Around this time of year, the Supreme Executive Inbox starts to fill with some version of "How do I play Lent Madness?" There are two options for answering this question. First, if you live in a pleasant place, such as Hawaii, the south of France, or a Caribbean resort, you can fly one or more members of the Supreme Executive Committee to your location for a personal tutorial. Second, if that sounds a bit extreme or if you can't quite afford the purple limo demanded by the SEC, you can just watch this video.

Yes, friends, Maple Anglican has helpfully provided a lovely video to explain all the DOs and DON'Ts of Lent Madness, including how to vote. Spend four minutes now and enjoy forty days of unfettered voting fun.

Speaking of Maple Anglican, the Supreme Executive Committee was saddened to learn that the Archbishops will not be providing regular color (or colour) commentary this year, due to Maple's work demands. There may have also been some disputes with the Saints' Actors Guild, but those are just rumors.

The SEC is very grateful for Maple's many videos and for introducing the world to the delightful commentary of Archbishop John Chrysostom and Archbishop Thomas Cranmer. We'll miss their regular contribution this year, and we hope for more in the future. If you see the mysterious Maple Anglican (which seems unlikely, since he is mysterious), thank him for his devotion to the cause of Lent Madness.

Voting begins the day after Ash Wednesday on Thursday, February 19th -- aka "Ash Thursday." The first matchup of Lent Madness 2015 between Gregory the Illuminator and Brendan the Navigator will be posted at 8:00 a.m. EST. In other words, please don't try to vote until then. It won't work!

As one of two Celebrity Bloggers hailing from California (give us a break, it's a BIG state), Nancy Frausto has yet to rub the beautiful, warm sunshine in the face of the one member of the SEC who has been buried in snow the last couple of weeks. This shows either incredible self-restraint or a desire for one of our newest CBs to at least wait until Round One begins before rubbing ice melt into the wound.

The Rev. Nancy A. Frausto is THE ultimate Lent Madness fan girl . . . or so she says. After the defeat of Oscar Romero in 2013 and Moses the Black in 2014, Nancy has regained enough composure to accept the invitation of Celebrity Bloggerdom for 2015. While being neither a celebrity nor much of a blogger, the invitation came as a total surprise. Needless to say there was a ridiculous amount of “happy dancing” as she accepted the grand honor. Nancy is the Diocese of Los Angeles’ first Latina leader to pursue ordination after having grown up in a Spanish speaking Episcopal parish. She serves as Associate Priest at St. Mary’s Mariposa, Koreatown, and as Priest-in-Charge for Trinity Church, East Hollywood. An avid lover of scrappy churches, Nancy has discovered in her first year as a priest that Holy Hustlin’ (making money out of nothing to sustain your ministry) needs to be taught in seminary. When not Holy Hustlin’ you can find her singing her heart out to Patsy Cline at a Karaoke Bar or at comic book stores checking out the newest DC Comic.

What do you most love about the extraordinary honor of being a Celebrity Blogger (besides global adulation)?
I love that I might get the inside scoop on why Scott and Tim are each others' archnemesis. Did George the dog or Mimi the ferret have anything to do with it? Is this a Professor X/Magneto relationship? Inquiring minds need to know!!

What is the quirkiest thing you've learned about one of your saints and how does this inspire your faith?
I loved finding out that Juan Diego would walk fifteen miles to attend mass every day! Talk about commitment and stamina!

Downton Abbey or the Walking Dead and why?
The Walking Dead all the way! Aside from the fact that we must be prepared for the unexpected, scavenging for supplies is not much different than scavenging for funds to support a “scrappy” church.

Besides Lent Madness, what do you most look forward to in the season of Lent?
I look forward to seeing how many of my Facebook friends will truly keep their word and not post, like, or even log on to social media for the whole season of Lent.

SEC Note: Did you know you can follow Scott's dog on Twitter @GeorgeTDog? It's true. Plus George has more followers than 95% of all bishops. According to Tim, Mimi the ferret will join Twitter when Hades freezes over.

