Let the games begin! Yes, Lent Madness 2017 begins RIGHT NOW. After months of speculation and the crushing ache of anticipation, "Ash 
Thursday" has arrived. Over the next (more or less) 40 days and 40 nights, you will have the opportunity to re-immortalize one of our 32 competing saints with the coveted Golden Halo.
Today we see two martyrs squaring off as Stephen faces Alban. Which one will face yet another ignominious exit? That, dear friends, is up to you and your single (we mean that and we have cameras everywhere) vote.
If you’re new to Lent Madness, welcome! If you have any questions about how to participate, just let us know by leaving a comment. The Lent Madness community is both friendly and helpful, often answering questions before the Supreme Executive Committee arrives in their grand purple, if imaginary, chariot.
We urge you to take full part in the Madness. Leave comments here on the website. Read what others have to say. Enjoy the (mostly) friendly rivalry and trash talk on social media. During the day, check in on the website often to see how each day’s contest is going. And above all, delight in seeing how each saint was a powerful witness of Jesus Christ.
Be sure to sign up for e-mail updates on our home page so you never miss a vote, like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, and encourage your friends to jump into the fray.
We can assure you this will be a wild, joyful, educational, ocassionally gut-wrenching ride. We're delighted to share this journey with you. Let the Madness begin!
Stephen
Stephen is the protomartyr of the Church—the first person to give his life as a witness to his faith in the gospel of Jesus.
Along with six other Greek-speaking believers, Stephen was tasked with serving and providing for those in need, serving as one of the first deacons in the early Jesus Movement. In some traditions, Stephen is given the title of Archdeacon.
Tasked with feeding the hungry, Stephen performed wonders and signs for the people. Unfortunately, these actions did not go over well with some in Jerusalem’s religious power structure, and the Sanhedrin tried him for blasphemy.
Stephen delivered a powerful sermon in front of the Sanhedrin, recounting the relationship between God and the people—his sermon accused listeners of murdering the prophets who foretold the coming of Jesus. While his message seemed to be extremely well-received, with the Sanhedrin shouting “Amen!” and “Thanks be to God,” they immediately took Stephen out into the street and stoned him. With his last breath, Stephen prayed for the forgiveness for his killers.
In death, Stephen has become quite the world traveler. His relics were first identified at what is now the monastery Beit Jimal, just outside of Jerusalem. Stephen’s relics moved around Jerusalem to a location near the northern gate of the city—known to the Crusaders as Stephen’s Gate.
A portion of his relics made a post-mortem trip to Rome, where he was interred alongside the deacon Lawrence (a very polite roommate who made
room for the protomartyr in the crypt of the Basilica of San Lorenzo).
Stephen’s feast day is December 26. He is the patron saint of, among other things, headaches—and, perhaps, family members during uncomfortable holiday situations.
Collect for Stephen
We give you thanks, O Lord of glory, for the example of the first martyr Stephen, who looked up to heaven and prayed for his persecutors to your Son Jesus Christ, who stands at your right hand; where he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.
Alban
The early martyr Alban is regarded as the protomartyr of Britain—the very first person to die for his confession of Christ in the British Isles. Also, while none of the records are terribly clear, it appears that Alban was only a Christian for a matter of days prior to his martyrdom! The story of Alban comes to us through three chief sources—a medieval text connected with Germanus of Auxerre, the account of the sixth-century British monk Gildas the Wise, and the Venerable Bede’s Ecclesiastical History of the English People. As is common with martyrs in the early medieval period, Alban’s story grows longer and more colorful with each step.
During one of the Roman persecutions of Christians, Alban (who was a kindly man but apparently not a believer) hid a priest in his house rather than allow the priest to be caught and killed by the authorities. The priest remained hidden for several days and instructed Alban in the faith. Once the Roman authorities learned of the priest’s presence, they came to the house demanding the fugitive. Alban dressed himself in the priest’s distinctive clothing and was led away to see the judge. The judge (somehow realizing that Alban was not the priest in question) promised to let Alban go if he renounced Christianity and sacrificed to the gods. Alban refused, asserting his full faith in Christ, and was led away to be executed. However, the bridge linking the court to the execution site was totally blocked by would-be spectators. The waters of the river parted, enabling Alban and his execution party to continue on dry ground to the place of his martyrdom. The executioner was so moved by this divine sign that he refused to kill Alban and was executed alongside him instead.
Bede’s narrative adds that upon killing these two martyrs, the replacement executioner’s eyes promptly popped out of his head as punishment. Furthermore, the head of Alban rolled down the hill, and at the point where it stopped, a spring of pure water sprung up.
Collect for Alban
Almighty God, who inspired your servant Alban to lay down his life for the cause of the Gospel; grant us the grace to follow his example that our own lives may be reflections of your love and witnesses to the truth of your power; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
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470 comments on “Stephen vs. Alban”
I vote for Stephen because his example of feeding the poor and forgiving his stoners is very powerful.
Voted for Stephen - Not that Alban's story isn't quite astounding, but I too have headaches all the time and for me it's Stephen.
Although St. Albans was on my traveling path to college, it had to be Stephen for me, as my dear son carries that name - as well as some of St. Stephen's qualities (but hopefully not martyrdom!)
First time player and already enjoying and learning
Welcome to the madness!
Good to see you back Kathy!
