251 comments on “Happy Nominationtide!”

1. There are three people i would like to nominate, so i'll try to post three comments in the next couple of days. The first is St. Matthias the Apostle, whose story is told in Acts I. I have long considered St. Matthias the Patron Saint of the Apostolic Succession, because he was the first person chosen to fill a vacancy in the Apostolic College, thereby establishing the principle that such vacancies should ideally be filled.

   1. You can only nominate one. (I just want to make sure you don't disqualify your first nomination.)

2. I nominate Edith Cavell, whose feast day is October 12. Miss Cavell was the daughter of an English vicar, and started her nursing career after caring for her father in a sudden, terminal illness. She started formal study as a nurse in 1895, when she was 30 years old. She was dedicated to the care of the poor, and eventually was invited to Brussels to start a nursing school there. She outdid herself, establishing three nursing schools, and elevating the status of nurses throughout Belgium. When Belgium was invaded during World War I, Miss Cavell sent nursing students home to safety, but used her own nursing skills to benefit soldiers without regard for their nationality. Without assistance, Miss Cavell treated all comers to the best of her abilities, and with kindness and respect. In a nine month period, she also helped some 200 French, English, Canadian, and Belgian injured soldiers escape the war zone through her connections with the underground. Because Belgium was occupied at this time, Miss Cavell's actions were considered treasonous by the occupying forces, and she was captured, imprisoned, and executed. Although possibly apocryphal, Miss Cavell was credited with saying "Standing as I do in view of God and eternity, I realize patriotism is not enough; I must have no hatred or bitterness toward anyone" just before her execution by firing squad. She is buried in Norwich Cathedral, and known as both "the Nightingale of Belgium" and "the poor man's Nightingale".

   2

3. I nominate William Temple, Archbishop of Canterbury, for his scholarly writing, inspirational teaching and preaching, his constant concern for those in need or under persecution, and his willingness to stand up on their behalf before governments. He was a leader in the ecumenical movement and World Council of Churches, and author of "Christianity and Social Order," which sought to marry faith and social justice.

   1

4. Saint Dymphna who is helper of mentally afflicted and nervous disorders. Mental health is such a big problem in our country and that's why I nominate St. Dymphna.

   1

5. I'd like to submit the Rev. Dr. Pauli Murray. Her feast day in the Episcopal Church is July 5. She was the first Black woman to be ordained an Episcopal priest--after a long, brilliant career as a feminist legal scholar, civil rights advocate, and cofounder of the National Organization for Women. Her work was absolutely essential to the protection of women's rights in the US, and Ruth Bader Ginsburg and other prominent feminists have named her as an important influence. Oh, and she also graces the obverse of a 2024 U.S. quarter, so she's all set for the kitsch round.

   1

6. I nominate St. Philip Neri whose great heart radiated joy and inspired folks on the street to follow Jesus with laughter and enthusiasm. I need to hear "Scruples and melancholy stay away from my door." He is patron saint of joy, comedians and artists.

7. I nominate the venerable Catherine McAuley. She came into a fortune and used it to educate the poor and orphans. She studied the latest in educational methods, founded the Sisters of Mercy, even though she'd never intended to start a religious order. My high school alma mater is named after her. I ignored everything they taught us about her while in high school, thinking I was too cool for school. Now I emulate her! The poverty cycle grinds on as my trailer park resident friends' children fall through the educational cracks with a thud. We need more McAuley's!

   1

8. Thich Nhat Hanh,
   Walking Meditation

   It is possible to walk in freedom and solidity, and to arrive in the present moment in every step. Wherever we walk, we can practice meditation.

   Walking in meditation means to walk in such a way that we know we are walking. We walk leisurely, enjoying every step. We become aware of the contact of our feet with the ground, and the flow of our breathing. We set ourselves free from our thinking—our regrets about the past, our fears and anxieties about the future, or our preoccupations in the present.
   Learn the art of “slow walking” with Thich Nhat Hanh.

   Thich Nhat Hanh teaches the art of touching peace and freedom in every step.

   We become aware of the contact between our feet and the ground. And we begin harmonise our steps with our breathing. We may take two or three steps as we breathe in, and then three or four steps as we breathe out. It will depend on your lungs and the natural rhythm of your steps.

   As we continue walking, synchronising our breathing and our steps, we become aware of our whole body walking. We can relax any tension in our shoulders or arms, and feel what a miracle it is to be walking on Earth. We can open our ears to the sounds around us, and lift up our eyes to enjoy the trees, or the horizon, or the people around us. Aware of our five senses, we know we have arrived in the present moment. Every step can be nourishing and every step can be healing.

   “I have arrived, I am home” means: I don’t want to run anymore. I’ve been running all my life, and I’ve arrived nowhere. Now I want to stop. My destination is the here and now, the only time and place where true life is possible.