David Creech is not a Lent Madness Celebrity Blogger simply because he's our token Lutheran. Really. It's because he's a real, live doctor. Whenever you're watching the latest version of Monday Madness and you're just so blown away by the high production values that you faint, someone will inevitably yell, "Is there a doctor in the house?" and Dr. Creech will make a house call. He will then rouse you with a dramatic reading of his PhD thesis. Voila! Problem solved.

Dr. David Creech is Assistant Professor of Religion at Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota. A student of early Christianities, David knows a lot about saints—they anathematized many of his research subjects. He is a product of an Evangelical seminary and a Catholic PhD program and now teaches at a Lutheran college and worships with Episcopalians. For those looking for the ecumenical voice (read: objective and unbiased/quite confused) in this year’s competition, he’s your man. Although he does dress in robes from time to time, David brings the unique perspective of a layperson. His book title is long and boring (The Use of Scripture in the Apocryphon of John: A Diachronic Analysis of the Variant Versions) but nearly sold out of its initial print run of 200 copies. You can follow David on Twitter @dyingsparrows and read his oftentimes provocative posts at his blog by the same name. When not teaching and writing, David enjoys owning his three kids Ian, Ela, and Dylan at Sorry.

What do you most love about the extraordinary honor of being a Celebrity Blogger (besides global adulation)?
I love most that I get to pretend for 40 short days that I actually still am a blogger. Yes, I occasionally write on a blog but with Lent Madness I actually, ontologically, become a blogger. Mind blown. I also enjoy all the friendships, and even the frenemies, that develop over the mutual love of these both flawed and special people we venerate. This year I am especially excited about renewing my fierce rivalry with Megan Castellan. Go Team Elizabeth Mother of John! (TEMJO for short.)

What is the quirkiest thing you've learned about one of your saints and how does this inspire your faith?
Barbara is quirky for even Lent Madness’ standards. I was fascinated at all the different stories that developed around her and that the hagiography, which was mostly late, led to questions about her sainthood. And yet she still finds herself on many lists. Somehow Barbara’s story resonates and gives meaning to people. Also, she is the patron saint of blowing sh*t up. What’s not to like?

Downton Abbey or The Walking Dead and why?
#TWD all the way. I study, write, and teach about dead people, what do you expect? More seriously, I appreciate the way in which the show asks questions about what it means to be human. It also offers a fascinating window into contemporary fears and values (y’all on Twitter should follow @kellyjbaker by the way). They also intentionally dabble in theology (sometimes wretchedly). Finally, Rick Grimes.

Besides Lent Madness, what do you most look forward to in the season of Lent?
I appreciate the time to reflect on my own humanity in all its messiness. Yet in the midst of the messiness we find God present and active, calling and empowering us to be the people of God. Lent reminds me of the wonder of the incarnation.

This week, Tim and Scott talk about essential preparations for Lent Madness as we continue to bask in the glow of Celebrity Blogger week. To get ready for Lent Madness, everyone should research the saints, perhaps using their own copy of the Saintly Scorecard (book or ebook). Everyone should also complete their bracket, available for free download or purchase as a giant poster. It's also a good idea to invite all your friends to like Lent Madness on Facebook and follow @LentMadness on Twitter. No, really. Use your Facebook and Twitter feeds to shamelessly promote the saintly smackdown. For Jesus, of course.

There's also very exciting news this week from the Lentorium. We have a product ready to ship, the Flying Golden Halo! Yep, you can buy your own Golden Halo, perfect for tossing and catching. It's just $3, so why not buy 50? Your church service will be immeasurably enriched when you "pass the peace" next Sunday by tossing a halo to everyone around. Buy now!

And we're back with our next Celebrity Blogger to make your Monday morning even brighter than it already is, infused with the knowledge that Lent Madness begins in just nine days. Maria Kane is a second year CB who may or may not drive around suburban Washington, D.C. with one of those Native Texan bumper stickers on her car.

