The Supreme Executive Committee of Lent Madness has unearthed a heretofore undiscovered Bonhoeffer text on the viscitudes of cheap and costly grace in the context of Lent Madness. We share it with you, without comment, as we believe the text speaks for itself.
Cheap grace is the deadly enemy of Lent Madness. Cheap grace means grace sold on the market like wares from the Lentorium. The Saintly Scorecard, the bracket posters, the write-ups of fabulous Celebrity Bloggers are thrown away at cut prices -- like Frances Perkins mugs at 50% off. Oh wait...
Cheap grace is the grace we bestow on ourselves. Cheap grace is the preaching on topics other than saints, writing our own name in the bracket, voting without reading the comments, not seeing the humor in Lent Madness...Cheap grace is grace without Wi-Fi, grace without the Golden Halo, grace without an updated bracket.
Costly grace is the saintly kitsch hidden in the field; for the sake of it, a person will gladly go and sell all that he or she has. It is the Lent Madness bracket of great price for which the merchant will sell all his goods. It is the kingly rule of the Supreme Executive Committee, for whose sake a voter will pluck out the internet connection which causes the participant to stumble.
Costly grace is represented as Lent Madness' inexhaustible treasury, from which the Supreme Executive Committee showers blessings with generous hands, without asking questions or fixing limits (except on votes).
PS. Stay tuned for information released later today about Lent Madness 2016 swag. Mugs? Pint glasses? A Silver Halo for Julian of Norwich? All will soon be revealed.
126 comments on “Dietrich Bonhoeffer wins 2016 Golden Halo!”
I think a Yellow Fever cocktail glass would be wonderful for the Lentorium.
I love the idea of a Yellow Fever cocktail glass!
Tim and Scott, and Celebrity Bloggers, and Adam and everyone else I'm not naming, thank you for another fantastic Lent Madness. My very best to you and yours until next season!
Bonhoeffer's life and message speak to our troubled times, and I'm thankful that he won the Golden Halo. Looking forward to 2017 LM, and thanks, SEC, for your hard work. Saintly Kitsch not needed for me, but if it's good for others to expand the fun and appeal to others, that's fine with me. Oliver was a worthy winner of the St. Francis, and hope he participates next year. Perhaps an SEC member in the making!
I think Oliver would make a great Celebrity Blogger in a few years. He loves learning about the Saints.
It was not an easy choice this year. Given the state of the world both Dietrich Bonhoeffer and Julian of Norwich have much to say to us. But in the end I had to vote for Bonhoeffer
Wonderfully fun and educational experience. Thank you SEC!
Thank you to all that made this great Lent Madness possible. Some match ups were very hard to chose. Glad DB won as I believe his 'life' is very pertinent to what is going on in the world today. Maybe in another 5 years or so you could have an Saintly All Star Game of the winners and runners up. Thank you again and Happy Lent!
Dame Julian for the Silver Halo!!!
This was first year, but thanks for a delightful experience. I wish there was some way for spouses with the same computer and address could vote twice. We did have a couple of disagreements. Thanks again to all who made it possible.
I may be mistaken but when my husband and i used the same computer he voted through his own email and I voted through mine. I dont think its the computer but the email address. This year we used our phones instead.
I'm disappointed that Joseph didn't win the Golden Halo, but as the SEC and various commentators have pointed out, all the saints have won their halos: Joseph and Constance and Dietrich and Julian and all of them. As always, Lent Madness has been a delight. Thank you Tim and Scott, and everyone who commented and everyone who voted. May you have a blessed Holy Week and a joyous Easter.
Wow, Bonhoeffer won 60% to 40%, a personal favorite.....and over 8,000 votes cast in total. Such an enjoyable game this year and a hero of our times to boot. I have read Bonhoeffer with difficulty and rented all the movies about him that I found. Congrats to all who contributed to our enjoyment of our Lenten season and just like our Michael has said, "It is not a fairy tale".
I have enjoyed LM for the 4 years, and this was no different. As the American mother of two dual-citizen German-American sons, I am delighted with Dietrich Bonhoffer receiving the Golden Halo--"Echt toll!"--and I give my deepest thanks to the SEC and the Celebrity Bloggers for teaching us all about these incredible people of faith.
I love the graphic of Meister Bonhoeffer already basking in the glow of his newfound Golden Halo! Well done SEC, celebrity bloggers, and the voting public at large. Would that our political choices were half as worthy as all out saints!
