Today we have an early Reformer of the Church versus one of Jesus' first disciples. It is precisely such odd juxtapositions that make Lent Madness so much fun. Will John Huss be re-martyred in the next 24 hours? Or will Mary Magdalene have her name further besmirched? Only time, and your one vote, will tell.
In recent action, Thomas Cranmer soundly defeated Ephrem of Edessa (58% to 42% with 1,825 votes cast) although the vote was a lot closer than the Vegas bookies anticipated. If you didn't catch the latest Monday Madness video featuring Tim and Scott, go watch it right away.
John Huss (1371? - 1415) or Jan Hus, was a Bohemian (born in what is now the Czech Republic) priest, theologian, and professor. Against the backdrop of the papal crisis in the Church known as the Babylonian Captivity during which there were two popes, one in Rome and one in Avignon (France), Hus wrote many treatises urging reform of the Church in the face of papal and clergy abuses and corruption a century before Martin Luther posted his famous 95 Theses in Wittenburg. In addition to his objection to the sale of indulgences and the practice of simony (the buying/selling of spiritual things, from sacraments to relics to Holy Orders), Hus was, following John Wycliff, a champion of of broad participation of the laity in the life of the church. He believed that people should be able to own and read their own Bibles in their own tongue and that worship should be conducted in the local language. He denounced the practice of withholding the chalice from everyone except the priests at Holy Communion and argued from his pulpit in Prague (the Bethlehem Chapel) that Christ, not the Pope (neither the French nor the Italian one) was the true head of the Church. For this he was excommunicated for insubordination by his archbishop in 1412.
The excommunication did not put a stop to Hus’ preaching, however, and he continued to minister in Bethlehem Chapel until he went into voluntary exile after his whole town was put under interdict because of him. Hus was summoned to the Council of Constance in Switzerland to defend himself, but his appeals to Scripture in matters of church governance did not win the day, and he was condemned as a heretic along with Wycliff (who was by then 44 years dead and buried) on July 6, 1415.
Hus was chained to a stake and wood and straw were piled up to his neck and set ablaze, and afterwards his ashes were thrown into the Rhine. The new Pope proclaimed a Crusade against his followers, the Hussites, and five Crusades later, a settlement was reached which, among other things, restored communion in both kinds to the laity in Bohemia and Moravia. Today’s Moravian Church traces its roots to Hus and his persecuted followers.
Collect for John Huss: Almighty God, who gave to your servant Jan Hus boldness to confess the Name of our Savior Jesus Christ before the rulers of this world, and courage to die for this faith: Grant that we may always be ready to give a reason for the hope that is in us, and to suffer gladly for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
-- Penny Nash
Mary of Magdala (1st century), one of the faithful women who traveled with Jesus throughout his ministry, is arguably his most devoted disciple. But whatever we know about her is filtered through the lens of Gospel stories and myth-making. Author James Carroll notes how she has “served as a scrim onto which a succession of fantasies have been projected.”
Mary Magdalene is often confused with “the sinner” mentioned in Luke’s Gospel, Mary of Bethany (sister of Lazarus), and unnamed others including the woman possessed by demons. That she was the first witness to the Resurrection of Jesus as Christ is one of the few points of agreement among theologians and Biblical scholars. Despite ongoing disputes about who and what she was, her feast day is celebrated by the Greek and Russian Orthodox Churches, the Church of England, the Episcopal Church USA, and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America as well as the Roman Catholic Church.
Collect for Mary Magdalene: Almighty God, whose blessed Son restored Mary Magdalene to health of body and of mind, and called her to be a witness of his resurrection: Mercifully grant we may be healed from all our infirmities and know you in the power of his unending life; who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and resigns, one God, now and forever. Amen.
-- Meredith Gould
Vote!
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109 comments on “John Huss vs. Mary Magdalene”
Out of respect for our Moravian brothers and sisters, with whom we now share communion, I too went for John Huss now, fully expecting to vote for Mary at least through the Elate Eight.
Mary Magdalene is my girl! Ever since reading the fictional account of her life by Margaret George, Mary, Called Magdalene, I've been fascinated and inspired by her. Beloved by Jesus, supported his ministry financially and personally, with him at the cross and at the grave - enough for me!!
Stop voting against Mary because you think you'll have the opportunity later -- or you won't!!
Great book - I read that as well!
We learned about Jan Hus when visiting Prague on our honeymoon. If the printing press had only been invented, he would be as popular and influential as Martin Luther. He gets my vote for his diligent work to speak truth to power and challenge the whole structure and authority of the Pope.
Our book study at church is "The Meaning of Mary Magdalene" by Cynthia Bourgeault. Fascinating book, fascinating saint! She has my vote!!
So far I have tried to vote before seeing results or any comments. But this one was really hard. I had never heard of John Huss and was inspired by the bio. I wanted to vote for him for bringing Communion in both kinds to the laity and his advocacy for the laity.
But I had to go with Mary Magdelene. Maybe just because I wish it were me that had seen Jesus face to face here on earth.
But I read all the comments before voting and will add John Huss to my list of heroes for God.