The Rev. Maria Kane is an Episcopal priest, historian of American religion, and native Texan. She currently lives outsides of Washington, D.C., where she serves as rector at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Waldorf, Maryland (and remains unabashed in her love for Washington’s archrival Dallas Cowboys).  Maria is a contributor to Weavings and Alive Now! magazines and recently completed her dissertation, “Pretty Girls & Fascinating Boys,” a study of race, sexuality, and adolescent formation in late twentieth-century evangelicalism. She plans to expand upon her research findings, but right now, she’s just glad to be done! Her greatest joy, however, is in being godmother to Cal (7) and Leila (5). In her free time, Maria loves reading, cooking, gardening, and kayaking. She can be found on Twitter @mariaconchia.

What do you most love about the extraordinary honor of being a Celebrity Blogger (besides global adulation)?
What’s not to love about a season full of history and saints? For me, it’s akin to being a kid in a candy store.

What is the quirkiest thing you've learned about one of your saints and how does this inspire your faith?
I was struck by Molly Brandt’s influence on the relationship between the Iroquois and the British colonists. Even when the war forced her to move several times, she continued to serve as a friend and peacemaker to both communities. I’m often flummoxed in the midst of change, especially when it *feels* forced upon me; Molly’s steadfast faith and resolve has pushed me to question my excuses and response to unexpected change.

Downton Abbey or The Walking Dead and why?
Well, I guess I am officially unhip because I currently don’t watch either one. I was a regular Downton Abbey viewer throughout the first four seasons, but I haven’t started watching Season 5 yet. On the other hand, I love PBS’ Frontline. Does that count? It’s the same channel…I tried…:-)

Besides Lent Madness, what do you most look forward to in the season of Lent?
I love many things about Lent, but I’ll mention a few. 1) Lent is like a homecoming to me—minus the mums, football games, and high school melodrama. Seriously, though, Lent quiets my frenzied pace and beckons me home. 2) I also love singing “Were You There” 2) Stripping of the Altars—No matter how many times I experience it, I’m always rendered speechless. 3) Although it’s not directly tied into Lent, I make an annual sojourn to my beloved Texas for Houston's Livestock Show & Rodeo during Lent and bask in the glory of 30 days of barrel racing, calf roping, endless cowboy boots, and fried gloriousness.

SEC Note: Despite what's written on Maria's shirt, we have it on good authority that the background in this photo is actually Harper's Ferry and not the Dead Sea.

It's really too bad the pages in the back of this year's Saintly Scorecard aren't of the scratch 'n sniff variety. Because you'll find six delectable "Saintly Sprinkles" -- recipes from Lent Madness Resident Foodie Maria Nolletti Ross. All the recipes have connections to saints.

While we agree that they're all mouth-watering, please don't drool on the full-color, glossy, pull-out bracket. It hurts our feelings.

Maria Nolletti Ross, Lent Madness Resident Foodie, received her training in her parents’ Italian/American, New York bakery and her home kitchen. She is a member of St. Andrew’s On-the-Sound Episcopal Church in Wilmington, North Carolina, where she serves as a lay reader and a youth-group volunteer. She lives with her husband, daughter, three cats, five koi, and a cell phone on which she too frequently texts her son at college. A member of the Society for Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, Maria recently earned the Highlights for Children Author of the Month Award for her August 2014 story, “No Translation Needed.” She invites you to follow along with her as she studies the lives of the saints, uncovers their modern-day messages, and cooks up related recipes on her blog Saints and Recipes. You can find her on Facebook and Instagram (marianollettiross) and check out her Saints and Recipes Facebook page.

What do you most love about the extraordinary honor of being the Resident Foodie (besides global adulation)?
What I love most about being a part of Lent Madness is that this team of saintly nutjobs said to me, “Hey, you’re our kind of nutjob! Wanna play?”

