Ready for the last matchup of the week? That was rhetorical -- of course you are! Today it's Emily Cooper vs. Hiram Kano, as the choices get harder and harder.
In yesterday's action, Irenaeus brought down Athanasius of Alexandria 53% to 47% to snag the first spot in the Elate Eight.
And don't forget to watch your Daily Saintly Showdown with Christian and Michael (which reminds us, you should really subscribe to our YouTube channel Lent Madness TV.
Vote now!
Emily Cooper
While no doubt Emily Cooper, as a woman of the 19th century, left a legacy of letters, notes, and records, none of her words are readily available. The words of Emily are instead found on historical markers and in hagiographies written about her life of ministry with children, especially the children of a culture that often saw those who were poor, destitute, sick, and impoverished as outcasts and unworthy of dignity and love. Her words were acts of love, and while no inspiring quotations from Emily are with us today, the words she leaves to us are the names of children, etched into granite to testify that no person, no child, is outside of God’s love and all lives are worthy to be remembered.
Emily Cooper was a Deaconess in the Episcopal Church, and in her commitment to her ministry, her call from God, and her baptismal vows, she arrived in Louisville, Kentucky. In 1880, she was named director of the Home of the Innocents, a ministry for neglected, unwanted, sick, and abused children, as well as poor children of destitute parents.
In her lifetime of service to these children, Emily assisted at baptisms of almost 300 children, naming those who arrived without any identification. She cared for them, healing those whom she could and comforting those as they died. After years of investigation, researchers found the grave locations of over 200 children who died while they were at Holy Innocents who had been buried in unmarked graves (likely because their parents could not afford a grave maker).
Much like Sister Emily, their words had been almost erased from the story of God’s love. Yet in a final act generations later that reflected the love and ministry of Emily Cooper, two statues were created and dedicated to the memory of all these children, as well as Sister Emily. These images tell the story of their lives, often too short.
Sister Emily’s grave and the graves of 77 children, are marked with a statue named, Ascension. It depicts Sister Emily holding a child aloft, and the child is releasing a dove. The names of the children are at the base of the statute.
In an adjoining plot, the statute Metamorphosis stands. It depicts a Deaconess shaking out a blanket with 220 butterflies being released into God’s love, representing the 220 children who are buried in these plots soaring to God. The name of all 113 children in this area are engraved on the base.
Perhaps the greatest legacy of any Christian’s life is not the words we write or the quotations that are attributed to us. Perhaps the greatest legacy is that, in love, we cared for those who were cast out by a culture too often devoid of mercy. Perhaps a great legacy is that, like Emily, we give names and monuments to those whom God loves beyond all measure.
Hiram Kano
As one might expect, Hiram Kano’s experience in the World War II incarceration camp had a profound impact on the remainder of Kano’s life and ministry. It could have been so easy for Kano to be bitter and angry (or insert any other appropriate emotion) about his experience. But instead, Kano said. “It was God’s act. It was God who sent me to camp to fulfill his will. I thank God for this.”
Cyrus Kano, Hiram’s son, noted that his father turned adversity into fertile mission territory. In addition to teaching about Christianity, he also organized a “camp college” for anyone in the camps, including the guards. Cyrus noted, “My father also did nature studies and took groups of people out into the swamp in Louisiana and explained about the leaves on the cypress trees and the animals — the water moccasins, the alligators.” Cyrus’s sister Adeline added that her father was “just trying to continue to do his work as a priest, as a human being, trying to help other people” keep their mind off their circumstances in the camps.
In August 1988, the United States Congress passed the “Civil Liberties Act of 1988” which presented survivors of the incarceration camps with a formal apology letter and the sum of $20,000 as “reparations” for what they endured. Upon learning that this money was coming, Kano said, “I don’t want the money. God just used that as another opportunity for me to preach the gospel.” It is unclear if he formally declared he did not want the money. The money was not distributed until October 1990, after Kano had died. This means that, if he did in fact receive the money (he was entitled to it because he was still living at the time the bill was signed), his descendants were the recipients of that money.
Speaking of his descendants, it is a fun quirk to note that Hiram Kano’s great-grandson Aaron is married to an Episcopal priest, The Rev. Mia Kano, currently the rector of St. Andrew's Episcopal Church in Ayer, Massachusetts.
Craig Loya, currently the bishop of the Episcopal Church in Minnesota but born in the Nebraska town where Kano served, identified Kano as his favorite saint and summed up Kano this way: “His was an extraordinary faith and an extraordinary life. He is the only Nebraskan who is a saint in our tradition, and he is deeply loved by people in that state. The fact that he ministered in the area where I grew up makes me feel a particular spiritual connection to him even though I never met him.”