St Stephen has my vote. A friend of ours is being ordained as deacon this weekend. Plus I like that he is a patron saint of headaches.
I'm all in for unique names filled with religious significance. Alban? Unique name! Stephen? Not so much. Sorry Stephen! Go Alban!
I voted for Stephen for several reasons, but what put him over the edge was the hymn "When Stephen full of power and grace" (#243 in the Hymnal 1982). It's so awesome. Look it up.
Alban for me, as I witnessed the best ever children's pageant at St. Alban's in Brentwood, California--complete with severed head rolling down the center aisle.
Ruth, yours is the same as my reason for voting for Alban. St. Alban's, adjacent to UCLA, was my parish until we moved away. The head rolling down the aisle is a priceless experience!
Alban for the win. England needs him now, more than ever.
My vote is for Stephen, in memory of my husband, an archdeacon. I lost him in June.
He was a wonderful archdeacon, Shannon! We have two wonderful deacons at our church who knew your husband well. My vote had to be for Stephen!
Voting day is here again!
What can we learn from these two saints? Care for our neighbors in need, protect those in danger of persecution, give your all to the Jesus Movement and your executor's eyes will pop out. I'm voting for the protomartyr.
Must say I am intrigued by Alban's story but come on, how could I possibly vote against Stephen?
It seems a lot of Stephen voters aren't commenting, but Stephen really is ahead, so far. Poor Alban. It seems the SEC could have pitted him against another martyr also not in the Bible. I'm sure there's a bunch!
My youngest son is Zachary Alban, so the British protomartyr has to get my vote, although both are such wonderful inspirations for me to live life full and love with all that I am. Our National Cathedral, of course, towers over our Nation's capital from Mount St. Alban.
One of my favorite Monk's was named for Alban. And the story of giving giving Sanctuary and standing up for the hunted and persecuted is compelling. But because of my favorite Deacon (and dad) I must vote for Stephen!
As a member of St. Stephen Episcopal Church for over 40 years, I've got to go with Stephen. I greatly admire Alban's sacrifice and steadfastness in the face of death for a recently acquired faith. It seems that both died for defying civil and ecclesiastical authority that was hostile to their faith. It's still an issue.
Bless you, Don! I know how much St. Stephen's meant to you! I, too , vote for Stephen (one of my favorite names) and a fellow who, even in death, at least kept his head and forgave others!
Stephen because my grandson carries his name.. He missed being born on St. Stephens's birthday by 9 days.
Oh, if the camera wasn't watching, I'd vote twice...once for each. But Alban it is.
Stephen was a bit of a hothead - he gets my vote! My first Children's Bible had a picture of him being stoned - it was quite a dramatic etching, which, at age 7, I colored...
I'm Irish - so St. Stephen it is! I'm also an ordained minister and I LOVE the fact that Stephen embodies that whole "if you preach the truth of the Gospel - you better preach it with your bags packed." GO Stephen!!!
Much as I, an old hippie who used to smoke weed up in the mountains, appreciate the first Christian to get stoned, I'm going with Alban because the boys' school on the close of Washington Cathedral, with which I had fond associations long ago, was named for Alban.
Thanks for making me smile this morning. I'm a bit surprised you didn't choose St. Stephen for being the subject of a Grateful Dead song.
In and out of the garden he goes ...
That'sounds why I voted for Alban!
Not to mention to town of St. Albans, where there is also an abbey, just outside London. Hi, Alison!
Lent Madness is off to a roaring start--are all the match ups going to be this challenging?? Rolling head eye popping drama aside, I have to vote for Stephen--my husband has debilitating headaches, so now I know who to pray through! (And besides this could make for a fun kitsch round). Stephen is the first Deacon, have a soft spot for Deacons.
When I was little, I thought our church was called St. Stephen's because we had so many (3, but again, I was little) Stephens or Steves in the congregation.
Thanks for Lent madness once again oh Great and Wise SEC! One of the many good things i found in the USA when i lived there and brought back here to the UK> And being a Brit, had better vote for Alban. I have to say I particularly liked him being protective about people who he didn't share his faith. There's a lesson there somewhere
I'm voting for Alban because he is also the patron saint of refugees. I'm surprised the description of his martyrdom didn't include that tidbit.
I thought for sure I would vote for Stephen, so I read the biography of Alban first to give him a good chance. I was captivated! I especially like the chain of conversions -- the hidden priest bringing Alban to the faith and then God's acts on Alban's behalf convincing the executioner. To the SEC: This was a VERY HARD BEGINNING for Lent Madness 2017. Well done!
This was my path also!
Stephen's examples warns us to be wary of being complimented on a "great sermon this morning.". LOL
I planned to vote for Stephen. This morning I awoke with a terrible headache. Then I read that Stephen was known for curing headaches and that cinched my vote for him.
Obviously, nobody wants to vote against a martyr. I feel the Supreme Executive Committee has really put us in a bind on this one, and it's only Ash Thursday! I went with Alban, though, because of that spring and the parting waters... I mean, Stephen was probably a great guy, but it's hard to beat miracles like Alban's. Plus, extra credit for popping eyeballs!
St Stephen is the subject of an excellent Grateful Dead song and was the first saint to get stoned? No contest--and don't overlook the Grateful Dead connection when researching swag!
"'Talk about your plenty, talk about your ills,
One man gathers what another one spills"