What is the quirkiest thing you've learned about one of your saints and how does this inspire your faith?
The seeming inconsistency of the love St. Francis of Assisi had for animals is to me one of his quirkiest and most inspiring characteristics. One time he saw two lambs tied up and destined for slaughter. He wept uncontrollably until his brothers begged for the coins needed to purchase the lambs and set them free. But often as a guest in someone’s home, especially on a feast day, he would be served roast lamb. He would eat it in earnest and with grateful acceptance of the generous gift of a meal at someone’s hearth because his great love for all life included human beings.

This inspires me to remember that no matter how passionate I am about my beliefs, sometimes it’s best to shut up and be gracious.

Downton Abbey or The Walking Dead and why?
Downton Abbey because zombies are scary, and I don’t need that kind of stress in my life.

Besides Lent Madness, what do you most look forward to in the season of Lent?
I most look forward to being intentional for the Lord during the season of Lent. In particular this year, after spending the last month catching up on general reading and other stuff from my pile o’ procrastination, I’m excited to get back to saintly research, writing, and cooking!

SEC NOTE: This picture of Maria with her daughter is not from an Adam and Eve pageant depicting Eve eating an Apple product.

CBW (that's the hipster acronym we just coined) continues with veteran Celebrity Blogger, Megan Castellan. When Megan first started with us she was a priest in Arizona. Now, she's in her second year of life and ministry in Kansas City, Missouri.

See, we told you Lent Madness was transcontinental! Unless, of course, it's illegal to transport Lent Madness across state lines, in which case forget this little conversation ever happened.

The Rev. Megan Castellan is Assistant Rector, and Chaplain at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church and Day School, Kansas City, Missouri.  She is excited to be one of the few clergy to have a title (ARC) that is also a geometric figure, though why this fact has proved less amusing at parties, she can’t imagine.  Her ongoing adventures and strong opinions are chronicled in her blog Red Shoes, Funny Shirt  and on Twitter @revlucymeg. (She also writes on Mondays for the Episcopal Cafe, though the snark factor is significantly lower there). In her spare time, she enjoys singing, cooking, being obsessive about television comedy, and marshaling the forces of the Ginger Rescue Squad, otherwise known as her rescue dog and rescue cat.

What do you most love about the extraordinary honor of being a Celebrity Blogger (besides global adulation)?
There are precious few times that I can emulate Tobias Funke, but Lent Madness is one such time. I enjoy proclaiming to the world at large, when asked to explain the size of our audience for this rather odd phenomenon, that "there are dozens of us! DOZENS!!!" (I would also recommend painting your face entirely purple, for the full Tobias-Does-Lent effect.)

To put that more seriously, I have loved the unexpected ways that Lent Madness has introduced me to so many different people, in so many different ways. When I first moved to Kansas City, I went to the local retirement home to do the weekly Eucharist. To my surprise, a resident approached me afterwards and inquired if I was the same Megan from Lent Madness. He had made a habit of reading the matchups to his wife each day, whose eyesight was failing, and that had become their Lenten devotion. I was very moved that such a quirky thing as an online contest between long-dead saints could prompt a show of such devotion.

What is the quirkiest thing you've learned about one of your saints and how does this inspire your faith?
Every year, it's the saints I think will drop out the fastest that go the furthest. I had a heck of a time last year trying to figure out what I could say for Lydia, and ended up learning more about ancient dye-producing snails than a reasonable person should know.

But what amazes me and humbles me each year is not only what I learn about each saint, but how people of faith, over the years, have interacted with that saint and their story. A large part of what creates recognized saints, after all, is grassroots popular devotion, and especially in hierarchical churches like the Roman Catholic, or Orthodox church (or, you know, anyone prior to the modern era), the making of saints was one of the few ways for the average pewsitter to have a say in the direction of the church. So I find it inspiring to witness the centuries of devotion to someone like Lydia, or (spoiler alert!) someone like Balthazar, who begins to take on enormous significance for people, above and beyond what their initial story might suggest.