Perhaps there is something in Kano’s story that resonates with you too.
61 comments on “Emily Cooper vs. Hiram Kano”
What wonderful write-ups for both saints. And how very relevant to today as others have pointed out, with tragedies of children in Gaza and new abuse of the Alien Enemies Act. I voted for Deaconess Emily because of the line "the words she leaves to us are the names of children, etched into granite to testify that no person, no child, is outside of God’s love and all lives are worthy to be remembered." Besides, I voted for her last round and didn't vote for Hiram, although all honor to him as well.
Two godly people walking faithfully in circumstances I thought we’d never see again. Abject poverty that was addressed by another Lent Madness alumn, Frances Perkins - Franklin Roosevelt’s Secretary of Labor, whose brainchild were the contents of the New Deal. We see these social safety nets, which lift children and families and the elderly and disabled now under threat.
And Hiram Kano, and his unjust, unAmerican internment.
I voted for Kano this round - mainly because his great granddaughter in law serves as an Episcopal priest. Reading about the tragic details of Emily’s ministry was too much for me this morning.
Gen-Xer reporting in from Massachusetts. When I watched the video, I was sure I would vote for Emily Cooper. I read her story and also was pretty sure it was a lock.
However, when I read and considered Hiram Kano's Mission a few things struck me. First, Kano was a prisoner of the government (reminded me of those terrible pictures I saw from El Salvadore yesterday), for someone stuck in a concentration camp to remember his calling and to lead people into nature, to remind them of God's love around them, regardless of the nonsense going on in the world...that is an inspired soul.
Hiram Kano is a Saint we can be inspired by and learn from today.
Some match ups are harder than others, obviously. This one was hard.
From what I am seeing so far, the seemingly small deeds and not the grandiose acts are being celebrated by those choosing saints this year. I applaud this!
Love both of these choices, but went with Emily again. Since the picture is incorrect, couldn't the image be switched for the statue one with Emily, the child and the dove? Perpetuating falsehoods does not help in our internet searches. Thanks.
It's getting harder to vote one over the other! I ended up voting for Emily Cooper for her dedication to the poor and to children. I had to pause a moment and reflect on the fact that the graves of many of the children had no markers because their parents could not afford one, and this made me sad. I wish things were different.
I am voting for Hiram Kano in solidarity with the people snatched off the streets by ICE. A key feature of fascism is its cruelty. That Father Kano tried to humanize conditions in the concentration camp the U.S. put him in makes me wonder who is presently trying to humanize conditions in the concentration camps the U.S. is running. Come quickly, holy spirit, to free all prisoners and set this country on a path of peace and liberty for all.
Voted Kano for my mother growing up in Nebraska and memories of my grandparents’ home, and also in the name of all those wrongfully detained in the current anti-immigrant, anti-dissent frenzy that similarly (to Kano’s experience) stains the U.S. and makes me worry for the civil rights of all of us.
Alice Davidson and others interested in seeing photos of the statues in the Cave Hill cemetery where Emily Cooper is buried may want to go to the FindAGrave.com site; her memorial ID # is 43928575.
It has to be Hiram Kano for me today, as the American Gestapo continues to illegally seize and transport people "guilty" of simply being foreign-born, darker-skinned, Muslim, female, and/or 2 or 3 of the above. God weeps.
Emily Cooper loved and cared for poor and cast-off infants and children, but I still can't help wondering whether any of those little ones were nonwhite.
I am so grateful today to read that Pope Francis is recovering well enough to speak out prophetically and biblically against how our government is treating foreign persons. Praying his words will make a difference.
It's not looking great for Fr. Kano, but I am with him all the way. I live in Nebraska, for one - his daughter is an Episcopal priest, for another - and given how our current administration is treating immigrants and others, I am voting for a man who, in insulting and degrading conditions, continued to spread the word of God.
How different my life would have been had my father been sent to a 'camp" instead of to a war that left him so mentally deranged he lost all that was truly important in life. His children? Thank God for the Emily Coopers who dedicate their lives caring for children lost in the aftermath of devastated lives.I vote for Emiily in honor of the Daughters of Charty of St Vincent de Paul who, like Emily, raised me.
voting Emily cooper because anyone who cares for abused kids has my heart!! Emily 4 the win <3For Emily was kind, wrote with love
she followed the spirit shaped like a dove
cared for the poor, the sick, and the weak,
be like Emily, the love that we should seek.
Vote Emily for her kindness was above.
This is one of the difficult choices this year. I voted for Kano san because I know personally of individuals put in those internment camps, as well as the current environment.
