Today we experience something of a time warp, traveling from the 19th century back to the days of the early church. We encounter John Keble -- priest, poet, academic, and major player in the revival of the Church of England and Thecla -- companion of the apostle Paul and passionate pursuer of holiness.
In yesterday's saintly action, Juan Diego advanced to the Saintly Sixteen with a 57% to 43% victory over Hadewijch. He'll face the winner of Dorcas vs. Frederick Douglass.
As an aside, we've been delighted to see the number of comments that come in throughout the 24 hours each matchup is open. They are a wonderful blend of thoughtful and gracious and educational and inspirational -- basically the opposite of nearly every other online forum!
And in case you missed yesterday's episode of Monday Madness, it included a verifiable miracle involving a corporeal Golden Halo. Not that Tim and Scott are angling to make it into the 2089 bracket or anything...
John Keble
Though devoted to his calling as a country priest, serving for thirty years as the vicar of Hursley, John Keble is best known as an influential founder of the Oxford Movement. This movement sought to renew the Church of England through a better understanding and adherence to the practices of the early church. In 1833 he preached the Assize Sermon, soon published with the provocative title “National Apostasy.” Keble was a key player in the Oxford Movement and wrote nine of the ninety Tracts for the Times. In addition to writing poetry, tracts, and sermons, Keble also translated the works of Iranaeus and prepared a three-volume edition of the works of Richard Hooker.
During his life, he was perhaps best known as a poet. First published anonymously, his collection The Christian Year went through ninety-five print editions by the time of his death in 1866. Embarrassed by its success, Keble dedicated the profits to restoring the church building at Hursley. Some of these poems are still familiar as hymns today. He was elected professor of poetry at Oxford in 1831 and held the (non-residential) post for ten years.
In 1845, Keble began exploring the possibility of creating a college at Oxford that would be of moderate cost and hold fast to the best practices of the Church of England. Established in his memory, Keble College quickly shifted focus from theological formation toward more traditional pedagogy but remained committed to making an Oxford education more widely available to all economic classes.
Keble would no doubt be shocked at how distant today’s Church of England is from the established church he sought to renew, but there are still parts of his Assize Sermon that ring true today.
“The surest way to uphold or restore our endangered Church will be for each of her anxious children, in his own place and station, to resign himself more thoroughly to his God and Savior in those duties, public and private, which are not immediately affected by the emergencies of the moment: the daily and hourly duties, I mean, of piety, purity, charity, justice.”
Collect for John Keble
Grant, O God, that in all time of our testing we may know your Presence and obey your will; that, following the example of your servant John Keble, we may accomplish with integrity and courage what you give us to do, and endure what you give us to bear; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Thecla
Thecla was a follower of the Apostle Paul, whose life was recorded in the Acts of Paul and Thecla, a prominent piece of early Christian literature.
This book recounted a missionary journey of Paul to Iconium, where he was proclaiming “the word of God about abstinence and the resurrection.” Thecla, upon hearing Paul’s message, found herself enraptured. Her devotion to Paul and his teaching so deeply concerned her mother and fiancé (worried that she would follow Paul’s demands to live in chastity), they formed a mob and imprisoned Paul.
Thecla broke into the prison, and when discovered with Paul, they were both brought before the authorities. Paul, enjoying the privilege of both his Roman citizenship and his being born male, was whipped and expelled from the town, while Thecla was sentenced to burn at the stake — an example for those who might consider Paul’s preaching. When Thecla was to be executed, “God took compassion on her, and caused a great eruption from the earth beneath, and a cloud from above to pour down great quantities of rain and hail; Insomuch that by the rupture of the earth, very many were in great danger, and some were killed, the fire was extinguished, and Thecla was preserved.”
Thecla followed after Paul, desperate to be baptized. She traveled to Antioch, where a nobleman fell in love with Thecla and offered Paul money for her. When Paul denied knowing her, the nobleman tried to take her by force. Thecla resisted, and “tore his coat, and took his crown off his head, and made him appear ridiculous before all the people.” Again she was brought before authorities and sentenced to die by being eaten by wild beasts. Facing what she believed to be a near-certain death, Thecla saw a pit of water filled with ravenous seals. Believing this was her only opportunity to be baptized, she threw herself into the water, saying, “In thy name, O my Lord Jesus Christ, I am this last day baptized.” And in another miracle, the seals died before they could devour her.