Downton Abbey or The Walking Dead and why?
I don't currently watch either of these, and I realize this admission will probably result in the forfeiture of my Episcopalian card. But while we're discussing television, let me introduce you to the delightful, and now award-winning, show, "Jane the Virgin"! It's a riff on the telenovela, about a young woman who was accidentally artificially inseminated, and now finds her life way more dramatic. It sounds like an insane premise, but so far, the show has used the traditionally crazy plot twists of the soap opera to deal with stuff like class inequality, immigration reform, religion through generations, changing family structures, etc. While being consistently hilarious, well-acted and prominently using a snarky omniscient narrator. So, TV gold, basically.

Besides Lent Madness, what do you most look forward to in the season of Lent?
I am looking forward to an opportunity to refocus on what is important, and the wonderful, wonderful day when people stop wantonly adding 'Alleluia, alleluia' to the dismissal when I have not said it first.

SEC NOTE: In the photo above, Megan is holding the only two pieces of saintly kitsch found in her office: a how-to guide of Jesus dances and a bottle shaped like the Blessed Virgin Mary. This is clearly a cry for help. Send Megan more saintly kitsch!

We're not sure if you can actually be an unsung rock star, but when it comes to Lent Madness, Adam Thomas is just that. That fancy bracket design we've been using since 2012? Adam. The usefully awesome match-up calendar? Adam. The updated hyperlinks following each battle of Lent Madness? Adam.

The SEC is ever grateful for Adam's bracket artistry and behind-the-scenes magic. If he didn't already serve a parish in Mystic, Connecticut, we'd wax eloquent about his mysticism. Ladies and gentlemen of Lent Madness, meet your Bracket Czar:

The Rev. Adam Thomas, Lent Madness Bracket Czar, was a 2012 Celebrity Blogger (most closely identified with upstart Philander Chase) who has morphed into our keeper of the bracket. This Lent is his second as rector of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Mystic, Connecticut. Adam is the author of Digital Disciple: Real Christianity in the Virtual World (Abingdon 2011), which you should read since you are using the Internet right now and you are more than likely a Christian. His first novel Letters from Ruby, which is about an Episcopal priest (imagine that!) arrived in August 2013, and his first large scale video bible study series Unusual Gospel for Unusual People came out in spring 2014. Adam lives in Mystic, Connecticut with his wife Leah and their twins, who are close to sleeping through the night (thank God!). Check out his website WheretheWind.com, for seven years of content. You can fan Adam on Facebook or follow him on Twitter @RevAdamThomas.

What do you most love about the extraordinary honor of being the Lent Madness Bracket Czar (besides global adulation)?
As the Bracket Czar, I have the power (and passwords) to correct Tim's typos and formatting errors when he posts Lent Madness content. I do this surreptitiously and without fanfare, except that I let Tim know every time he makes a mistake.

What is the quirkiest thing you've learned about one of your saints and how does this inspire your faith?
I learned how to spell Hadewijch this year. Also, just for the record, the capital "H's" for the font on the bracket look like lower case ones. But they are capitals. Look at a small "h" for comparison.

Downton Abbey or The Walking Dead and why?
Pitch: The actors who played Matthew and Sybil realized what a terrible mistake it was to leave Downton Abbey and they come back as zombies!

Besides Lent Madness, what do you most look forward to in the season of Lent?
This year, I'm looking especially forward to the devotions parishioners at my church, St. Mark's in Mystic, CT, are writing on the Gospel of Mark to be shared with the rest of the parish during Lent.

Leave it to Lent Madness to unearth the only romance novel-writing Episcopal priest on the planet. Actually, for the second year in a row, Amber Belldene has graced us with her actual celebrity status as a prolific best-selling author.

It's not true that a member of the Supreme Executive Committee was the cover model for her newly released novella One Sinful Night in São Paulo (see below), but thanks for asking.

