Only in Lent Madness will you find a 19th century pioneering bishop squaring off against a 12th century monk. Which, you guessed it, is precisely what we have today as Henry Beard Delany faces Aelred of Rievaulx in the second matchup of Lent Madness 2017.
In yesterday's "Ash Thursday" kickoff, Stephen soundly defeated Alban, 62% to 38% in heavy voting. Indeed, with over 9,600 total votes cast a new Lent Madness turnout record was set! We also love that over 450 people added comments to the post. With his victory, Stephen became the first saint to advance to the Round of the Saintly Sixteen, where he'll face the winner of Henry Budd vs. Cecilia. Somewhere Bob Dylan is singing, "Everybody must get stoned."
Still wondering how to keep up with all the players saints? You need a Saintly Scorecard 2017! While the paper book has passed into the realm of collectors' items, the ebook is available. Pick one up for your Kindle or iPad today! For only $2.99 you'll have the inside track on all things Lent Madness!
Finally, in case you've ever been kept up at night wondering about the inner workings of the Supreme Executive Committee, you're in luck! Tim and Scott recently appeared on the popular Priest Pulse podcast. In addition to discussing all things Lent Madness, they even touch on the roots of their longstanding feud. Enjoy!
Henry Beard Delany
Born a slave into a Methodist household in Georgia, Henry Beard Delany was freed at the end of the Civil War. As a teenager, Delany moved to Florida with his family, where he learned bricklaying and carpentry. Delany received a scholarship from a local Episcopal parish to attend St. Augustine’s College in Raleigh, North Carolina—a college founded by Episcopal clergy to educate emancipated African-Americans.
Delany studied music and theology, joining the faculty after graduation and teaching building trades. Together, he and his students built the chapel, library, and hospital for the college. He attended an Episcopal church and was ordained a deacon in 1889 and priest in 1892. Upon his ordination, Delany became the vice-principal of the college. His wife Nanny Logan, also an alumna of St. Augustine’s, taught and served as matron at the college. They had ten children, including noted authors Sadie and Bessie Delany. During the later part of the nineteenth and early part of the twentieth century, the southern dioceses of the Episcopal Church were wrestling with the status of African-Americans within the church. While there were historic African-American congregations—like St. Ambrose where Delany was nurtured and ordained—they were routinely refused full parish status due to fears that a sizeable block of African-American delegates to diocesan conventions might upset the status quo.
Delany was part of the Commission for Work among Colored People, the leading association of African-American clergy and lay leaders in the Episcopal Church. In 1908, he was appointed as Archdeacon for Negro Work in the Diocese of North Carolina. When the church decided to maintain segregated missionary districts for African-Americans, Delany was unanimously elected by the diocesan convention as Suffragan Bishop for Negro Work. On November 21, 1918, he was consecrated bishop in the chapel at St. Augustine College—a house of worship he had designed and helped to build with his own hands. He worked tirelessly throughout the Carolinas, planting and nurturing African-American congregations until his death on April 14, 1928.
Collect for Henry Beard Delany
Almighty God who frees your people with a mighty hand and outstretched arm: Grant strength to all your servants who, inspired by the example and prayers of Henry Beard Delany, hold fast, bearing witness to the truth of your love and justice in the face of oppression; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Aelred of Rievaulx
Aelred of Rievaulx was born in northern England in 1110. Thanks to a biography written shortly after his death, much is known about his life and travels.
After spending several years at the court of King David I of Scotland, Aelred entered the Cistercian abbey of Rievaulx, in Yorkshire, at the age of 24. In 1147, Aelred was elected abbot and led the abbey through a period of growth and expansion, growing the abbey to about 140 monks and 500 laymen.
A prolific writer who authored several volumes on spirituality, Aelred is also remembered as a tireless traveler and political negotiator. In addition to visiting the abbey’s five daughter-houses in England and Scotland, he also traveled annually to the general chapter of the Cistercians at Cîteaux (France). In 1138, he traveled to the Scottish border to help negotiate the transfer of a castle to King David of Scotland. Four years later, he traveled to Rome for an audience with Pope Innocent II as part of a group who opposed the election of William, King Stephen’s nephew, as Archbishop of York.
