2014 Golden Halo Winner Charles Wesley prepares to welcome this year's saintly champion.
We embarked upon this Lent Madness journey over five weeks ago on “Ash Thursday.” With your help we have whittled the field of 32 saints down to two: Francis of Assisi and Brigid of Kildare. Who will win the coveted Golden Halo of Lent Madness 2015? Only 24 hours and your voting participation will reveal this holy mystery.
Regardless of the ultimate outcome, we’ve met some truly remarkable saintly folks along the way. Perhaps you learned about some saints you’d never heard of or maybe you renewed acquaintances with saints who have long offered inspiration. Of course the entire notion of placing saints in a bracket is absurd — each “contestant” has already earned a crown of righteousness in addition to a “golden halo.” But at the heart of Lent Madness is the abiding conviction that encountering those who have come before us in the faith enriches and enlivens our own walk with the risen Christ.
In the process of this whimsical Lenten devotion we’ve all made some new online friends, encountered a community of believers who take their faith but not themselves too seriously, learned a few things, were inspired by saintly witnesses, and had a lot fun along the way.
Of course we literally couldn’t have done this without our stellar Celebrity Bloggers to whom we offer sincere gratitude: Amber Belldene, Laurie Brock, Megan Castellan, David Creech, Laura Darling, Neva Rae Fox, Nancy Frausto, Robert Hendrickson, Maria Kane, and David Sibley. Thanks to Bracket Czar Adam Thomas for his stellar behind-the-scenes work in keeping the bracket updated daily -- in his inimitable style. And to our Resident Foodie, Maria Nolletti Ross, whose recipes in the Saintly Scorecard quite literally helped spice things up. You all rock! And we're all grateful for your good writing, good humor, and adhering to most, if not all, of the SEC-imposed deadlines.
Finally, thanks to all of you who participated by voting, commenting, drinking coffee out of Lent Madness mugs, filling out brackets, talking about saints at coffee hour, liking us on Facebook or following us on Twitter, and allowing us to play a small role in your Lenten journey. We’ve loved having each one of you along for the “madness” and on behalf of the Supreme Executive Committee we wish you a blessed Holy Week and a joyous Easter.
But enough gratitude. We have a Golden Halo to award! As with all the matchups, the polls will be open for 24 hours and the winner will be announced right here at 8:00 am Eastern Time on Maundy Thursday. At this point, everything about these two worthy saints has been said (though if you need some refreshers, click on the Bracket tab). We have simply asked our two remaining celebrity bloggers, Laurie Brock (Francis) and Megan Castellan (Brigid) to provide us with one image and one quote.
The rest is up to you, the Lent Madness voting public. So go do your thing! And thanks for playing along this year -- we're delighted you joined us for the journey.
Francis of Assisi
Stigmatization of St. Francis by Carducho
Lord God, living and true.
You are love, charity.
You are wisdom; You are humility; You are patience;
You are beauty; You are meekness; You are security;
You are inner peace; You are joy; You are our hope and joy;
You are justice; You are moderation; You are all our riches;
You are our enough…
You are all our sweetness,
You are our eternal life:
Great and wonderful Lord,
God almighty, Merciful Saviour.
Amen.
From ‘Praises of God’ in a letter to Brother Leo
Brigid of Kildare
I would like the angels of Heaven to be among us.
I would like an abundance of peace.
I would like full vessels of charity. I would like rich treasures of mercy.
I would like cheerfulness to preside over all.
I would like Jesus to be present.
I would like the three Marys of illustrious renown to be with us.
I would like the friends of Heaven to be gathered around us from all parts.
UPDATE: The Supreme Executive Committee is serious about one person, one vote. We have discovered some cheating, that is, people who are voting multiple times from one location. As many as 121 votes have been cast from one place. To keep the race fair, we are removing 201 votes from Brigid, and 46 votes are under suspicion. The excessive voting was from Santa Clara, CA; Washington, DC; Lawrenceville, GA; Baltimore, MD; and Fort Washington, MD. If we discover that some of these votes were legitimate we will re-add the votes to the total. For now, expect the total number of votes for Brigid to decrease around 6:45 p.m. EST.
If you want your saint to win, get others to vote. Do not cast several votes yourself!
Vote!
[poll id="139"]
387 comments on “For the Golden Halo: Francis of Assisi vs. Brigid of Kildare”
Another wonderful Lent Madness. Many thanks to the SEC, the CBs, the behind-the-scenes people, and all the commenters.
Is there any hope of a Like button next year?
oh I hope not!