Let's keep Julian available for another lent.
Thank you SEC and CB's for another wonderful Lent Madness. So many inspiring saints!! I'm particularly grateful to have learned about Vida Dutton Scudder - imagine having lived all these decades and never having known of her and her remarkable life. I'm glad I know now.
I have to say, I miss the "Archbishops Updates" from the Maple Anglican that have been part of Lent Madness in the past. Is the clarivoyant machine (sorry I forgot the name of it) on the fritz? Will the Archbishops be back? Thanks to the Maple Anglican for the work he did bringing us the Archbishops in the first place! A big thank you to the SEC for Lent Madness also!!!!
I love Lent Madness for your pedagogic methodology. Humor helps keep me focused and I learned many new and wondrous things about these saints of God. My one constant this year was Dietrich, now of the Golden Halo. I daresay that for me the final choice was the toughest. Thanks to your ministry, I am edified!
Thank you to the SEC and all of the CB's for a wonderful LM devotional experience. Really enjoyed young Oliver, a worthy winner of St. Francis. Some very tough choices and some profound thoughts resulting. Already ready feeling LMW!
I'm thinking that a Bonhoeffer pint glass would go really well with my St. Brigid pint glass. Seriously, this was a wonderful Lent Madness. I learned so much. Thanks to all!
I agree!
I am a Democrat, Liberal, Episcopalian living in Mobile, AL. I write that by way of explaining why I am used to losing! I love my dear Julian and will carry her inspiration in my heart always - Halo or no. I greatly admire DB, his courage, intellect and inspiration. If anyone had to win over Julian it was DB.
Lent flew by ..... Thank you SEC. In the spirit of lent I am trying not to be a sore looser!
See you next year.
Wow! I am a liberal Dem who grew up in Mobile, Alabama. I had to laugh at your introductory comment since I know exactly what you meant that's funny.
What an interesting group of saints to challenge us this Lent. Thank you to the SEC and all the bloggers for another trip through Lent. Am very pleased that DM now has the Golden Halo. His message speaks to a troubled world.
A Blessed Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter Saturday, and a most Joyful Easter.
Hearty congratulations to Saint Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a most deserving Golden Halo winner. Love the graphic! Farewell to Lent Madness 2016, and I will miss all of you, dear friends.
Wishing everyone a glorious Easter. See y'all next year.
Thank you SEC, Celebrity Bloggers, and everyone who has commented, lobbied, or voted. It has been a lovely Lenten journey with you all.
Have a blessed Triduum and a joyous Easter!
I loved every day of lent madness... Great job... Great fun... Blessings to all of you!!
Wait a minute, did I miss something in the Cheap Grace posting that was attributed to our winner ? or did the humor evade my limited mind ?
Any way I am happy Dietrich won. He deserves it
God's Blessings to all.
The concept and the literary skeleton is Bonhoeffer; the "innards," however, are pure SEC.
Great Lent Madness season.... This years saints were very interesting to read about. Looking forward to next year!!!
Want to thank the SEC for another great learning experience and enjoyed the many blogger comments. Looking forward to next year and maybe a chance to again vote for Constance.
Julian on the Nutella label.
As much as I supported Julian, I don't think she should get a Silver Halo. Last year the vote between Francis and Brigid were so close that I thought it was nice that she was given an award. But Dietrich Bonhoffer soundly beat Julian of Norwich this year. However it is not my will but that of the SEC that shall be done.
True, but Julian has come in second place twice. Back in 2012, she lost to George Herbert. So I think making it to the final round twice is at least comparable to Brigid's close call with Francis.
Hooray for Dietrich!! I picked a winner this year. How about St. Genesius, Patron Saint of Actors for next year's LM? How about 'Constance Would Go" bumper stickers, silver-plated hazelnut necklaces/bracelets, yellow fever champagne (!)glasses, etc. Love Lent Madness and the joy it brings me and so many others. And thanks Carol and SusanLee: didn't know there were anymore D.L.E.'s in the south but me and my family. Happy Easter to all.
As a major Brigid supporter I agree that the race last year was so close she deserved the silver halo. Unless we are going to backtrack and give all seconds silver, oh yeah and thirds bronze and, and, and...
Thanks for the Madness. Looking forward to 2017.
This has been the most wonderful Lent Madness. All the writing by celebs gets better every year.
I'm thrilled that Dietrich Bonhoffer held on the the end. Holding on was so much a part of his character. Thanks Tim and Scott for another great Lent!!