Aelred’s writings include histories and biographies, spiritual treatises, and sermons. For his talents as both an author and a church manager, Aelred has been called the “St. Bernard of the North” (in reference to Bernard of Clairvaux, a French Cistercian abbot). Although never formally canonized, he has been venerated as a saint since the 1400s. His feast is marked in the calendars of various churches on January 12, the traditional date of his death.
After reading his correspondence and a biography by a fellow monk, author John Boswell and a few other scholars have suggested that Aelred may have been gay. Because of this conjecture, and inspired by Aelred’s writings on friendship, Integrity U.S.A. and some other LGBT organizations have adopted Aelred as their patron saint, as well.
Collect for Aelred of Rievaulx
Almighty God, you endowed the abbot Aelred with the gift of Christian friendship and the wisdom to lead others in the way of holiness: Grant to your people that same spirit of mutual affection, that, in loving one another, we may know the love of Christ and rejoice in the gift of your eternal goodness; through the same Jesus Christ our Savior, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
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338 comments on “Henry Beard Delany vs. Aelred of Rievaulx”
Continuing my 3 year, 100% streak of voting for the saint that NEVER advances...
I wanted to vote for the monk, but have a week old brand new grandson named Henry! Had to choose him!
"Friend cleaving to friend in the Spirit of Christ". I vote Aelred today for a friend ordained on Aelred's feast day.
Like our Lord, Henry was a carpenter. His clearsightedness was not clouded by oppression.
The two contenders for today should have been able to meet each other. Both would have been subjected to prejudices of society in their time on earth. I must go with Delany, however, because he was so very versatile in his service to God and was also able to rise through the ranks from carpenter to bishop. Hallelujah!
Delaney is, of course, the sentimental favorite to win. He was one of the first "token Negroes" adopted by the Church in a deeply racist era. Delaney's actual achievements, however, in no way compare with those of Aelred. The issue of token Negroes is a hot topic today, while promoting friendship among monks in medieval monasteries is not on anybody's radar. I vote for Aelred, because he cherished and promoted caritas in a bleak era, when friendship among monks was actively discouraged. As for the speculation about homosexuality, I suspect that has more to do with our current obsessions than with Aelred's intentions.
Kay, Very interesting thoughts on the information given. I like them!
To call Delany a token negro diminishes his accomplishments. He was much more than that, if you read more about him and the children he brought up. Three or four of them made the NY Times obituaries when they died, by the way.
i feel very sad for you, that you cannot appreciate the efforts of a saint in the church without reducing his well-deserved reputation to mere tokenism.
I didn't read Kay's comment as some of you did. By "token Negro," I think she was speaking in the way those in the 19th century might have viewed him, giving grudging acceptance. I can barely imagine the grace and dignity he must have had to exercise. Thank you, SEC, for drawing our imaginations into the lives of these holy people.
I agree. I don't think she was denigrating him at all. Those were the times.
Henry had strong religious beliefs and did not sway even though his church put cultural limitations on him.
Henry Beard Delaney is my choice today for all the reasons. Ann Fontaine says it well: he "captured my heart."
Grew up in SC , never heard of Delaney and his work. Fantastic accomplishments in that time. GOD's hand truly with him.
Henry Beard Delaney for sure. A Methodist by birth, a bricklayer and carpenter who was a tremendous scholar and leader...what a guy! And he had great children, especially Bessie and Sadie. Henry for the win!
Tough to vote between 2 non-WASPs. (Well, wHasps if you include an indication of Heterosexual.) Gay people get no love!, as I know very well from experience. So, I voted for the underdog. Love Delaney's story, but the "token" homosexual needs some acknowledgment.
Henry Beard Delaney! Courage in the face of oppression. "Born a slave & freed at the end of the Civil War, Henry Beard Delany ((February 5, 1858 – April 14, 1928) as one of the first African-American bishops in the Episcopal Church, and was instrumental in the struggle of minorities to take their place in the highest positions of leadership in a church often hostile to their presence. Delany was a strong advocate for the integration of African American Episcopalians into the wider church despite the Jim Crow laws of the day and the efforts of many leaders of the white majority in the church who viewed the presence of men like Delany as threats to their power and authority."
