In yesterday's saintly action, Richard Allen defeated Hannah Grier Coome 61% to 39% to advance to the Saintly Sixteen, where he'll face William Wilberforce for a shot at the Elate Eight.
Today it's Dominic vs. Marina the Monk in this intriguing battle of monastics. The winner of this matchup will square off against Ignatius of Loyola in the next round.
Yesterday's contest is, to our mind, one of the best things about Lent Madness (besides the swag in the Lentorium): Two lesser known saints with fascinating backstories amplified under the warm glow of the purple lights, to our collective inspiration and edification. Plus, while she didn't win, the electioneering by the Sisterhood of St. John the Divine in Canada on behalf of Hannah Grier Coome was something otherworldly (she was one of their early leaders). We encourage you to like their Facebook page, where you can see the good work they're doing and watch the slick (okay, heartwarming) campaign video they produced on Hannah's behalf. Nicely done, good sisters!
Dominic
Born in Castille, Spain, in the twelfth century, Dominic became an Austin Canon (a priest following the rule of Saint Augustine) and lived in a religious community at the cathedral of Osma. In this role, he gained a reputation for both zealous scholarship and care for the poor. When forced to choose between the two, Dominic sold his books to help the infirm and needy.
As he moved up the church ranks, he traveled on diplomatic missions and in France, he met Cathars, members of a religious sect deemed heretical by the Roman Catholic church. Dominic understood that the only way to convert the Cathars was with missionaries who were both intellectually strong and living under a vow of poverty.
To that end, in 1215, he established the Order of Preachers in Toulouse, France, to supply the church with learned clergy who could travel two-by-two throughout Spain, France, and Italy. The newly founded Dominican Order had a democratic structure with superiors occupying positions of power for short terms. Support from several bishops as well as the pope were critical in Dominic’s success. By design, the Order of Preachers was also closely linked with universities all over Europe. Though he never converted the Cathars, the Dominican Order and Dominic’s ministry has transformed people throughout the ages.
Dominic died in Bologna in 1221 at the age of 51, worn out by his hard work, travel, and austerities. True to his vow of poverty, he was known to fast, wear threadbare clothing in winter, and refuse a bed. Iconography often shows Dominic with a lily, holding a torch, and with a black-and-white dog, which in Latin is a pun of the name domini canes (Dog of our Lord). He is the patron saint of astronomers because when he was baptized, his mother saw a star shining in his chest.
Although several Dominican friars became associated with the Inquisition, Dominic died before it began. However, the Spanish inquisitors had a painting made of Dominic as a sort of anachronistic justification of their actions, and Protestants ran with the characterization, using it to criticize the Dominicans of their day.
Collect for Dominic
Almighty God, Grant unto all your people a hunger for your Word and an urgent longing to share your Gospel, that like your servant Dominic we might labor to bring the whole world to the knowledge and love of you as you are revealed in your Son Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Marina the Monk
Before Joan of Arc led the French army to victory, Marina the Monk shaved her head and entered the monastery.
The details of Marina’s life are sketchy, but it’s generally believed she lived in the fifth or eighth centuries in Lebanon. Her mother died when she was young, and she was raised by her devout Christian father, who planned to retire to the Monastery of Qannoubine after she was married. When she was old enough to marry, Marina asked her father why he would save his own soul and “destroy” hers. He answered, “What shall I do with you? You are a woman.”
She immediately shaved her head, dressed herself in men’s clothing, and took the male name Marinos.
Seeing his child was serious, Marinos’ father was supportive, and the two entered the monastery together, sharing a cell there until he died. After that time, Marinos lived an increasingly ascetic life of fasting and prayer.
But that’s not what the monk is most remembered for.
Some time later, Marinos was traveling on business for the monastery and spent the night at an inn. The innkeeper’s daughter was raped, and when she became pregnant, her abuser told her to name Marinos as the child’s father.
The abbott confronted Marinos. Because the monk did not immediately offer a defense, the abbot took it to be an admission of guilt and forced Marinos to leave the monastery.
Marinos remained at the gates, living as a beggar and raising the child born to the innkeeper’s daughter. A number of years passed before the monks convinced the abbot to allow Marinos to return.
Marinos died at age forty after a brief illness. While preparing the body for burial, the monks were shocked to discover Marinos could not have fathered the child.
Unlike Joan of Arc, Marinos was not dismissed as a heretic or witch. Rather, all reportedly were convicted of how unjustly they had treated the pious monk. Another monk who was blind in one eye even claimed he miraculously recovered his sight during the funeral prayers.
Collect for Marinos
Teach us, Lord God, to refrain from false judgments about the sins of others, and to hold fast to our path of discipleship when we suffer unjustly because of judgments made by others. All this we ask in the name of Jesus Christ, our only mediator and advocate. Amen.
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208 comments on “Dominic vs. Marina the Monk”
Voting as usual with my heart - for Marina/Marinos - and before looking at the comments, I was shocked and surprised Dominic wasn't in the lead. And of course I have to say thank you to all for what I have come to consider my daily humbling - willingly assumed - before minds so much more theologically/historically enriched than mine.
Reading the thoughts, reasons and arguments of one saint over the other is one of the best things about Lent Madness. I love the poems and songs, but I am especially moved by people’s arguments for the saint of their choice. It gives me much to ponder before I vote. While I don’t believe I am actually swayed by the comments, they do serve to bolster my initial gut reaction. So, thank you, everyone, for your insightful posts. They are sincerely appreciated.