"like"
The prayer it was that convinced me.
Dearly as I love Francis's prayer of praise (which was beautifully set to music by John Michael Talbot), Brigid's spoke of concern for other humans. Somehow we humans--and especially we Christians--need to find and preserve a balance between loving God and loving one's fellow humans.
Gee, have I heard that idea somewhere before? 🙂
We are all winners with Lent Madness! We have become a community where we have learned, laughed, and shared our spiritual journeys. Oliver, your comments were spot on and became a beacon for many. Today, it was a delight to hear about the fifth grade class using the saintly bracket as a learning tool. So, let's add some more kitsch to the Lentorium -- a doggie bowl for Francis and a beer mug for Brigid. I'll be glad to buy one of each.
As for me, I flipped a coin and voted for Francis. His prayer for peace has been a touchstone for me for many years.
Peace and thanks to you all.
I vote for Egeria. Molly? O. That was yesterday. Have to vote for Francis to finish him off, so nextyear's competition will be more fair.
It is my understanding that saints who make it to this final round are excluded from future Lent Madness competitions . . . so don't vote for Francis just to "finish him off."
Voting for Brigid. She beat out my favorite, Egeria, so I think she is worthy of The Golden Halo.
My anglo-catholic cat Humphrey would have been okay with either saint, but my neo-pagan zen cat was very much hoping that St Francis would win. In any case, both of them are still waiting to find out if the patron saint of cats, Gertrude of Nivelles, will be in the bracket next year. It's a real big thing for them.
Here's hopin'. My furries are not very religious — I've tried but if Gertrude's there it might help.
I have suggested Gertrude of Nivelles several times . . . as have my cats - hope the SEC is listening or at least reading these comments!
My cat Wesley keeps bragging that his saint already won.
Thank you:
Laurie Brock, for giving us the opportunity to study the adored St. Francis of Assisi. You and St. Francis always won my vote.
Thank you:
Nancy Frausto, for describing so well the beautiful witness of Juan Diego, as well as the incredible courage of Bernard Mizeki.
Thank you:
David Creech, for taking us on wonderful adventures with Brendan the Navigator, as well as Elizabeth who entered motherhood unexpectedly late, and Margaret of Antioch who defeated a dragon.
Thank you:
Maria Kane, for your just portrayal of Molly Brant, a woman who overcame enormous injustice, and for your championing of Frederick Douglass, who championed equal rights for all.
Thank you:
Neva Rae Fox, for insightfully presenting David Oakerhater and Kamehameha, who illustrate the fact that the most humble military prisoner can rise to serve God and humanity just as well as a king can.
Thank you:
Amber Belldene, for enchanting us with the grace, daring, and faithfulness of Irene the Great, princess of peace.
Thank you:
Laura Darling, for energetically introducing the indefatigable Jackson Kemper, pioneer church builder.
Thank you:
David Sibley, for diving into the history of Thecla with as much passion as Thecla diving into a pool of seals.
Thank you:
Robert Hendrickson, for guiding us through the stories of Thomas Ken, who knew exactly where he stood, and Dionysius the Great, who took a stand for prodigal Christians.
Thank you:
Megan Castellan, for your superstar write-ups of two of the superstars of this Lent Madness: Brigid of Kildare, the first woman bishop, and Egeria, who preserved, through her own writing, the first Christian traditions.
Thank You:
SEC and the Bracket Czar, for running Lent Madness smoothly, and for challenging participants to grow in our faith.
Comments like yours are why we need a Like button.
Why can't you simply say you agree or it's a great comment or you like the comment? If we wanted Facebook we'd be doing Facebook.
I totally agree - we need a like button !
Best comment of the 2015 season....
well said -- I join in with my thanks
I agree; many thanks to the SEC, and to the bloggers, and to everybody else involved. Great job.
Well said!
I agree we really need a like button. Kim on the Bayou... thank you for the attention you paid. Well said!
My second "like" of the day.
Thank you for your thoughtful reflections and for posting them.
I was surprised that the race is this close. I thought this would be a "no brainer" for even the Lent Madness follies (er, followers). It's been Francis all the way for me. The life he led demonstrates a love for Jesus that makes me just jealous enough that I want what he has. His love poem to Jesus says it all, "You are our enough."
I like the affirmative mood of Francis more than Brigid's subjunctive mood .
Maybe it was the translation
Francis and Brigid are saintly.
Both have inspired such love,
Both of them kitsched up so quaintly,
The halo fits each like a glove.
Choosin' is mad
But either one is not wrong.