Having just taught about Delaney (and Demby) in our Feb adult formation classes (black history in the Episcopal Church) I had to vote for him here.
Henry Beard Delaney resonated with me. A quiet Saint/ hero on so many fronts. Working with his hands building & creating, he did the same building in his family, community & his faith. Allred's story seems more obscure to me - probably the historical context - but still a worthy contender.
That southern parish which provided the funds for Henry Beard Delany's education would be St. Peter's in Fernandina Beach, Florida. That is my church, and therefore my vote goes to Henry Beard Delany's.
I voted for Henry for his tireless work in the church and for the fact that he was a bricklayer and used those gifts for glory as well as his spiritual gifts. I am married to a bricklayer who has used his gifts to care for our church buildings, work which is very important.
I voted for Delany--though my heart is generally medieval--because he is such an important part of the growth and education for African Americans in the United States. He is the sort of bold, educated man that we all need as a role model for our walk with Christ.
After reading some of the earlier comments, I more fully appreciate the contributions of Allred, but I'm still favoring Delaney. The HBCU is much in the news lately. Although we may dislike the tokenism of the early Episcopal Church, Delaney was doing what he could with what he had where he was, and that is admirable. And I love the writings of his daughters!
Oops. That should read Aelred-thank you autocorrect.
Good thought process Oliver!
Learning that Aelred is a patron saint for Integrity increases my interest in him.
However, I am voting for Henry Beard Delany. I am always shocked and saddened when I read the history of African Americans in our church. That he was a wonderful leader and yet had to face segregation in his spiritual home!
I agree, Aileen, that it breaks my heart to hear of the racism so many of our members have had to endure. And, sadly, still do in some circles. 🙁
A much harder choice than I thought it would be!
Medieval leanings here, but Delaney's story captured my vote today. Good writing, celebrity bloggers!
I voted for Delany, a slave to a bishop is quite a climb, and he did it with grace and love always helping others along the way.
"Aelred of Rievaulx: Unknown Artist, possibly by Elredo de Rieval, Public domain via Wikimedia Common"
"Elredo de Rieval" is the Spanish version of "Aelred de Rievaulx," so unless that's a self-portrait, "Elredo" is not the artist.
Aelred got my vote today by a very slim margin. What tipped the balance was his campaign against nepotism in the church and the fact that he comes from the same general region where my father is from.
If placed against a different saint, I might well have voted for Aelred. But Henry was enslaved from birth and segregated after emancipation by the church that educated him. I have to take a preferential option for the marginalized, especially in these times.
Although I love Yorkshire and especially Rievaulx, I voted for Bishop Delaney.He lived with love for all people through one of the most difficult times in our country. We surely need such wise and devoted men in our lives today.
Although I love Yorkshire and especially Rievaulx, I voted for Bishop Delaney.He lived with love for all people through one of the most difficult times in our country. We surely need such wise and devoted men in our lives today.
Yay, Oliver's back!!!
I had to go with Aelred. In the first round, it seems like the contemplative saints just don't get the crowd's attention. Both very holy people, for sure (and I'm glad to know about Henry Beard Delany now!). For me, without the monastic movement, the whole Christian project might have disappeared in the middle ages! (Full disclosure: my name is Benedict)
I think I saw them both with MacBooks in one of the videos.
'@Lousia Campbell; I think we should all be wearing "patio pants" as we devoutly participate in Lent Madness.
BTW-- I can't seem to get that Dylan song about "Everyone Getting Stoned" out of my head. Thanks for the brain worm.
If you read the earlier comments, some of the titles of Aelred's works are listed. Next step would be to Google the titles. They are old enough they'll be in the public domain, so are probably online and available for downloading/printing. Project Gutenberg (which you can Google) may very well have them online.
Her turn hasn't come yet.
I take your point, Benedict. I haven't voted yet. Very torn between a modern saint, whose travails I can only imagine, vs a saint who did so much in the early days of our church. Both seem to be about reconciliation with the prevailing powers. Very hard choice.
Alas, Aelred never stood a chance against Henry Beard Delaney. No far, SEC!! For your penance, you must offer a prayer in the haunting ruins of Aelred's beloved Rievaulx Abbey.