If anyone is interested, the Lutheran bishops have just issued a letter to the president protesting his policy advancing Christian nationalism. One can sign their letter. I am having trouble putting the url into this textbox, but you can search for the phrase “For Religious Liberty and against Christian Nationalism.” Thank you to the Evangelical Lutheran church of America.
Links to the two Emily Cooper statues.
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_5hIikAXvq25V_yUskbi_BcRtVgwfcSp6WcGrUoHz0JnJWp504raOVFebFYK5ONmrbMahbaTlcwTA-Si3u5R2x2j6baAZE9nMeWsV0TKHdbrihMS1rbcnOu4vsEpub2a5S85QtT1HjkI/s1600/asension+front.jpg
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirJhn6NlFo95nKNpC38-fw3zty9AdsEa6XFp0BoawJK5uhjQ41syS8E9dTD5VMN5N0C7Wuy0KbXakfEm0_3YS6BpBwGX7amHxT5pUM50A7a6sGPkd4OdI-baaid8kxxko4n2I6wzc1rgU/s1600/metamorphosis+front.jpg
Two outstanding role models for us as followers of Jesus. I feel inspired by each of them. My nephew and his family lived in Louisville for a time, and while there fostered infants whose mothers couldn't care for them after giving birth; some were eventually reunited with family, others found a new family, and one they adopted. So my vote goes to Emily Cooper, though I'd be content if either went all the way to the Golden Halo.
Emily Cooper is an unknown saint whose life must have had a tremendous impact on the children she ministered to. To have experienced her love must have been so precious especially to children who were dying. the symbolism in the monuments spoke deeply to me.
Kano is known and revered/respected deeply. His life also had great meaning for those he reached out to as well as those who heard of him. a difficult choice but Emily had my heart as soon as I read about her.
PIFFLE!!!! I wish I could vote for BOTH!!!!
But I didn't. 🙁
"Thank goodness that will never happen again in this country," many would have said a month ago. Had to go with Hiram Kano today despite a deep respect for Emily Cooper, who cared for the children.
I have to go with Hiram Kano. What a great man & how wonderful he found opportunity during adversity.
i voted for Hiram because there was an internment camp in southern Idaho where I grew up and my husband's family knew people who had been put into it. It was one of the worst things this country has in its history and we should never forget.
Jesus said to let the little child come to him for the kingdom of heaven belongs to them. Anyone who dedicated their life to caring for unwanted, unloved children is truly a saint in my book.
Rachel Maddow told the story on her news program 2 weeks ago: At the Heart Mountain, WY, internment camp of Japanese-Americans in early WWII: 2 Boy Scout Troops gathered for a Jamboree.
One was the interned Japanese-American Troop and the other was the only Boy Scout Troop in WY that accepted their invitation to join them for a Jamboree. Their leaders paired the boys with a Scout from the other Troop who seemed to have something in common with the other.
There was one mischievous boy in each Troop; they were put together. Future U.S. Sen. Alan Simpson of WY and future U.S. Congressman (plus Cabinet Secretary) Norman Mineta of CA rapidly became friends in the early days of their sharing a small tent. Yes, they were mischievous during the Jamboree!
4 1/2 decades later, those 2 men (who were typically not political allies) co-sponsored the legislation offering reparations to the remaining survivors and an apology on behalf of our nation. Both died at very old ages in the past several years.
P. S. - I first heard of Emily Cooper when Lent Madness sent us a special email related to her, while the 81st Episcopal General Convention was present in Louisville, KY, last June.
A very difficult choice! But as a deaconess myself (Lutheran), the pull of Deaconess Emily's quiet, persistent ministry is inspiring.
I think Ms B, with grace and love, the lasting testimony of a saint's life: "Perhaps the greatest legacy of any Christian’s life is not the words we write or the quotations that are attributed to us. Perhaps the greatest legacy is that, in love, we cared for those who were cast out by a culture too often devoid of mercy."
That is not to denigrate Hiram Kano's contributions to a life that was abused by a government of the US out of fear and should never have happened. But we have many examples of the US imprisoning and isolating people because of perceived differences.
Emily Cooper's ministry to the children forgotten and isolated, even without names, speaks volumes to me.
Emily Cooper's legacy of love for the lost and lonely, particularly little children, speaks to me personally because of being an adoptive father of two, one of whom passed away at 20 from illness. May Emily's memory shine bright as the stars.
I too must vote for St Kano, in a time where we are beginning to repeat the dreadful tragedy of treating people who don’t look European as criminals. We need to remember it again, and harder.
Oops, wrong video! (I found the correct one on YouTube).
Thanks for the joyful energy you bring to Lent Madness. Happy Lent!