9. I nominate Matt Talbot, the humble worker saint of Dublin, Ireland, who has inspired alcoholics and other addicts around the world in their struggles to overcome their addictions. His feast day is June 18th on the calendar of the Roman Catholic Church, which has declared him Venerable, an important step towards canonization. Matt grew up in the slums of 1860s Dublin, an alcoholic by the time he was 13, spending all his pay on drink and even selling his clothes to buy more. He tried many times to stop, but always failed, until one day in his late twenties he seems to have experienced a deep conversion. Standing outside a pub trying to bum a drink, he suddenly turned, went home, and told his mother he was going to “take the pledge.” From that day forward, until his death forty five years later, he never had another drink, and over time became a man devoted to prayer, study, sacrifice, and service. His story is so important because it shows that God never, never gives up on any of us, and that none of us are beyond God’s grace and help no matter how hopeless we may think our situation is. This message, especially for those struggling with addiction, is as relevant today as it was in Matt’s lifetime. Matt stayed single, lived as simply as possible, taught himself to read so he could study theology and the lives of the saints, slept on a board (sounds strange, I know, but he was imitating the early Celtic saints) and gave away almost all his money to those even poorer than himself. There are many beautiful stories of the quiet ways he would find to help those in need, of his dry humor, love for children, his deep honesty and sense of justice. (One of my favorites is about the fiddle he stole from a street musician when he was still drinking, and how he later searched for the musician for years, hoping to pay him for it and make amends.) He died in 1925, which will be one hundred years ago from this upcoming Lent Madness season (just in case anyone might want to commemorate that anniversary…) He’s a wonderful example of a modern Celtic saint, and so relevant for our times.

   2

10. I nominate St. Martin of Tours. A 4th century Roman soldier who became Bishop. Best known for the story of him cutting his cloak in half to give to a beggar in rags.

11. I nominate the disciple Bartholomew. My husband and I are huge Simpsons fans and wanted to include a bit of the show in our first son's name. We opted for the middle name Bartholomew (instead of Bart, for Bart Simpson). I also appreciate the Biblical nature of his middle name. Lent Madness does such a good job of highlighting lesser known figures from the Bible, and I know a blogger could do the same with Bartholomew. Plus, think of the merch!

12. I nominate Dr. Pauli Murray whose feast day is July 1st. In 1977, Dr. Pauli Murray became the first African American woman to be ordained as an Episcopal priest. Prior to ordination, Dr. Pauli Murray had an extensive career as a trailblazing civil rights lawyer working alongside notable figures such as Bayard Rustin and Ruth Bader Gisnburg. Thurgood Marshall called Murray's first book, States' Laws on Race and Color, "the Bible for Civil Rights lawyers." Several years later, Justice Marshall would use ideas developed by Murray in a law school paper—namely, that segregation was an immoral violation of the 13th and 14th Amendments—to undergird his argument in Brown v. Board, which successfully overturned the precedent sent by Plessy v. Ferguson.

    1

13. St. Camillus de lellis, a 16th century priest who dedicated his life to caring for the sick. Seems appropriate this Nurses' Week! He was a soldier first and fared badly at gambling before starting a religious order. He's the patron saint of nurses, hospitals, doctors, and the sick.

14. I nominate St. Francis Cabrini. She worked for the immigrants of her time. May she intercede for the immigrants on our southern border, those helping them and those making laws concerning them.

15. Thomas a Becket. He was, to me, a hero of the faith. He was made Archbishop of Canterbury by Henry II, his longtime friend. Whatever Henry thought would happen, Becket faithfully fulfilled his duties and responsibilities. This ticked Henry off. A muttered comment led to the execution of Becket by four barons. The fact that Becket accepted the vows he made and put God first makes him a great candidate for the Golden Halo.

16. I would like to nominate St. Walter.
    The main reason is that my father's name was Walter and he was a saint in my eyes. He not only put up with my mother, sister, and me; but helped guide me down my life's path and put things in perspective for me during times of stress.

17. I would like to nominate St. Thorlak, the patron Saint of Iceland and autistics. While Thorlak was not diagnosed autistic in his lifetime (such diagnosis not yet existing), there are a number of ways in which Thorlak's life exhibited some autistic-coded traits. Autism itself is widely misunderstood in the church, and learning about St. Thorlak (also misunderstood) might be a useful entry point to thinking about how autistic people, too, bear the image of God.

    1

18. Bernadette of Lourdes. She was blessed to have encountered St. Mary 18 times! She also endured extreme poverty and had a lifetime of health issues. Despite everything, she remained a cheerful and positive individual.

19. I nominate Thomas Clarkson, an English abolitionist. He is commemorated along William Wilberforce--his better-known associate--and a third individual on July 30th on the Church of England calendar.

