Nominations for next year’s field of 32 saints are currently being accepted by the Supreme Executive Committee. Yes, in addition to Eastertide, today begins Nominationtide.
But before we get to the main attraction, we encourage you to visit the Lentorium. You can prove your love for Lent Madness by loading up on Lent Madness merchandise, including the Lent Madness 2014 tote bag, the Lent Madness wall clock, some Lent Madness 2014 coasters, a Lent Madness 2014 magnet, and much, much more. And, of course, don't forget to stock up on Charles Wesley or Lent Madness perpetual purple mugs.
And now, on to the main attraction, the call for nominations for Lent Madness 2015!
As always, we seek to put together a balanced bracket of saints ancient and modern, Biblical and ecclesiastical representing the breadth and diversity of Christ’s One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church.
Inevitably, some will disagree with certain match-ups or be disappointed that their favorite saint didn’t end up in the official bracket. If you find yourself muttering invective against the SEC, we implore you to take a deep cleansing breath. Remember, there’s always Lent Madness 2029.
While the SEC remains responsible for the formation of the final bracket, we encourage your participation in the nominating process. As in past years, we might even listen to some of your suggestions.
As you discern saints to nominate, please keep in mind that a number of saints are ineligible for next year’s “saintly smack down.” This includes the entire field of Lent Madness 2014, those saints who made it to the Round of the Elate Eight in 2013 and 2012, and those from the 2011 Faithful Four. Here is a comprehensive list of ineligible saints. Please keep this in mind as you submit your nominations — which you can do by leaving a comment on this post.
Also, please note that the saints you nominate should be in the sanctoral calendar of one or more churches. We’re open minded. To a point.
Remember that when it comes to saints in Lent Madness, many are called yet few are chosen (by the SEC). So leave a comment below with your (eligible) nomination!
The Field from 2014 (all ineligible)
Mary of Egypt
David of Wales
Ephrem of Edessa
Catherine of Siena
Harriet Beecher Stowe
Alfred the Great
Lydia
Catherine of Alexandria
Antony of Egypt
Moses the Black
Thomas Gallaudet
Joseph of Arimathea
John Wesley
Charles Henry Brent
Christina the Astonishing
Alcuin
Julia Chester Emry
Charles Wesley
FD Maurice
SJI Schereschewsky
Phillips Brooks
Harriet Bedell
JS Bach
Anna Cooper
John of the Cross
James Holly
Nicholas Ridley
Aelred
Louis of France
Thomas Merton
Basil the Great
Simeon
Past Golden Halo Winners (ineligible)
George Herbert, C.S. Lewis, Mary Magalene, Frances Perkins, Charles Wesley
From 2011 — 2013 (ineligible)
Jonathan Daniels
Harriet Tubman
Hilda of Whitby
Luke
Dorothy Day
Li-Tim Oi
Oscar Romero
Enmegahbowh
Emma of Hawaii
Margaret of Scotland
Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Evelyn Underhill
Jerome
Thomas Cranmer
Clare of Assisi
Thomas Beckett
Perpetua
By the way, it's worth remembering that all the talk you hear these days about transparency and accountability is moot for the SEC. We reveal little and answer to no one. So if you don't like the choices that we'll announce at an unspecified future date known only to us (see what we did there?), start your own online devotional.
For now, we wish you a joyous Eastertide and Nominationtide.
985 comments on “Nominations Open!”
I nominate Lillian Hunt Trasher, 1887-1961, commemorated on December 19. Aka "The Mother of the Nile" Lillian was called to serve as a missionary in Egypt; she built an orphanage there--literally with her own hands--and over time cared for more than 25,000 orphans. She never knew where tomorrow's food would come from but she never worried about it. Through times of war, political unrest, food shortages and more her constant motto was "The Lord will provide." And the Lord never failed to provide. When a government official taunted her for riding on a donkey as very degrading for an attractive young lady, she tartly reminded him that a donkey was good enough for the mother of her Lord and was certainly good enough for her. There are many stories of her courage, determination, and unwavering faith. This remarkable woman is definitely Golden-Halo-worthy!
Father Damian of Molokai inspires me. His empathy towards those stricken with leprosy is similar to Constance and her patients.
I work with a lot of folks from India. I know that St. Thomas preached in India. I do not recall seeing any South Asians in competition in 2015 or 2016. I have met a few living saints among my Indian colleagues. I will do some research on this populatioin.
Please consider Pandita Ramabai! A remarkable woman and Episcopal saint.
Jean Vanier
Bill and Dr. Bob
Mother Theresa
Ditto on:
Bill and Dr Bob
Fred Rogers
Mother Theresa
St Damien of Molokai
St Jude
Mother Theresa
Jonn the xxiii
Patrick of Ireland
Catherine of Siena
Martin Luther, in honor of the 500th anniversary of the reformation in 2017
Charles Menninger, great supporter of the Episcopal Diocese of Kansas, to keep us mindful of those with mental health needs
I add Martin Luther as well.
