Congratulations! You survived the very first day of Lent Madness 2019. Which is more than we can say for Mary of Bethany, who was bounced by her sister Martha 58% to 42%. Martha becomes our first saint to qualify for the Saintly Sixteen, where she'll face the winner of James the Greater vs. Nicodemus.
You should also congratulate yourself for having participated in a record setting day in the annals of Lent Madness history. Yesterday's sibling matchup received nearly 10,500 votes, with over 500 comments, and more page views than we've ever had on a single day (almost 39,000, for those keeping score at home). And, despite a few shaky moments, you didn't crash the server!
Today, in saintly action it's William Wilberforce, the 18th century English abolitionist and reformer, squaring off against Agatha Lin Zhao, Chinese Christian and educator.
Don't forget that tomorrow is the ONLY SATURDAY MATCHUP of Lent Madness 2019. After Ignatius of Loyola faces Tikhon of Zadonsk, voting will strictly take place on the weekdays of Lent, giving everyone a needed breather from the intensity of everyone's favorite online Lenten devotion.
William Wilberforce
William Wilberforce was an English politician who underwent a dramatic conversion experience and spent his life trying to abolish the slave trade in the British Empire.
Born in Yorkshire in 1759, he lived with his aunt and uncle for a number of years, who influenced him with their love of Methodism. However, during his years at St. John’s College in Cambridge, their religious influence waned, and he was known as a man about town, fond of “theater-going, attending balls, and playing cards.” The horror.
He decided to run for Parliament when still a student, based on the solid premise that his friend was also doing it and it seemed like fun. Wilberforce turned out to be good at politics, being persuasive and gifted with a great speaking voice, but his persistent disorganization and proclivity for lateness meant he wasn’t much of a powerhouse.
In 1785, Wilberforce had a conversion experience, and after a period of discernment, he decided to use his public position to spread Christian ideals and ethics. He began meeting with several other high-profile politicians in England who were concerned about the moral depravity of the slave trade. At the time, the so-called Triangle Trade contributed about 80 percent of British income that derived from trade. The group, which included William Pitt, Thomas Clarkson, and others, became known as the Society for Effecting the Abolition of the Slave Trade.
The group launched an intense and long-lasting campaign, with logo, pamphlets, and chapters that sprang up across the United Kingdom—effectively the first grassroots human rights campaign in history. Wilberforce’s group networked with abolitionists in France, Spain, Portugal, and the United States and brought together Quakers and Anglicans on the same cause for the first time.
Finally, after a long and difficult fight, Wilberforce and his society succeeded in banning the slave trade in the United Kingdom in 1807. Wilberforce continued lobbying and working for a total abolition of slavery. He received word that a total abolition law would be enacted three days before his death in 1833.
Collect for William Wilberforce
O Lord, reassure me with your quickening Spirit; without you I can do nothing. Mortify in me all ambition, vanity, vainglory, worldliness, pride, selfishness, and resistance from God, and fill me with love, peace and all the fruits of the Spirit. O Lord, I know not what I am, but to you I flee for refuge. I would surrender myself to you, trusting your precious promises and against hope believing in hope. Amen.
(-Attributed to Wilberforce)
Agatha Lin Zhao
Agatha Lin Zhao devoted her life to educating others about traditional Chinese culture, the world, and her faith. Ultimately, that commitment to education cost her life.
Early on, two conflicting commitments were made in Agatha’s life. Her parents had committed Agatha to be married to a young man whom they thought would help secure their family’s future. Meanwhile, Agatha had committed herself to serving God and the church.
Agatha’s parents were no strangers to the sacrifices of faith. Themselves Christians, Agatha’s father was in prison for refusing to renounce his faith when his daughter was born in 1817. When they found out about her commitment to God, her parents released Agatha from the betrothal. In the following years, Agatha pursued her education under her religious tutors, coming home at intervals to care for her parents.
At twenty-five, Agatha Lin Zhao took religious vows and was sent out as a missionary and educator. She proceeded to the frontier of Southern China, weaving together traditional Chinese culture and Christian faith as she taught in the local villages of the Hmong, Hmub, and Xong people (collectively known as the Miao by the Chinese).
Agatha did not see the Chinese culture of her childhood in conflict with her faith, but the Chinese authorities disagreed. Refusing to renounce her Christian faith, she was arrested and beheaded on January 28, 1858.
The work and sacrifice of Agatha Lin Zhoa was recognized as a martyr saint of China canonized by Pope John Paul II in 2000. She is remembered on February 19 alongside Anges Tsao Kou Ying and Lucy Yi Zhenmei.