    Clarkson was a recently ordained deacon in the CofE when he entered a student debate contest. His topic was slavery, about which he was previously unfamiliar. He was appalled at what he learned. Heading home, he had a "road to Damascus" moment: if what he had learned was true, then something must be done, and he determined he had no choice but to take up the cause. Clarkson devoted the rest of his life to it. He traveled widely, and at personal risk, on fact-finding trips, relaying what he learned to Wilberforce to use in legislative debates. He also engaged in public-relations campaigns to raise awareness and support, including by highlighting the rich artistic legacy in African cultures. His first publication was hailed by Ralph Waldo Emerson as a turning point in history, his eloquence was praised by none other than Jane Austen, and Wordsworth wrote a sonnet in Clarkson's honor. Even after Great Britain abolished first the slave trade, and then slavery itself throughout the Empire, Clarkson continued to advocate for abolition elsewhere, including the United States.

    Clarkson is a model as someone who truly loved his neighbor and as a deacon who fully lived into his call to serve the marginalized. By following his conscience, he even stood up to the institutional church (because it supported slavery) and eventually renounced his orders. He said he felt more at home among the Quakers. Clarkson has received numerous honors in the UK, including a commemorative stone in Westminster Abbey and a postage stamp. He fully merits a chance to wear the Golden Halo (and I hereby volunteer to be the blogger on his behalf).

20. (Apologies if this is a duplicate. I don't see my original post even though I submitted it several hours ago.)
    I nominate Thomas Clarkson, an English abolitionist. He's on the calendar of the Church of England, sharing a commemoration with the better-known William Wilberforce and a third individual.
    Clarkson was a recently ordained deacon when he entered a debate competition. The topic was slavery, about which he was previously ignorant. What he learned so distressed him that, on his way home, he had a "road to Damascus" moment: if the information was true, then something must be done, and he must play a role. His contributions to the abolitionist cause were primarily through fact-finding and public relations. He traveled widely the rest of his life, often at great personal risk, to unearth the details of the slave trade and slavery; his information supported Wilberforce's legislative efforts in Parliament. Clarkson's first anti-slavery booklet was hailed by Ralph Waldo Emerson as a turning point in history, his eloquent writing was praised by none other than Jane Austen, and Wordsworth wrote a sonnet praising him. Even after Great Britain abolished first the slave trade and then slavery itself, Clarkson remained devoted to the abolitionist cause elsewhere, including the United States.
    Clarkson has received accolades in Britain, including a commemorative stone in Westminster Abbey and a postage stamp. He deserves a chance to add the Golden Halo to his resume. As a true groupie, I'd be happy to be his blogger.

21. I nominate St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, the first American to be canonized as a saint by Pope Paul VI in 1975. She was raised as a devout Episcopalian, married, and raised a family. Her husband died of tuberculosis, and she later she felt called to convert to Catholicism to help deal with her grief and loss. She founded the first free school for girls in Baltimore, Maryland. Later, in Emmitsville Maryland, she founded a religious order, the Sisters of Charity. She is credited as being the founder of the parochial school system and her order established a number of schools and orphanages. I had the privilege of being taught by nuns from this religious order who were all wonderful dedicated teachers. Mother Seton is the patron saint of Catholic educators, grieving widows, and seafarers.

    0

22. I nominate Elias Neau (pronounced ‘no’).

    Elias Neau (1662-1722) lived a life that inspired people of all kinds with the strength that comes from God when faced with exploitation and persecution. Born in 1662 into a persecuted French Protestant family, he sought refuge in the French colony of Saint Domingue (Haiti), where he experienced a profound religious conversion. As persecution of the Huguenots spread, he moved to Boston, married Suzanne, a fellow refugee, and settled in New York. While captaining a ship to Jamaica, he was seized by French privateers and taken back to France. As a Protestant who had fled, Neau received a lifelong sentence on the floating prison galleys. With other convicts he was force-marched in chains from Rennes in the north West of France to Marseille in the south. Despite hardships, he inspired resistance and converted others on the galleys, provoking his sentencing to solitary confinement in the dungeons of Marseille and in the Chateau d’If. Singing the Psalter in French and praying with the Book of Common Prayer were his only comforts. He obtained his freedom by a peace treaty between France and England, and returned to New York and served as Elder of the French Church (now French Church du St Esprit). Back in New York, the harsh reality of slavery and the dehumanizing treatment of the enslaved reminded him of his own experience. He visited them in their quarters, praying for the sick and opening the first school in the colonies for the poor and enslaved Africans. Students gathered at his house at night to learn to read, sing the psalms and pray. Trinity Church eventually supported his ministry; but in 1712 enslaved Africans revolted, and his school was blamed. Neau was once again persecuted and confined to his house. The Anglican authorities became lukewarm in their support and Elias was temporarily dismissed from the school. He continued his work until his death at age 60. He is buried at Trinity Church. Neau’s life embodies the power of Christ to break our cultural, linguistic, and racial shackles by caring deeply for the voices of the oppressed and valuing all. A life-long hymn-writer in his native French, he is also revered as the father of Anglican hymnody in that language. He is commemorated in the Episcopal Church on September 7th.