I nominate in no particular order:
John Muir
Toyohiko Kagawa
Jonathan Myrick Daniels
Henry Budd
St. Augustine of Hippo (Patron saint of brewers!)
St. Teresa of Avila
Sister Katherine Drexel
John Muir.
definitely
Since next year is the 500th anniversary of the Reformation, you could do a Reformation-themed Lent Madness, with Martin Luther and many of the other saints of the Reformation in various traditions. Non-Reformation but one of my favorites is St. Patrick.
Emagahbow "Stands before his people"
Vine DeLoria Tipi Sapa "Black lodge"
Jonathon Daniels
I agree completely. A modern martyr to Christian values
Once again, my nomination goes to Pandita Ramabai, champion of women’s education and emancipation in 19th century India. Her work improved the lives of Indian widows, child brides, temple prostitutes, and outcasts, among others, and brought the light of learning to untold numbers of women and girls. She was a traveler, a teacher, a poet, a scholar, a single mother, and a tireless social reformer, and is honored as a saint by the Episcopal Church.
Peter Maurin, Nelson Mandela, Dorothea Dix, Cecil Frances Alexander, William Stringfellow, Buddha
Ooh, yes, Nelson Mandela!
St. Margaret of Scotland
Yeh!
St. Thomas Aquinas and St. Timothy
Hugh Latimer, Nicholas Ridley and Thomas Cranmer. The Oxford Martyrs, they are.
The Rev. Fred Rogers.
St. Dunstan.
St. Anthony of Padua.
And my personal favorite, St. Christopher. Carried not only not only the whole world, but He who made it.
Oh Yes!!!!! Mr. Rodgers!!!!
I think that Sarah and/or Angelina Grimke would be a great person or people to nominate. In the early 1800's, they were sisters from Charleston South Carolina that grew up Episcopalians. Sarah later became a quaker and travelled up and down the east coast speaking on the rights of slaves. She and her sister were some of the very first women abolitionists and women's rights activists. Sarah Grimke spoke in public at a time that women had no rights. She was a pioneer of abolitionists
To the many, many great nominees so far, I'd just like to add:
Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska
Blessed Charles de Foucauld
Venerable Matt Talbot
Christian de Chergé (whose beatification process is in its early stages)
John Wesley, Henri Nouwen, and St. David
Pauli Murray!
I wish to nominate The Rev Endicott Peabody, who brought about reconciliation to Tombstone, Arizona, welcomed Wyatt Earp into his church, and went on to become headmaster of the Groton School. Among his students there were Theodore and Franklin Roosevelt. He officiated at the wedding of Eleanor and Franklin.
A really interesting guy!!
St. Clement of Rome, St. Wilfrid of York.
Please stop the MADNESS.
I don't want anymore updates on this post!!!!
I second the nomination of Father Damien de Veuster and would add Mother Marianne Cope each of whom was canonized for their selfless ministry to the lepers of Molokai.
well, since I can't nominate either Scott OR Tim, I would like to nominate Enmegahbowh (One who Stands before his People), the first Native American to be ordained a priest in the Episcopal Church in the United States. He is an important figure in the history of Minnesota in the relations between whites and Native Americans.
John Mott and Emily Blach, 1946 Nobel Peace Price winner
I don't know if she is considered a saint by the Episcopal Church, but I also nominate Minnie Vautrin, who worked so valiantly to protect the women and girls of Nanking during the Japanese atrocities there in WWII.
Prize.. not price... Geesh... Need more coffee.
Jonathan Myrick Daniels I don't know if a "Witness for Civil Rights" qualifies, but he is a modern example that we can all respect.
Antoinette Brown Blackwell - first woman ordained in the US
Jonathan Edwards
Fred Rogers
I nominate Alfred Einstein, Mother Theresa, Pope John Paul II.
St Gertrude of Nivelles! Cats, gardeners, travelers, and those dealing with mental health issues! Also St Madeleine Sophie - who was very involved in girls' education (and after whome I named my daughter). 🙂
I nominate Clarence Jordan, founder of Koinonia Farm and author of the Biblical paraphrase The Cotton Patch Bible. His fight against racial intolerance and his commitment to the value of all people is right up there with the rest of the saints who enter the ring. I too add JOhn Vanier, founder of the L'Arche communities worldwide, and Mary Moffat, one of the earliest missionaries to the southern part of Africa. SEnt out, if I am not mistaken by the Scottish Missionary Society.
I nominate Elizabeth Ann Seton, the first native born citizen of the United States to be canonized by the Catholic Church, who founded the Sisters of Charity and educated so many.