As for my vote, I’m going for Marina/os. She/he is obscure while Dominic has an entire religious order named after him. Somehow, it feels as if he’s already received his ‘halo’. Like others who treasure their books, I am impressed he sold his to care for the poor. However, giving up one’s books hardly compares to giving up one’s gender identity (I’m steering clear of the whole transgender issue), as well as giving up the food, lodging and community of the monastery to care for a child she/he was falsely accused of ‘fathering.’ As for sharing a cell with her/his father, we’re applying modern Western sleeping arrangements to an era where parents and children often all slept in one room. To me, Marina/os seems to have had a very selfless soul. Dominic, for all his virtues, had an agenda.
Yes, my vote is for Marina/os.
Well said, Caroline. I wholeheartedly agree, although I voted for Dominic.
I don’t find anything in Marinos’ story implausible. These are not the sorts of stories that typically get latched onto saints. There are no dragons, talking decapitated heads, food-carrying doves, etc. On the contrary, all the little bits of oddness ring true to life for me. I’m struck by how Marinos’ fellow monks begged the abbot to let him return. That says a lot to me about what kind of a person Marinos was. I wish the story had come down about what happened to the child after Marinos went back to the monastery, but I think we’re safe in assuming that Marinos would have made sure they were cared for somehow. I’m also impressed by how when Marinos’ secret was reveal in the burial preparations, the reaction of the whole monastery from the abbot on down was not, “Oh horror, a woman was living among us!” but “How terrible on our part that we misjudged this innocent person!” That speaks well for the monastery! There’s a lot of love going around in this very human tale. Alyssa put it so well: “Marinos is a wonderful saint who can be a hero for cisgender women, a hero for transgender people, and a hero for adoptive parents.”
Like! 🙂
I really dislike the fact that Marinos allowed a rapist to go freely out into the world. I admire the fact that Dominic put a lot of thought into the method most likely to convert the Cathars and implemented it. My wonderful experiences with Dominican Friars during my years at Providence College seal the deal for Dominic.
'@missjan Tom Monaghan, the founder of Domino's Pizza, was not cared for at an orphanage run by Dominican nuns. Rather he lived in an orphanage run by Felician Sisters. So Domino's was NOT named after Dominic.
My vote is for Marina the Monk.
I read some interview or article years ago about the origins of the name. Maybe the Felician Sisters had a Sister Dominica . . . ¯_(ツ)_/¯ . . . I just remember the name was inspired by one or more nuns.
Marina's story brought tears to my eyes. So much about society and gender identification is embedded in this brief account. Thank you for opening my eyes to this monk in drag. "We are all born naked, drag is what we put on every day." Ru Paul paraphrase...
I am rather shocked that Aquinas wasn't mentioned in the write-up, the renowned, premier theologian. Lent Madness is not into theology? I didn't expect Dominic to be applauded for the artistic masterpiece in Bologna--his sarcophagus. But that's part of of my voting rationale--plus my birthday is his saint's day 8/8.
Yes, as a lifelong bookworm, I can imagine how much of a sacrifice selling his beloved books must have been. But, like you, I voted for Marinos.
Agreed. There were many wonderful facets of Dominic and Dominican history left out. Although I’m sure being a celebrity blogger is not easy, especially writing for saints who really lived...
While I like Dominic, I have to vote for Marina, since my sister is named Marena.
(OK, it's spelled a little differently, but pronounced the same.)
A reluctant vote today for Marinos. I am struggling with the ascetic practices of early saints. I also suspect that the Order of Preachers may have attempted to suppress the cult of St Guinefort. Not Dominic's fault of course, but ...
"The Greyhound Saint." That is a discalced saint indeed.
Anyone but Dominic. I had Dominican nuns in elementary school in the dark days of the 50s. Just couldn't do it.
Yet another amazing story of gender bending ...
Trans Christians rock !
I voted for Dominic because selling one's books is a major sacrifice.
I was almost swayed by Dominic's dog pun, but Marinos the trans monk gets my vote today!
"Dominic sold his books to help the infirm and needy." That did it for me. Am currently trying to divest myself of books and more books. Very difficult, emotional, hate and resist it. Dominic inspires. Much to ponder and then act upon, I hope.
I can't help but shout out that I was the first vote recorded for Marina! Dominic was up 3-0 at the time so I like to think I turned the tide but statisticians no doubt would say otherwise.
For me, I didn't see living a lie near as much as I saw a young woman who not only wanted so much to be a Monastic and didn't wish to marry because of that but a daughter who cared about her father. Later when he grew older and eventually was dying she was then able to be there for him, show the famlial love he needed, as well as help, and care for him.
I am abstaining. I cannot get excited about either of these.
What are the reasons We are using all these Roman Catholic personages?
Probably because Anglicans were united with Roman Catholics for 1500 years.
And because Roman Catholicism continues to raise up holy people that merit our praise and veneration. Not to recognize them as we do our own only deepens the schism.
Yes, as a lifelong bookworm, I can imagine how much of a sacrifice selling his beloved books must have been. But, like you, I voted for Marinos.
Voted for Dominic, the patron saint of astronomers!(and scientists) Happy Pi Day! Also I like dogs, and that he sold his books to feed the needy.
In these times, I have to vote for Marina the gender-non-conforming monk.
St Marina, pray for our trans, nonbinary, intersex, and GNC siblings.
He sold his books!! That'd be soooo hard for me!
He sent missionaries by two, so "For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." Matthew 18:20 (KJV)
Dominic got my vote. I'm sad to see he's so far behind, but he definitely received one from me.
My vote went to Marina for accepting her "sentence" even though she didn't commit the crime.