We're back for the first full week of saintly thrills and spills! Today we get our first matchup in the Mostly Modern quadrant as Anna Alexander faces Peter Claver. Of course it's all relative -- Anna lived in the 19th century and Peter straddled the 16th and 17th centuries. But what's a few hundred years among friends?
On Saturday, Quiteria the nonuplet warrior defeated Genesius in a fairly close battle 54% to 46%. She will go on to face the winner of Thomas à Kempis vs. Maria Skobstova in the Saintly Sixteen.
For those of you who filled out brackets in advance, is it already busted? Or maybe a saint you really wanted to win has lost, causing you to lose all faith in humanity -- or at least in the Lent Madness voting public. Just a reminder -- it's not really about which saints win or lose (they've all received their Golden Halos) -- it's about encountering Jesus through the inspiring lives of those who have come before us in the faith. So buck up! And live to vote another day.
Anna Alexander
Anna Alexander was the first African-American Deaconess of the Episcopal Church. Deaconess Alexander was born around 1865 on Saint Simon’s Island in Georgia. Her parents, James and Daphne Alexander, were well-educated and emancipated slaves. Her father, James, believed education was the path to a better life for the people on the plantation, and he continued to teach Anna and her siblings in defiance of Georgia laws that forbade the education of slaves.
James and Daphne Alexander instilled in their daughter a strong belief in shared and communal responsibility and the idea that change occurs in the relationships built within our communities. As a result, Anna is credited with establishing an Episcopal church and school in Pennick, Georgia. The community initially met in an abandoned farmhouse and then in an old store, where they converted the whiskey counter into an altar. Faced with antiquated diocesan and societal laws, Anna’s mission church struggled financially, and Anna took up sewing, teaching, and other jobs to raise money to purchase land for a permanent church and school. Through her community relationships, she drew upon the financial support of her fellow brothers and sisters. Through their combined efforts, they were able to build the Good Shepherd Episcopal Church and school.
At a Convention for Colored Episcopalians in 1907, Bishop C.K. Nelson named Anna a deaconess. During the time of her diaconate, it was virtually unheard of for a woman to be recognized as a leader in the church—especially an African-American woman. Anna’s hard work, devotion, and dedication to the Christian formation of black communities ensured that the voices of African-American Christians were heard throughout the Diocese of Georgia. Deaconess Alexander felt that anger about how society treated women and African-Americans was a wasted emotion and believed she could change her community through education and love. She exhibited this love through a devotion to Christian formation. Deaconess Alexander offers us an example of a life of faith rooted in a boundless love of others.
Deaconess Anna Alexander’s feast day is September 24.
Collect for Anna Alexander
O God, you called Anna Alexander as a deaconess in your Church and sent her as teacher and evangelist to the people of Georgia: Grant us the humility to go wherever you send, and the wisdom to teach the word of Christ to whomever we meet, that all may come to the enlightenment which you intend for your people; through Jesus Christ, our Teacher and Savior. Amen.
Peter Claver
Times of great evil are often opportunities for profound witness to the love of God. The deep evil of the transatlantic slave trade was just such a time, and it was into that moment in history that Peter Claver, SJ was born in 1580.
During studies in his home country of Spain, Peter joined the Society of Jesus. The Jesuits sent him out to be a part of their mission to the Americas. Peter encountered the horrors of the slave trade and through the tutelage of another Jesuit was introduced to ministry among the Africans who were being trafficked through the port of Cartagena, Colombia.
After being abducted from their homes in Africa, the victims of the slave trade became a commodity to their captors. They were packed inhumanely into ships, fed minimal amounts of food and water, and sailed across the Atlantic to the Americas. During the horrific journey, about a third of all African slaves died.
Each year, 10,000 slaves would arrive in Cartagena. As soon as a slave ship arrived, Peter descended into the hold—into the midst of the sickness, death, and suffering. He brought medicine, food, water, and words of comfort. As the slaves disembarked, Peter continued to minister among them. After six years of this ministry, Claver made his final profession as a Jesuit. He signed his name, “Peter Claver, slave to the Ethiopians [Africans].”
Peter continued his ministry among the slaves of Cartagena for thirty more years. In addition to his time in the port, he often traveled out to plantations so he could continue to care for the slaves.
During his four decades of ministry, Peter baptized at least 300,000 people. His ability to share the Good News of Christ was closely tied to his compassion and care for the physical needs of the victims of slavery. In considering the connection between preaching and service, he once said, “We must speak to them with our hands, before we try to speak to them with our lips.”