The Rev. Amber Belldene is a romance writer and the alter ego of a vampire-loving Episcopal priest. She grew up on the Florida panhandle swimming with alligators, climbing oak trees, and diving for scallops…when she could pull herself away from a book. As a child, she hid her Nancy Drew novels inside the church bulletin and read mysteries during sermons — an irony that is not lost on her when she preaches these days. Amber believes stories are the best way to examine life’s truths, and she is passionate about the relationship between sexuality and spirituality — namely, that God made people with a desire for love, and that desire is the heart of every romance novel. Her paranormal romance series Blood Vine is now available from Omnific Publishing and her sexy contemporary novella One Sinful Night in São Paulo, about an Episcopal seminarian looking for love, is scheduled to release later this year. She loves wine, history, heirloom tomatoes and she lives with her husband and children in San Francisco. For more information about her books or to check out her blog go to www.amberbelldene.com. Follow her on Twitter @AmberBelldene or Facebook.

What do you most love about the extraordinary honor of being a Celebrity Blogger (besides global adulation)?
Well, that adulation is pretty awesome, but I also love learning about the lives of the saints and bantering with my fellow bloggers about them on Twitter. A sense of humor is critical in the life of faith, and this group of writers has it in abundance.

Also, it's really interesting to see which saints excite the folks who follow Lent Madness. Our ideas about what makes a holy life have changed a lot in two millennia of Christianity, and it's fascinating to see what aspects of those lives inspire modern Christians. As a pastor, I find that useful information, and it informs my teaching and preaching, and possibly even my romance novel writing. I might have even worked a couple saintly details into some of my books.

What is the quirkiest thing you've learned about one of your saints and how does this inspire your faith?
Last year I was assigned Mary of Alexandria, venerated as a reformed prostitute. Her miracles are all pretty quirky, especially the part about how, when she became an ascetic and lived in the desert, she grew a coat of fur to protect her modesty. So far, I haven't used that detail in a romance novel 😉

As a feminist and someone who advocates for more open and positive discussions of human sexuality in the church, I struggled to write her biography and also with some of the comments about my take on her story. Surprise, surprise -- the Internet isn't the best place for a nuanced discussion of the need to interpret and reframe ancient hagiography and its sexual ethics. Months later, I found a book about stories like Mary's and how the early church actually coopted the formula of classical Greek romance novels in its stories of virgin saints and reformed prostitutes. The book is called From Shame to Sin: The Christian Transformation of Sexual Morality in Late Antiquity by Kyle Harper and I highly recommend it for people whose geekdom happens to overlap with my peculiar interests!

Downton Abbey or The Walking Dead and why?                                     
I love vampires, but zombies scare me to death, so Downton Abbey all the way. It's such a fascinating period in history! I am also a big fan of the much grittier Peaky Blinders, a Netflix series set in the same era, starring the captivating Cillian Murphy as the leader of a violent gang in Birmingham.

Besides Lent Madness, what do you most look forward to in the season of Lent?
I lead a daily morning prayer service, and in Lent we observe silence. There is a palpable response in the congregation to this shift in routine. Every time I bid the people to bow their heads, there is a collective breath, almost like a sigh. It seems we really long for quiet, and respond to the invitation to self-examination.

Let's face it, Lent is not exactly known as a season of gift-giving. No one complains about the over-commercialization of Lent or the Lenten-Industrial Complex. Sure, we hawk a few Lent Madness mugs around here, but that's just to get everyone in an appropriately penitential mood.

Nonetheless, the Supreme Executive Committee is offering you a free, no-strings-attached Lent present. Don't get your hopes up -- it's not a hair shirt. But it is a perfectly serviceable newsletter/website article about Lent Madness 2015, lovingly ghost written by the SEC.

Feel free to use it (for free!) in all your church publications. If you are a parish administrator or communications specialist, this is your lucky day. If you are a member of the clergy being nagged by the newsletter editor for an article, manna has just fallen from the sky.

That’s not all, of course. This article can be sent to your local desperate-for-material newspaper. (If you want to share it with your local media, we suggest you add some quotes from church leaders or parishioners.) This article can be e-mailed as a chain letter to your entire contact list. It can be tattooed to your back. Multiple copies can be printed out and used as a drop cloth when you repaint the kitchen cabinets.

But that’s still not all! Because he's in a Lenten mood, Lenty Claus (that's us -- but don't tell the kids) will throw in free widgets for your website or blog! Click here to access them.