    1

23. Dearest Supreme Executive Committe et al
    I humbly nominate St. Hugh of Lincoln (or Avalon your choice)
    Following rules set forth (harsh AS THEY ARE)
    1) pretty sure he is dead. Confirmed by logic & I went to Lincoln Cathedral myself and saw his burial spot!
    2) His feast day is Nov.17th for Anglicans & 11/16 for Roman Catholics (why we couldn't all agree even back then?)
    3) I certify he is the only nomination I will make
    4) Comments :Hard to be brief as there is some much information.
    he was both a Carthusian Monk (great liquor) AND Benediction Monk. Born in France and summoned to England by those in charge.
    Took over an Abbey in total confusion and became extremely well respected by, not only the people, but Kings and other authorities. He was known for standing up the Kings demands, protecting the Jews (see Little St Hugh) and many other wonderful accomplishments. Even a pet swan for good measure.
    Elected Bishop of Lincoln in 1186 until his death in 1200. The cathedral he rebuilt, when done, was the largest building in world for centuries! Upon his death his funeral procession was said to have been attended by throngs of people and more Royality and dignitaries than anyone prior. 2nd most popular Saint in England behind Thomas Becket
    there are 3 Roman Catholic and 2 Episcopal churches in USA named for him

24. Ann Reeves Jarvis died in 1905 and is commemorated by the United Methodist Church, particularly through the ministry of the historic Andrews Methodist Episcopal Church in Grafton WV, which stands now as a Methodist heritage landmark called the International Mother’s Day Shrine. As a devout woman of faith in West Virginia during the American Civil War, Ann looked for ways to serve as Christ would. To curb the spread of a Typhoid epidemic, she organized Mother’s Day Work Clubs to improve sanitation in both Union and Confederate camps. After the war, she organized a Mothers Friendship Day to reunite families divided by the war and worked tirelessly to promote reconciliation. Her example inspired other church women to lead movements of their own. These include Julia Ward Howe, who organized a Mother’s Day for Peace in 1872 to promote reconciliation and a commitment to pacifism, as well as Juliet Calhoun Blakeley, who took the pulpit to finish a sermon after the preacher was overcome by emotion and unable to finish due to his son being victimized in anti-Temperance violence. After Ann’s death in 1905, her daughter Anna Jarvis worked to carry on her ministry, leading to the first public celebration of Mother’s Day on May 10, 1908, in a church service at Andrews Methodist Episcopal Church. Although later commercialization of the holiday was an unfortunate and unforeseen consequence, those who remember Anna Reeves Jarvis know the deep spiritual significance of the day in spurring us toward nonviolence, reconciliation, and motherly love in the spirit of Christ.

25. I nominate St.Eulalia - early Christian martyr and patron saint of Barcelona. A worthy nominee on the merits but also in honor of a wonderful true-love of a dog I lost this year - Eulalie.

26. Saint Judit(h) just because my baptismal name is Judith. Saint Judith appears on calendars in France as celebrated on May 5. On Spanish calendars, she is celebrated on May 6. As a person’s Saint’s day is celebrated in these countries where I spent most of any given year, it would be a wonderful treat to see her compete for a spot in the Lent Madness Pantheon.

    I am in communication with el “Taco Mensajero de Jesús” regarding Saint Judit!!!

    1

27. I would like to nominate Fred Rogers. His programs which ran for years and years offered so much to children. The material was entertaining to kids, but more importantly it offered guidelines and suggestions for correct behavior. His shows are still available as reruns and the material is never out of date. His background as a Presbyterian minister certainly helps him qualify as a Lent Madness nominee.

28. I nominate St. Augustine of Hippo. He is the Patron Saint of Brewers. His Conversion was through the prayers of his Mother, St. Monica.

29. I nominate Fred Rogers whose day is celebrated by the Presbyterian Church (USA) on March 20. Rev. Fred Rogers carried out a ministry of education that thought children (and their adults) to live lives of radical hospitality to our neighbors. (https://www.presbyterianmission.org/ministries/theology-formation-and-evangelism/office-of-christian-formation/mr-rogers-day-resources/).

30. I’d like to nominate Enoch for Lent Madness. I love the television program Ancient Aliens and they speak of him often, which led me buy The Book of Enoch. After reading it I think he’s worthy of a nomination. I love Lent Madness and play both with you and my church every year since I’ve discovered it. My church is Grace and St Stephens Episcopal in Colorado Springs, CO. Thanks for all you do.