In the face of great evil and suffering, we may feel overwhelmed. Peter Claver reminds us of the profound difference that one person acting compassionately can make.
Collect for Peter Claver
God of grace and glory, we praise you for your servant Peter Claver, who made the good news known in Colombia. Raise up, we pray, in every country, heralds of the gospel, so that the world may know the immeasurable riches of your love, and be drawn to worship you, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
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308 comments on “Anna Alexander vs. Peter Claver”
This matchup made choosing so difficult that I think I am going to end up with a migraine, for which I blame the owners and operators of Lent Madness. I went with Anna, but I demand a re-run for Peter Claver, I don't care how you do it. Bump some other candidate out--one that's further down this year's line-up, and replace him/her with Peter. It looks like he's going to lose, and I can't stand it. I voted for Anna. First, because she set up her church in Pennick, which is the surname of an African-American woman I knew and respected when I was growing up. Seccondly, she set up the altar on the whiskey counter. (Is this the origin of the Methodist slur, "Whiskeypalians?" And finally, her parents' teaching her that "change occurs in the relationship built within our communities" reminds me why I joined and why I stay in the Episcopal Church. Not that you can't have this in other communities. It's just that there's less hectoring and more gentle encouragement amongst the Episcopalians.
Thank you, Cynthia. I echo every thought. Some of the choices are easy - here, I want to vote for both, and am disappointed that one will "lose" so early in the race. I will vote with the "change from within relationships". Education leading to change, with gentle encouragement - a good thought to hold and pray for.
Peter's actions spoke for his views on the slave trade, and they were very courageous actions indeed. He won my vote and deep respect for his bravey and humble service in the bleakest of existences. Those enslaved in the bowels of those hideous vessels had no choice. He chose to descend into the bowels of those vessels and brought the only hope and expression of love most of those slaves would ever experience again.
Peter was a true servant to Christ as he served "the least of these" with compassion and love; caring for and baptizing those that others considered chattel. Considering the time period and cultural mindset of his contemporaries, I find this particularly inspiring. Having said that, I would be neither surprised nor disappointed to see Anna win a hard-fought prize yet again. Very tough call.
I love Lent Madness and hate days like today. I am an Episcopal Deacon so immediately thought I would vote for Anna but then read about Peter. I had to vote for him but wish there was a two vote rule so I could have voted for both of them.
Tough call, but voted for Anna
Anna's ministry lives on in the Diocese of Georgia. More information: http://deaconessalexander.georgiaepiscopal.org
Thanks for sharing this. St. Simon is a very special place for my husband and I, and we spent many a Holy Week there when we were first married. I've never heard this story before and it's touched my heart. Really appreciate having these more recent Saints included in the Madness.
Tough call. Both saintly for sure.
Peter baptized all those folk following Catholic dogma. They didnt speak the same language.Undoubtedly, Peter was feeding the sheep but the legacy of Anna's educational focus and awareness of the transformative power of community earns my vote.
I agree.
Hard one!!! But in the spirit of celebration of strong African women (albeit fictional) characters in Black Panther, I vote for the strong woman, descendant of Africans, and am thankful for Peter, the calling valient ally!
Anna got my vote today!
My sister usually votes for the saint I have not chosen. To me, this is not a cancellation, but a way for me feel satisfied when both candidates are so worthy. Today, I say, “Go, Anna”.
The last two lines for Peter Claver is just what we need to hear right now - "In the face of great evil and suffering, we may feel overwhelmed. Peter Claver reminds us of the profound difference that one person acting compassionately can make." Love wins!
I agree with you 200%, Hill! Peter’s story is exactly what we need to hear these days. I look forward to hearing more from you!
Hard choice between two well serving saints but, in the end I must choose Anna as those of differing races are under represented.
Y'all made this a difficult choice but Anna's feeling that anger is a useless emotion did it for me. She would have known that angry mobs marching around with silly hats on their head do nothing to further a cause. I think she and MLK would have gotten along just fine too. September 24 is now marked on my calender!
Wow, Carol, you don’t think the Women’s March accomplished anything? I respectfully disagree. It was a huge statement for nonviolent action for peace and justice. There was not a single incident of violence nor any arrest that day. I actually think that Martin Luther King, Jr. Would have been right there at the front of the march that day.
