Everyone is talking about brackets and championships because...it's the week of the Elate Eight! As we reach the dramatic peak of Lent Madness XIII, Tim and Scott are back with a preview of the eight teams, er saints, that have earned berths in what is also known in penitential circles as the Round of Saintly Kitsch.

This is the time of year when some people get grumpy about Lent Madness. Instead of going back and reading the basic biographies and quirks & quotes from previous rounds, they turn into Kitsch Kranks. The Supreme Executive Committee is here with their annual reminder of the Great Commandments of Lent Madness.

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Hey, we've almost made it through the entire Saintly Sixteen! After Oscar/Ansgar takes on Thomas Aquinas (he of the one vote victory over Jerome), we'll be on to the Elate Eight.

On Friday, Origen edged his way past Juana Inés de la Cruz to make it to the next round.

And since it's Monday, you can start refreshing your browser until a new episode of Monday Madness magically appears. Which it will. eventually. Now go vote!

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Welcome to the final battle of the week AND the (actual) penultimate battle of the Saintly Sixteen.

Yesterday in the Saintly Smackdown, José Gregorio Hernández defeated Emma of Hawaii 55% to 45%.

On Tuesday next week we kick off the Elate Eight. In the meantime, on Monday, prepare for Oscar vs. Thomas Aquinas. Hang onto your halos!

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In the penultimate matchup of the Saintly Sixteen, it's Emma of Hawaii vs. José Gregorio Hernández. The winner advances to the Elate Eight to take on James Holly.

Yesterday, in another hotly contested battle, Juliana of Liege took down Ceceilia, narrowly defeating her by less than a percentage point. What is it with these absurdly close battles of Lent Madness 2022?!

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Saintly Sixteen hump day finds us with Cecilia doing battle with Juliana of Liege. Who will advance? Well, that's up to you.

Yesterday, Thomas of Villanova swept into the Elate Eight with a victory over Hilary of Poitiers 65% to 35%.

And if you missed yesterday's special Tuesday edition of Monday Madness, color us shocked. And then watch it here.

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Sometimes Tim and Scott like to remind people that the Supreme Executive Committee is, well, supreme. Thus we are releasing Monday Madness this week on Tuesday. Whatever you do, don't call it Tuesday Madness. It's definitely got a Monday vibe.

This week's episode covers a dramatic contest in the march to the Saintly Sixteen. And Scott makes an inside joke, funny only for people who have read Thomas Aquinas' Summa Theologiae. All that and more in just six fun-filled minutes of this extra-special Tuesday edition of Monday Madness.

Remember you can always watch the back catalog of Monday Madness episodes if you are looking for something to do as we head toward Holy Week.

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We're back for more Saintly Sixteen action as Hilary of Poitiers faces Thomas of Villanova. As a reminder, this round is all about Quirks and Quotes. If you're seeking to refresh your memory on the basic biographical data for each saint, you can search for this in the post archives on the home page of the website. For saints who continue to advance, there is more and more information shared that builds throughout the season.

Yesterday, Madeleine Sophie Barat trounced Columbanus 84% to 16% to advance to the Elate Eight.

And later today we have a special treat for you: a Tuesday edition of Monday Madness! And, no, you didn't miss yesterday's episode. There wasn't one. Now go vote!

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1. Welcome to a FULL WEEK of Saintly Sixteen action! The Quirks and Quotes will be flying as our Celebrity Bloggers take us through our saintly paces all week. We kick things off with Columbanus vs. Madeleine Barat.

On Friday, James Holly defeated Kateri Tekakwitha 58% to 42% to advance to the Elate Eight.

Later today, keep your holy eyes peeled for this week's episode of Monday Madness. It will, naturally and inevitably, be epic. But first, go vote!

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Welcome to the final battle of a wacky, saint-filled week! Today we get James Theodore Holly vs. Kateri Tekakwitha. And, yes, things only get harder as we move deeper into the bracket. It's Madness!

Yesterday, Teresa of Avila swept past Stephen 60% to 40% to become the first saint to make it to the Elate Eight.

If you’re a competing type and, well, maybe your original bracket blew up, you can start anew with the Saintly Sixteen! This new feature allows you to pit your predictions against others in the Lent Madness voting public. Give it a try here! And then go vote.

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Welcome to the Saintly Sixteen! With your help, we have successfully whittled our field from 32 saints to 16. For this round, rather than the basic biographical information, we enter the realm of Quirks and Quotes. Our brilliant Celebrity Bloggers will provide unusual information or legends surrounding their saints along with quotes either by or about their saints.

Yesterday, in the closest battle of Lent Madness 2022 to date, Thomas Aquinas narrowly defeated Jerome by the absolute thinnest of margins. See the update added at the conclusion of yesterday's post for a note on some voting irregularities. The SEC regrets confusion that was caused by several cheaters -- with a few more people cheating on behalf of Jerome than on behalf of Thomas.

If you’re a competing type and, well, maybe your original bracket blew up, you can start anew with the Saintly Sixteen! This new feature allows you to pit your predictions against others in the Lent Madness voting public. Give it a try here!

But enough jibber jabber. It's time to cast your first vote of the Saintly Sixteen, as Stephen squares off against Teresa of Avila. Go vote! (more…)