of five servant children belong to Miss Mary Ruffin Smith," was baptized. (These words from the book)

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27. I hope we get a some new candidates. Starting to feel like LM just keeps repeating the same folks until they win. I'm still game but I know others who have quit because of this. Surely there are other souls who have achieved saintly lives over the last two thousand plus years.

28. Hans Nielsen Hauge (3 April 1771 – 29 March 1824) was a 19th-century Norwegian Lutheran lay minister, spiritual leader, business entrepreneur, social reformer and author. He led a noted Pietism revival known as the Haugean movement. Hauge is also considered to have been influential in the early industrialization of Norway. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hans_Nielsen_Hauge

29. I nominate St. Peter.

    St. Peter was quoted in Sunday's 1st Lesson (Acts 10: 44-48 -

    Then Peter said, "Can anyone withhold the
    water for baptizing these people who have received the Holy Spirit just as we
    have?" So he ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.

    I was very moved by this pronouncement about the Gentiles.

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30. I nominate Saint Anne, wife of Joaquim, mother of Mary, and grandmother of Jesus for consideration in Lent Madness 2025.

    Her exact dates of life on earth are lost to antiquity -- but it is quite certain that she is in fact dead to this earthly life.

    She is commemorated -- along with her husband Joaquim -- in the Episcopal Church calendar on July 26, as well as in the Roman Catholic Church (on the same date).

    Why am I nominating Anne? Although she was a candidate in Lent Madness once before (2013), she didn't get very far. I think it is time to take a second look at her. She is the patron saint of sailors, of mothers, of grandparents (along with Joaquim), of women in labor, of unmarried women, of homemakers and housewives, and of miners (whew! She has a lot of people to look after!). She is mentioned in at least one hymn in the current Episcopal Hymnal: 110, verse 2: " 'Twas Mary, daughter pure of holy Anne, that brought into this world the God made man." Hymn 680 (O God, our help in ages past...) is sung to the tune, St. Anne. The Basilica of Sainte Anne de Beaupre in Quebec is a place of miracles and consequently the site of pilgrimages, particularly among the infirm and weak. (It's lovely; we visited there several years ago!)And perhaps not inconsequentially, at least to me, Anne and Nancy are entomologically the same, both deriving ultimately from Hannah.

    And it doesn't hurt that there's a treasure-trove of artwork in which she is depicted; the Basilica has a shrine attesting to the miracles attributed to her there. (We don't want life to be too difficult for the Celebrity Bloggers!)