Totally agree. Trying to think of "silly hats." KKK hoods are a sign of terrorism. Red baseball caps made in China with demagogic slogans are a degradation of democracy. The tiki torch Proud Boys sported polo shirts but no common headgear. All I can think of is the marvelous pink pussy hats that women and girls knitted for the largest demonstration in American history, which, as you point out, was entirely peaceful. From discalced nuns and kitten heel pumps to coifs and whimples and knitted cats' ears for protesting in the public streets. The great cloud of witnesses includes a lot of powerful women. Giving thanks for both Anna and Peter today and for creative acts of resistance against injustice.
Oh yes yes yes! So proud of my son, the lawyer, who donned a "silly hat, several times, and went out and marched.
Hello again, Donna! Good for your son! My daughter marched as well.
And St. Celia, KKK hoods and MAGA caps--love it. I'm planning to march myself in another Women's March this Wednesday--against gun violence and for new legislation to combat America idolatry of weapons.
Susan, I wish I knew when/where there were ging to be marches — I'd be there!
March for our Lives marches set for 3/24/18:
http://act.everytown.org/sign/march-for-our-lives
Thank you St. Cecelia!
The way I read the story, he did not openly oppose the institution, which would have been a losing battle in that time and place. He still deserves honor for respecting the humanity of the slaves and trying to help them.
And Thank you St. Celia as well. What a day this has been of twisting names and facts around. So sorry.
This was am extremely tough choice for me. I loved them both, but Anna’s refusal to be bitter speaks of a very strong Christian faith. Faith that all can be reached. Also, in honoring Anna we are also honoring the good example of her parents.
Unfortunately my email will no longer enable me to post replies, so I'll continue to vote (once only each day) and follow from a distance.
Peter Claver was ahead of his time and knew that we are all God's children, even those born into slavery. He did more than speak out against slavery, he descended into the hold of the ships full of sickness to minister to the slaves. One vote for Peter. Down with a "slaver" up with the Claver.
A tough one today. But living in the South I had to go with Anna. Talk about ahead of her time, she and MLK Jr. would have gotten along splendidly I imagine!
A very hard choice but w/o Peter to do the work with the first slaves Anna might not have been able to help her people..
Inspired by Anna who thought anger was a wasted emotion and dedicated herself to education and love. A great example for us in our angry and divisive culture. She gets my vote, but its a tough choice.
Anna Alexander's ministry really resonated with me. Through promoting education, she brought change. While I admire Peter for his care to those individuals he met, the slave trade continued for hundreds of years more.
I'm from Georgia and St. Simon's is beautiful and was rugged in those days. I'm with Anna!
Once again, an evil choice. I went with Anna, but Peter’s story was exactly what I needed to hear right now as a work through my anger and frustration at the events in Florida Ash Wednesday and the never ending cycle it seems to be a part of.
I’m so grateful to learn of these two saints, and, at the same time, I wonder about the line, “Deaconess Alexander felt that anger about how society treated women and African-Americans was a wasted emotion..” Scripture is full of holy men and women with righteous anger. It seems to me that the emotion is only wasted if it’s misdirected and not channeled into change. We can act with great love and be angry at the same time. Didn’t Jesus?
I would have like more from Peter Claver. His compassion is admirable but did he testify to the degrigations of slavery and the enslavement of these people. Other than converting the enslaved why not convert the “Slavers”. And I wonder if I’m imposing my 21st Century values upon a compassionate priest from the 1500’s.
I voted for Anna.
Testifying to the degradation of slavery would have been a more compelling story.
I was Anna all the way until Peter was attributed with the quote, “We must speak to them with our hands, before we try to speak to them with our lips.”
I can't decide who gets my vote! Both are amazing examples to emulate. I am inclined to vote for Anna but am disturbed when we judge people in the past by modern day standards, especially when we have guaranteed freedom of speech. Peter pretty much descended into hell when he went down in those ships. I think his actions spoke louder than any words.
I am not able to choose between these two holy people.
How many of us have baptized 300,000 souls? How many of us, despite our opinion that slavery is terrribly wrong, have descended into the bowels of slave ships offering food, drink, and medicine? That's exactly what Jesus said to do... feed the hungry, clothe the naked, visit the imprisoned. Both are clearly outstanding people, but Peter has my vote all the way.
TJ and Steve said it
Well put!
You bring up such a great point. Can't even wrap my brain around baptizing 300,00 people especially in such a sad environment. Our baptisms are filled with such joy, we can only hope that these people experienced the joy of baptism as well.
Another lady & an Episcopalian deaconess at that. It's even Black History Month,
so Anna makes it today. Also a shout-out to my like a sister Anna Kelley, deacon, elder
& Methodist minister (ret)
Peter the slave to the slaves.