I am sorry for my unclear writing. I meant that although Mary was arguably the first Apostle, the misogyny of the early church put her out of the running for Apostle-ship, not out of the running for the Golden Halo. James beat her out in the Acts of the Apostles.
I'm clearly in the minority here, but I like my saints well-done. Goose, anyone? (From a follower of the swan....)
Thank you, Tikimama. My thoughts exactly. Stop voting against Mary because you think you’ll have the opportunity later — or you won’t!! John Huss is awesome, but Mary is the one for the Golden Halo!
Unfortunately “scrim” was not among the words used to describe MM from the Roman Catholic pulpits and classrooms of my youth. I am delighted to cast my one and only vote for MARY! You GO GIRL!!
When I saw the match-up, I figured this was a no-brainer for MM. Then I read John's write-up. Gotta go for the martyr!
Tough one, but I went with the one I hope most to meet at the heavenly banquet. Mary, I have some questions for you!
I fully agree that Mary Magdalene has been grossly misinterpreted during the centuries.
But I've been to Prague several times. Going to the Bethlehem Chapel was a very moving experience for me. There's a huge statue of Jan Hus in the middle of the Old Town Square in Prague. During the Communist period Hus was a great inspiration to the Czech people for standing up to oppression.
One additional biographical note. Hus went to Council of Constance to try to work out some kind of reconciliation after having been promised safe passage. The church then double-crossed him. He was arrested, tried, and burned at the stake. I think it's fair to say that any attempts for reconciliation by the Protestant reformers a century later were hindered by the memory of the double-crossing of Hus the century before.
So Jan Hus it is.
*sigh* It's a good thing I don't actually put any money on this type of thing - I'd be toast. Jan Hus has my vote. The man was chutzpah personified.
I remember as a younger person seeing a docudrama on John Huss that was so moving, especially at the end as he burned at the stake, his purported words he sang or chanted, "Jesus, the Son of David, have mercy on me", have never failed to move me, especially when I have found myself in earthly and spiritual trials, and I find myself singning/chanting this refrain, and knowing comfort from them, and understanding how he was comforted by them as well. Jesus, the Son of David, have mercy on me...
Alas, who dreamed up these complex competitions in this first round? I, too, would have gone with Mary Magdalene because of her first witness and bad rep over the centuries. But... I have relearned of another important reformer through Huss and... for those who are trying to stay truly Anglican, a reminder that we are in communion with the Moravian church. My vote is going to have to go to Huss right now.
Against almost anyone else, I would have voted for John Hus. He was so far ahead of his time. Had the church been more responsive to him, maybe the reformation could have come from within. But against Mary Magdalene? She's an all time favorite. And I'm enough of a feminist that I have to vote for her.
This one is really tough! I was going to go with JH 'cause he sounds like one mighty right guy but now I'm thinking I should go with the woman vote...but that just seems so easy...oh what to do?!
I, like so many others thought I would vote for Mary Magdalene all the way, but must say Jan Hus definitely has my vote. The ability to partake in the full Eucharist is so powerful and I can't imagine church without it. Way to go Jan for being so full of the spirit, following your heart, and knowing how much it would mean to us all!
I voted for Mary, but it was not very much information about her. I am going on what else I know. PLEASE do not leave us with such scanty information in the future for these votes. By the way, this was hard because in many other match ups, Hus would have my vote.
What you know about Mary Magdalene probably exceeds what anyone knows about Mary Magdalene!
Very well said, Kelly!
D*mn you for making me choose between these two.
Greatly admire Hus for his courage & commitment to a just cause in the face of powerful opposition, but it's gotta be Magdalene for the same reasons.
Plus a sense of "...backwards and in high heels."
It was a very difficult call between these two powerhouse candidates. I went with MM. Jon has outstanding points and is a strong candidate but I have to go with an apostle who was first at the reincarnation!
Harry, perhaps "resurrection" is a better word than "reincarnation" here...Easter morning...
Let's talk about chutzpah... I'd say staying at the cross openly befriending someone the Roman Empire has just crucified definitely counts! I notice most of the others were hiding for their lives.
Great discussion here, friends! You all are making Lent Madness relevant and fun, and it warms my heart that some of you have decided to go and learn more about some of these saints after reading the bios here.
Got to go with "The great and holy myrrh-bearer Mary Magdalene, equal of the apostles" (orthodoxwiki.com). Plus the cathedral of the Polish Orthodox Church in Warsaw is "Cathedral of Mary Magdalen Equal to the Apostles"
This was an easy vote! Mary has always been important to me! Couldn't wait for this match up! Go Mary!
Going to have to "cheat" and give a vote to both of them! Two pretty awesome people.
For those who have chosen Hus because he "spoke truth to power," I would contend that Mary did as well, when she stood before the Emperor Tiberias and testified to the Resurrection -- and turned an egg red!
Mary gets my vote today. Actually, she gets my vote every day.
Another militant disagreement in the family today, but we vote once and I have final control of the mouse. This was a tough one! My daughter and I prevailed, even though, as my seven year old said, "John Huss was _cool_," and went on to explain what we had just read about receiving in both kinds, which I thought was cool.
Mary Mags vs John Huss is like a #1 Seed vs. #16 in the NCAA brackets...sorry John Huss, sometimes it's the luck of the draw.