In the Eastern Church, Thecla is regarded as an “apostle and protomartyr among women.” Observance of her holiness flourished around Seleucia, where a church was built over her alleged tomb. Thecla remains among the most celebrated female saints of the earliest ages of Christianity, demonstrating that regardless of the truth or fiction of her life and story, women have played an indispensable role in the mission and growth of the early Church. In recognizing the holiness of Thecla, the Church honors the witness of all women who have lived and died in sharing the good news of Jesus and his love.
Collect for Thecla
Almighty and everlasting God, who kindled the flame of your love in the heart of your servant Thecla: Grant to us, your humble servants, a like faith and power of love, that we who rejoice in her triumph may profit by her example; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Vote!
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315 comments on “John Keble vs. Thecla”
Thecla's biography is laced wth metaphor, I'm guess If not, if you've every played Telephone, you know "rats at her heals" could become "ravenous seals" very easily. Thecla's real and passionate pursuit of Christianity wins my vote today, with all due respect to the poet. As others have noted, the kitsch potential is off the charts.
Yikes, please read "guessing" for "guess", imagine a period after it, and then swap "ever" for "every." Pardon my crumby editing.
Ravenous seals ? The miraculous death of said seals? On the grounds of caring for our fellow creatures, I can't vote for Thecla.
I agree that it is a tough choice. As a lover of the Episcopal liturgy, I am drawn to Keble. Thecla appeals to me for her wild story, and I'd like to promote the women who have done so much with so little recognition. Keble's writings sound impressive as well, and I appreciate what he promotes as proper Christian behavior. In the end, I decided to vote for him with a touch of sadness as not being able to vote for both. I wish I had Thecla's courage.
Much of my life is mystic all head will not work for me, A lack of faith is nothing to brag obout.
Keble has much commend him, and as a modern reader I'm a bit put off by the early church's emphasis on celibacy. Nonetheless, and even though Thecla's story may be apocryphal, it's such a great story I had to vote for her, much as I did Christina the Astonishing last year. Plus I wanted to break the streak of the more contemporary person winning the matchup.
I'll vote for a real person commemorated as a Saint any day vs. a legend and fabrication of the early church in Thecla. Do you know how many virgin martyrs there are commemorated in the calendar of the church year? Each one has some variant of the same story - they will not marry a pagan nobleman and preserve themselves in virginity for Christ. Miracles are attested in their martyrdom. So, come on - vote John Keble to victory!
I think you (SEC) yanked our chain a bit by putting soap opera star, possibly fictional Thecla up against rock solid Keble. So, typifying what is wrong with society today, I voted for Thecla.
John Keble seems to be a saint for our times. I pray fervently for a resurgence of Keble-like pious, practical and polite people. Thecla would fit right in if she lived today, maybe even have her own reality or Web show: World's most extreme devotees or some such thing.
Having spent a large part of my ordained life in small congregations, I relish the joys and understand the challenges. John Keble seems to me to have been a well grounded, eyes opened servant whose faith in God and love for God's people was fully and courageously expressed. Regarding the "miraculous" elements of Blessed Thecla, and all such stories....meh.
Despite the many near disasters in her life, her love of Jesus Christ spared her. Hoping, no knowing, despite the difficulties I face today, that like Thecla, Jesus is my deliverer!
I have always loved Kebble's words in hymn#10 "New every morning is thy love" and hymn#656 "Blest are the pure in Heart." As a professional Vegas musician and lover of hymnody, you can guess who has my vote.
I figure if God liked Thecla enough to save her miraculously TWICE, I'd better come down on her side! Besides, Keble already has an honored place in the history of the faith and Anglicanism in particular, that the Golden Halo would just be gilding the lily...so to speak!
I can't resist a strong, passionate woman. Thecla gets my vote. You go girl!
No contest here. I love the story of Thecla. Her devotion is so total that she follows after Paul begging to be baptized and finally takes on that task herself when Paul keeps putting her off. We should all be so devoted to our faith that we take action whether others are on or side or not. And even though it's not quite March and women's history month, I vote for Thecla.
I'm struggling with Thecla's apparent infatuation with Paul and his teachings. I'm wondering why Paul would deny knowing her. I may have to find her story, in full. Perhaps, that will clarify.
Keble gets my vote. Seems very much a voice for our age as for his, "National Apostasy" striking a wake-up call for our culture going secular, or into a jaded fundamentalism, as much as his....