P.S. Thanks to the SEC, the bloggers, and the cloud of Lent Madness witnesses commenting, praying, and making a wonderful journey together. What joy to be part of this.
Same here for me. Go Brigid!
that's un-neccessarily confrontational.....
Susan, I was referring to myself in the comment, though I was lying about the cats. I have enough cats, not too many. But like you, I admire St. Francis for much more than his factoids and objets de silliness.
Peg, I loved your comment and have been smiling about it for days.
Is there such a thing as too many cats?
There is for me. It's anything more than none! : )
With apologies to cat lovers, I'm with you on this, Robert!
That was brought up in a discussion at our church yesterday too!
It was this snippet of St. Francis's quote that did it for me - "You are our enough…"
On Sunday, I predicted that it would be Francis vs. Bridid; I've voted with the loser so many times this Lent that I started to see it as a game. I thought when I opened this this morning that I would vote for Francis, because nothing about Brigid has touched me. But "an abundance of peace" and "cheerfulness" presiding over us changed my mind.
A warm word of appreciation to the Supreme Executive Council and the members of the Lent Madness community. I've enjoyed it immensely as, well, a Lenten pleasure! A lurker no longer, I look forward to next year's event.
GO TEAM BRIGID OF KILDARE! IF YOU DON'T VOTE THE GOLDEN HALO WILL NOT BE FOUND ABOVE HER HEAD.
My first Lent Maddness. What I thought would just be a fun game, actually turned into a profound daily meditation for me as I reflected on the lives of those saints. They have inspired me to try harder to be a Christian witness through my actions, and to love more deeply, widely, and unconditionally. Thanks, SEC. I'll see you next year.
Voted for Francis, but would love Brigid to win. Talk about dual minded!
Although I voted for Francis, I would happily order a Brigid pint glass. 😉
Birdbath or Beerbath ?
Decisions decisions.....
Thank you for this wonderful journey. This was my first LM but it certainly won't be my last. This madness has been hilarious and fun and it also has been a healing process for me this lent. God bless you all!!!
Oh dear, it's frightfully close. Go Brigid! Thanks, celebrity bloggers. You guys rock.
Oliver's comment swayed me, but not in the way you'd think. I realized that I was hoping he'd voted for Francis. So Francis it is!
Francis is well known, inspirational and revered. But Brigid is a fresher face to many and a true saintly role model for us today -- an activist as well as a contemplative, with open arms and loving hospitality for all, inviting all of heaven and earth to her hearth side. Vote Brigid!
St. Frances & I share a name & I love him & have him in my garden caring for the azalea bushes, but St. Brigid is very special to me, too. Her abilities & those who recognized them in her lifetime & since make her as a woman of faith very hallowed. I serve on the board of Brigid's Place at Christ Church Cathedral in Houston, TX, where this Holy Saturday at 4:00 we will present a dramatic reading/musical tribute to the women who stayed through Jesus' crucifixion, death, & resurrection. It's a powerful dramatic reminder of how important the women have been since the beginning. Come if you can and/or make a contribution to our ministry.
It has been a wonderful walk through Lent with you all. I won't say for whom I am voting today. Instead I will close with...
Pax et Bonum,
Larry
🙂
I have already voted, and then lost the page. I have thoroughly enjoyed Lent Madness, and learning about so many saints. I am a laywoman and therefore recognised only about half of them. Interesting and fun. Thank you all.
P.S. Where was the recipe page, and is there really going to be a St Francis mug?
Carolyn in Canada.
One of the points that led me to vote for Francis was the power of his legacy through the Franciscan order (both its Roman Catholic and Episcopalian branches) and all the good work they continue to do.
And thank you to all for your companionship this Lent.
This is a tough one. I love them both, but have to be loyal to Brigid!
My wife has Brigid winning her bracket. Francis is winning mine. I'm not saying I don't want Francis to win, but a vote for Brigid is a vote for happiness and peace in our marriage...
I do think that the only thing missing is a rendition of One Shining Moment from the Supreme Executive Committee!
I felt doomed casting my vote today, and sure enough, once again have landed on the losing side.
Now my first souvenir mug is going to be one for whom there have to be a jillion souvenir mugs with this saint's mug on the mug. Oh well, I cherish my Queen Victoria cup, sold during her 1897 Diamond Jubilee festivities, found inexpensive on eBay.
Your mug will be divine and I will be proud to line up with thousands of fans to buy one. Many thanks for Lent Madness. I have had such a good time. Spiritual in important ways, connective for starters.
My birthday is February 1st so how can I not vote for Brigid.