Collect for Agatha Lin Zhao
Lord Jesus Christ, who willingly walked the way of the cross: Strengthen your church through the witness of your servant Agatha Lin Zhao to hold fast to the path of discipleship even unto death; for with the Father and Holy Spirit you live and reign, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
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234 comments on “William Wilberforce vs. Agatha Lin Zhao”
As soon as I can find a vote button (is this a problem just on iPhones?), I will vote for Agatha. What a brave lady. She was going out to teach others this wonderful thing she is found, and coming home and helping her parents, too. Mary and Martha!
Voted for Agatha. Both did important work in different ways. Wilberforce is well known, but she risked her life. International Women’s Day too.
Zhao - to me, to die for your faith is the ultimate
It was: “his persistent disorganization and proclivity for lateness“ that got my vote for William! God willing, there may be hope for me yet.
This was a hard one.
Wilberforce took on the powerful, and fought for a great cause, but he also lived in safety, comfort, and security. Agatha gave it all, lived in danger, and died for the faith. Go Agatha!
Having recently seen a screeningof the documentary Traces of the Trade, I must vote for Wilburforce. To see the dramatic effects slavery has had on generations of people and is still having, I so admire someone who spoke out so effectively as to actually effect a change to abolish that from which so many profitted! It is hard to go against the status quo, yet he did it. This was larger than slaying dragons in my book, maybe it was slaying a dragon of white priviledge. What dragons are there in our societty we must fight to stay true to Jesus’ teachings of love and equality?
Through the eyes of the European west, a white European male working to free slaves is certainly something to be upheld.
Through the eyes of ta non-European, non-colonialist-based, female, a women and her family upholding the Christian faith within their OWN community gets my vote. Why do we seem to honor dead white men helping "others". These are good saints, but is there an implicit (unrealized) bias towards a paternalistic, colonist point of view?
And now perhaps in contradict my words above, at a time when the current People's Republic of China's government (Han Chinese) are decimating the minority cultures, especially the Tibetian and Uyghurs my (double vote if that were allowed) goes to 聖林昭
"She proceeded to the frontier of Southern China, weaving together traditional Chinese culture and Christian faith as she taught in the local villages of the Hmong, Hmub, and Xong people (collectively known as the Miao by the Chinese)."
I voted for Agatha Zhaio in memory of my 8th grade Sunday School teacher, Mrs. John Magee and her husband, the Rev. John Magee who were missionaries in China for 20 years, prior to the Communist takeover.
More music to rattle around in my brain. Agatha wins with me due to the influence of a former priest that my children adored. TY Charlie.
Second hard choice day! Both were committed to others through Christ.
Indeed, there is the thought... go help the "other, over there" but ignore the problems at your own front stoop. How often are we convicted of this sin. Forgive us, our sins, by what we have done, and by what we have not done.
While recognizing the perils of armchair diagnosis, I see Wilberforce’s youthful immersion in distractions and “his persistent disorganization and proclivity for lateness” as strongly suggestive, if not a dead giveaway, of ADHD. If so, he would be an ideal patron for those of us with the condition. His life reflects our struggle with internal disorder, as well as the personal charm and the ability to think outside the box and, once focused, singlemindedly to “hyperconcentrate” that may attend ADHD at its best.
A web search reveals no designation by the Roman Catholic Church of a specific ADHD patron. There are only some references, reflecting a serious misunderstanding of the condition, to a number of saints (including Margaret of Cortona, concerning whom I shall have more to say on Monday) considered to be patrons of the “mentally ill.” So the field is open.
Thus, while much moved by Agatha’s holy life and her staunchly courageous death, this member of the ADD community and great-grandson of a slaveowner has cast his vote for the great WW.
I also said, "that sounds exactly like ADHD" and, oh so familiar. It would be great to have a patron saint. St. Dymphna comes to mind for overall mental illness. Anyone who fought against slavery has my vote. Well, I could also be a little biased, as my son's name is William. I appreciated learning about Agnes.
Dear SEC - It's Lent Madness X - still no "like" button?
Davis, your disavowal of being categorized as having a "mental illness," strikes this woman with chronic depression and anxiety as disappointing. Say more, please.
What I mean is that ADHD, at least as I experience and understand it, is a genetic trait with advantages and disadvantages. In our society, which values focus and achievement so highly, it’s increasingly a net disadvantage; but its prevalence in the gene pool, perhaps especially among men, suggests that for hunter-gatherers it may have been important to the survival of the troop. Imagine a hunting party of ten in which seven are fully intent on the spoor (and free to be so) while the other three, lacking a static filter, notice every sound off in the bushes such as a twig snapped by the errant paw of a sabertoothed tiger lying in wait for unsuspecting primates.
It’s also been suggested that the associated appetite for risk has produced many explorers, and that the missing filter leads to the “thinking outside the box” to which I referred. Armchair diagnoses have been applied to Leonardo da Vinci, Thomas Edison, and other creative geniuses.