That poet thing doesn't hurt either...
Thecla's bio looks like something Hollywood would latch on to....lots of drama and lots of special effects. Keble just plodded along, doing the hard stuff. My admiration is for Keble whose work still sustains us.
Wanted to vote for Tecla because of her strong faith but as a singer, my love of "Sun of my Soul" and "The Voice that Breathed O'er Eden" (two of John Keble 's hymns) won out.
I'll go with the persistent Thecla.
Keble as the founder of the Oxford Movement reminds us who we are and what God's Church actually is. He stands in a line of reformers like Francis, Clare, Dominic, Theresa, the Wesley brothers who see a Church that has to a degree forgotten that and call us back to were we came from (read what these saints actually did and wrote - not what there followers did).
The early Church was full of women saints who followed their Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (not Paul). Dorcus, Mary of Bethany, Mary of Magdela, Phoebe (who validates women in Holy Orders and shatters the argument of women having a lesser place in the Church), and hundreds of others known and unknown. What these women have in common is they actually exist. Thecla may or may not have.
I'll stand with John Keble.
May I, like Thecla, find the strength to stand for God not matter what comes across my path. Her courage and determination. And ultimate passion for God inspires me. In many places in the world today, it is still as dangerous to follow Christ and to fight oppression.
Last year we had the snails, this year we've got ravenous seals. Great tragedy and comedy there.
I am amazed as the current vote count. Keble is/was a REAL person, Thecla is more imagined then real not much of a mach up in my mind and to see her, at the moment, ahead is a true disapointment. And that is from a "Low Church" woman!
A person whose "history" is questionable vs. a person whose contribution to the Body of Christ is well-documented and which blesses us today . . . no contest. Going with Keble. However, I continue my historical trend of voting with the minority. Sigh>
I am inclined to vote for John Keble and the Oxford Movement for bring back religious orders. I don't think there is a connection between the Oxford Movement and the Oxford Group, from which sprang Alcoholics Anonymous. But I would put my support behind Frank Buchman, founder of the Oxford Group, it he were ever part of Lend Madness!
The essay on Keble's sermons, poetry and hymns inspire me to look up his spirit-filled works. However, Thecla's tale of her (hyped-up) holy Christian adventure while surviving brutal executions by religious leaders destined to kill her, has my vote because I can learn from her example. I should begin my very own remarkable Christian adventure every day.
2.24.2015 [John Keble]
poetry, prophecy
God’s voice of
what if, if we
do not change.
a blessing to
a nation, a call
to clarity and
faith.
Tuesday of 1Lent
---------------
I'm an Anglo-Catholic very grateful to John Keble and his movement - but my vote goes to Thecla.
This is from the Wikipedia article about Thecla (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thecla):
'Thecla gained a massive "cult-like" following, and became perhaps the most prominent figure for female empowerment at the time. She listened to Paul's teachings to fear nobody but God, and live in chastity. She demonstrates these teachings on several occasions starting from the first time she heard Paul speak by leaving Thamyris, fighting off Alexander, and surviving several life threatening situations. She traveled to preach the word of God and became an icon encouraging women to also live a life of chastity and follow the word of the lord.'
Here's a photo of her statue in Ma'loula (Syria): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thecla#mediaviewer/File:Statue_of_Saint_Thecla,_Maaloula.jpg
Thank you for the link. The fresco is so etheral, I'm tempted to vote Thecla just on that basis.
It is wonderful, isn't it?
More from the article:
'In the Eastern Church, the wide circulation of the Acts of Paul and Thecla is evidence of her veneration. She was called "apostle and protomartyr among women" and "equal to the apostles." She was widely cited as an ascetic rôle model for women. '
Interesting. Thanks.
I feel really bad about the seals and don't believe they intended to eat Thecla. I've had some remarkable encounters with seals, even swimming with them. And hymn 10, with John Keble's text, is one of my very favorites. However, I am voting for Thecla as a prototype of all the unknown women who were leaders in the early church, and whose passionate longing for God and devotion to the gospel still empowers us, even if we do not know their names.
I'm all for uplifting and broadcasting (no pun intended) the early and not so early, (even the current ones) women leaders of the church but I'd rather not be painted with the brush that makes a crazy infatuated, some might say demented, woman as a leader to be emulated. There are times when restraint is a good thing. GO JOHN!