Lent Madness 2015
Which saint will win the Golden Halo?

For the sixth year running, people worldwide are gearing up for Lent Madness, the “saintly smackdown” in which thirty-two saints do battle to win the coveted Golden Halo. Calling itself the world’s most popular online Lenten devotion, Lent Madness brings together cut-throat competition, the lives of the saints, humor, and the chance to see how God works in the lives of women and men across all walks of life.

The creator of Lent Madness, the Rev. Tim Schenck, says, “People might think Lent is all about eating dirt and giving up chocolate, but it’s really about getting closer to Jesus.” Schenck, who is rector of St. John’s Church in Hingham, Massachusetts, adds, “The saints aren’t just remote images in stained glass windows or pious-looking statues. They were real people God just happened to use in marvelous ways.”

Lent Madness began on Schenck’s blog in 2010 as he sought a way to combine his love of sports with his passion for the lives of saints. Starting in 2012, he partnered with Forward Movement (the same folks that publish Forward Day by Day), to bring Lent Madness to the masses.

The Rev. Canon Scott Gunn, Schenck’s Lent Madness co-conspirator, says, “Throughout Lent, as we’re having fun with the competition, we are also inspired by how God used ordinary people to do extraordinary things.” Gunn, who is executive director of Forward Movement in Cincinnati, Ohio, adds, “That’s the whole point of the Christian life: to allow God to work in us to share God’s love and proclaim Good News.”

Schenck and Gunn form the self-appointed Supreme Executive Committee, a more-or-less benevolent dictatorship that runs the entire operation. The formula has worked as this online devotional has been featured in media outlets all over the country including NBC, The Washington Post, FOXNews, NPR, USAToday, and even Sports Illustrated (no, really).

Here’s how it works: on the weekdays of Lent, information is posted at www.lentmadness.org about two different saints. Each pairing remains open for 24 hours as participants read about and then vote to determine which saint moves on to the next round. Sixteen saints make it to the Round of the Saintly Sixteen; eight advance to the Round of the Elate Eight; four make it to the Faithful Four; two to the Championship; and the winner is awarded the Golden Halo.

The first round consists of basic biographical information about each of the 32 saints. Things get a bit more interesting in the subsequent rounds as we offer quotes and quirks, explore legends, and even move into the area of saintly kitsch.
This year Lent Madness features an intriguing slate of saints ancient and modern, Biblical and ecclesiastical. 2015 heavyweights include Teresa of Avila, Frederick Douglass, Francis of Assisi, Hildegard of Bingen, Balthazar, and the Venerable Bede. The full bracket is online at the Lent Madness website.

From the “you can’t know the saints without a scorecard” department, the Saintly Scorecard -- The Definitive Guide to Lent Madness 2015 is available through Forward Movement. It contains biographies of all 32 saints to assist those who like to fill out their brackets in advance, in addition to a full-color pull-out bracket.

This all kicks off on “Ash Thursday,” February 19. To participate, visit the Lent Madness website, where you can also print out a bracket for free to see how you fare or “compete” against friends and family members. Like that other March tournament, there will be drama and intrigue, upsets and thrashings, last-minute victories and Cinderellas.

Ten “celebrity bloggers” from across the country have been tapped to write for the project including the Rev. Amber Belldene of San Francisco, CA; the Rev. Laurie Brock of Lexington, KY; Dr. David Creech of Morehead, MN; the Rev. Megan Castellan of Kansas City, MO; the Rev. Laura Darling of Oakland, CA; Neva Rae Fox of Somerville, NJ; the Rev. Nancy Frausto of Los Angeles, CA; the Rev. Robert Hendrickson of Denver, CO; the Rev. Maria Kane of Houston, TX; and the Rev. David Sibley of Manhasset, NY. Information about each of the celebrity bloggers and the rest of the team is available on the Lent Madness website.

If you’re looking for a Lenten discipline that is fun, educational, occasionally goofy, and always joyful, consider this your invitation to join in the Lent Madness journey.