The Elate Eight continues with reckless abandon as Elizabeth of Hungary takes on Verena of Zurzach.
Yesterday, in a VERY TIGHT battle that saw back-and-forth lead changes all day, Sundar Singh prevailed over Emily Cooper 51% to 49% to advance to the Faithful Four. Yes, folks, every (single!) vote counts.
Here's your Daily Lenten Showdown...
Vote now!
Elizabeth of Hungary
She was, by all Lent Madness accounts, the people’s princess of the 1200s, but for all those who have fallen for her acts of mercy, for her devoted heart for all she encountered, and for her unflinching commitment to the poor, how can we, in the year of Our Lord 2025, become our own version of the St. Elizabeth of Hungary? Good news, you can fill a whole entire day with Elizabeth kitcsh!
Begin the day by baking rose-shaped bread by following All the Household’s St. Elizabeth Rose Cinnamon Twists recipe.
And while you bake bread inspired by one of St. Elizabeth’s canonical miracles of bread that she stole from the castle to give to the poor being transformed into roses when she was being interrogated by gentry who found her kinship with the poor unbefitting, you can donne an apron with a St. Elizabeth stained glass window on it.
If you are feeling like you need to embody St. Elizabeth’s spirit in a more fulsome way, there are all sorts of ideas around St. Elizabeth Day costumes, for children and adults alike.
But if you’d like a perennial, garden reminder of the ways in which God is at work throughout the seasons of this world in and out of the good and bad times as St. Elizabeth showed us in her faithfulness, might I suggest the St. Elisabeth of Hungary Rose? It’s gorgeous—it’s the people’s princess of roses.
And lastly, you can musically cap off your day with Elizabeth as she inspired many pieces. There are musicals, but unless you speak fluent German (I do not), it doesn’t have quite the same impact as a medival office music. This album is available for purchase at various places, but is also available on Spotify, and I can attest that it does indeed elevate late night writing sessions.
My final words on Elizabeth will come from this album, and the (translated) title of track near the end of the Offices: A Strong Woman. Remember the Mother.
Verena of Zurzach
St. Verena, the mother of nuns, began her life of service as a young woman following her cousin in a Roman legion. She cared for the soldiers, nursing those who were sick. You, too, can, follow in the model of Verena with your very own medical kit, filled with all sorts of ways to care for those random bumps, bruises, and cuts from genuflecting during Holy Week.
When she heard the news of the tragic death of an entire Roman legion, Verena fled to Switzerland and lived in a cave as an ascetic. If you would like a quiet place to pray in the model of Verena, never fear – a plastic cave can easily be made into a chapel for those dedicated moments with God.
Verena, whose name means, “good fruit,” reminds us all to bear fruit of the Spirit. To help us remember, we can fill up those candy bowls with these Fruit of the Spirit fruit-flavored snacks. There is no candy like Jesus candy.
Verena spent her life caring for the sick and those in need. She also shared basic hygiene skills with those in her community. We can only imagine that Verena would have loved to demonstrate appropriate beard grooming with this faithful servant beard comb, scented with sandalwood and sold with a random psalm citation. Happy beard grooming, all you bearded men for Jesus!
Icons of Verena also show her holding a loaf of bread, symbolic of both her dedication to the Holy Eucharist and Jesus, the Bread of Life, and her dedication to feeding those in need. While you could make an authentic loaf of warm, crusty bread, for that on-the-go reminder of the grace we are called to show others by feeding Christ’s sheep, you can pop a jar of Amazing Grace wafers in your backpack and go forth into the world.
Writings about Verena say that her love won over the sword of violence. You can wear a daily reminder of the truth she lived with your very own heart and sword necklace. Order yours in time for Holy Week!
49 comments on “Elizabeth of Hungary vs. Verena of Zurzach”
Excellent kitsch today. As an introvert, the idea of my own personal cave won out so my vote went to Verena.
Standing ovation to both bloggers for dredging up all that amazing kitsch! I am going to go search for the annual cocktail recipe, because I am somewhat doubtful about that Jesus candy.
I voted for Elizabeth, but the kitsch for Verena was fabulous. It's the best I have seen since the St. Stephen Rock Candy of many years ago!
A really tough choice. I was drawn to the idea of teaching hygiene and also the the Strong Woman comment. But my name is Elizabeth...
I’m going to stick with a known quantity and vote St Elizabeth!
Remember the Mother.
Congrats to Laurie Brock for her creativity in assembling kitsch for a saint that obviously had none of her own. This is an annual cross to bear for some unlucky blogger with an obscure saint that catches fire in the Lent Madness competition. Although I admire her efforts, I still cast my vote for Elizabeth.
In this day and age, we should all try to be like Saint Elizabeth.
A tough decision but sticking it to the gentry by using her dowry for a hospital wins my vote
As expected, Elizabeth is in the lead, and rightly so.
I sent you my email in the first week but you've never sent me the daily choices. there isn't even a link to subscribe in the sentence in the upper right on the main page. Also true of ENS.
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I voted for Elizabeth, but “there is no candy like Jesus candy” almost won me over.
It has seemed traditional (to me), ever since the "Yellow Death" recipe we received back with the Martyrs of Memphis, to include a cocktail recipe in the kitsch round. I have diligently searched for something appropriate ("appropriate" always to be understood contextually when discussing cocktails for the saints during Lent), and I found it! The Flaming Blue Jesus.
You fill a glass with ice.
Pour in 1 oz southern comfort, 1 oz peppermint schnapps, and 1 oz tequila. Shake well.
Strain into two shot glasses.
Pour 151 rum on top of both drinks. Ignite.
Extinguish before imbibing.
Now for the non-alcoholic partner for those vestry meetings ("served equally attractively"), though my understanding of "red-wine vinegar" may be slightly off. It's possible this is actually a red-wine drink. The bartender swears that Mr. Jesus H. Christ himself drank this Roman specialty while he was on the cross.
185ml red wine vinegar (brewed, not distilled)
60ml honey
1 barspoon coriander seeds, ground
1 barspoon celery seeds, ground
500ml water
Generous pinch of salt
Stir
Enjoy for the glory of Caesar!
Happy Kitsch round, everybody. Remember, water is always non-alcoholic, until the new EPA "lifts those burdensome restrictions" on air and water quality.
Both icons of mercy!!
Kudos to Laurie Brock - Verena apparently didn't have any locateable kitsch, so Laurie came up with a creative bunch. I so enjoy the madness part of Lent Madness!
Both worthy but I chose Verena because of the balance of service to others and going back to the cave.
I appreciate all the kitch/symbols shared today.
Voted for Verena as the healer. But must make those rolls and try the flaming blue Jesus cocktail (sounds dangerous)
Would love to make the cinnamon roses - one question - no second rising once they're shaped?
Southern Comfort, peppermint schnapps, and tequila, with a float of 151 proof rum to be ignited before consuming?
Uhhh...why don't you try it and report back to the inquiring minds here. I'm not fool...um...brave enough to do so.