The condition pretty clearly is a defect in physiological terms. The mechanism of ADHD seems to be a dopamine deficiency, which stimulants treat by inhibiting the reabsorption of what dopamine the system does produce and maybe also by stimulating increased production. ADHD is also associated with conditions such as substance abuse and dyslexia, as well as with certain physical deformities such as the dwarfed, crooked little fingers I inherited from my dad, an undiagnosed but I guarantee you raging case.
That’s why I prefer to characterize ADHD as a “condition” or “syndrome” rather than as an illness or even a disorder. I see it as a disorder only to the extent that it impedes functioning and in fact rather enjoy some of its other aspects. Another imperfect analogy would be to deafness which, as I understand it, some deaf people prefer not to treat.
So I disavow “mental illness” as a descriptor because I think it’s less accurate than those other terms. What it has in common with much mental illness, of course, is its amenability to treatment with drugs; but what differentiates it is the fact that it’s not altogether pathological, and the extent to which it is depends largely on the context in which it presents.
Does that help?
I've also heard non-neuro-typical or neuro-atypical.
My ADD is in my brain not my mind.
Agree.
Definitely have a Wilberforce earworm now. While I recognize the value of education and the work Agatha did, in light of folks still subjected to servitude here and around our world, Wilberforce gets my vote for his stand on this issue. Good to learn about Agatha, though.
A tough matchup. Agatha did great work and I am glad she is a saint. But I believe that Williams more worldly existence helped him accomplish his goals and create a more human world.
It’s hard on International Women’s Day, but I voted for Wilberforce, admiring and rejoicing in his turn-around and his ability to found and persevere in an international grassroots movement to end the slave trade in the UK.
Women of faith on International Day of Woman!
Difficult choice. But Zhao gets my vote. Her entire life and commitment to Christianity were lived in a very dangerous time, plus being a woman was an additional detriment for her. Her beliefs cost her her life. A note to the Lent Madness team: Call me silly but your artistic picture of Zhao could be improved if she resembled a Chinese woman, not a white woman in a Chinese dress. Peace.
See https://qoccatholic.org/chinese-saints-holy-cards/female-2/st-zhao-lin/
Hoping the SEC will use it when Zhao makes it through this first bracket; fingers crossed.
Only the second day and a really hard choice!
While I admire Mr. Wilberforce immensely, I voted for St. Agatha. As a student of comparative religions (long, long ago!), I understand and applaud her "weaving together traditional Chinese culture and Christian faith...." As St. Patrick did for the Irish.
My vote went to Agatha, first I think she is the more deserving of the two, not being a politician and all. Second it is international Woman's Day and she is after all is said and done a woman and we should honor all women living and dead on this day(well everyday would be best) and because I have a great Aunt named Agatha. Mostly however I think anyone who is dedicated to Christ enough to take vows, and forsake marriage is worthy of the Golden halo, we have to think ahead. Agatha was brave. Agatha was wise, Agatha lost her head for the Lord. Agatha!Agatha!Agatha! Agatha!
Agatha in honor of International Women's Day and her embodiment of what the day stands for -- strength, courage and perseverance.
Always difficult for me to make a choice in Lent Madness. Thank you for the education about Agatha who was unknown to me. Another thing about Wilberforce which bears mentioning is that he also fought for animal rights and was a co-founder of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA).
Amazing Agatha on World Women’s Day, clear vote as I see it ! Love this chance to learn and vote.
I voted for Agatha Lin Zhao not because she was a women, but because she did her mission with out a group to keep her going. She knew she was walking to her death as Jesus did but she still kept bringing the message to all she met as He did.
I think she followed Jesus' example of being an apostle better, and she died for it as she knew she would. God Bless her soul. We may all take a lesson of what faith it took to make her journey.
As our world keeps changing in front of our eyes may we find our way to follow the example of Jesus' life in some "small" ways each day.
I'm struck by the comments that people don't want to vote for an "old white man" who fought against injustice on behalf of "others" on distant shores because this effort was somehow colonialist. To put this into perspective, I offer this comparison: Paul Manafort was just sentenced to four years in prison for massive crimes against our system, whereas a black man was shot by police for selling single cigarettes on a street corner. Our judicial system is still riddled with structural inequity based on race and class. I would suggest that the movement Wilberforce was connected with is still operative today, on our shores, and that it is not yet complete. I would also suggest that justice is a Christian concern. I offer this New York Times piece from 1974 by Russell Baker as a companion piece to the saintly bios we have just read in order to supplement our Lenten meditations on the role Christians still have to play in achieving justice for all in our earthly sojourn.
https://www.nytimes.com/1974/09/14/archives/the-politicians-big-equaljusticeunderlaw-baloney-picnic-observer.html
We seem to think alike, again.
I just finished reading the Russell Baker piece. Thank you for finding it and for reminding us of his wisdom and gift of expression.
amen.
St Celia, thank you for posting this. I was getting a little tired of hearing the "old white men"
refrain. I am voting for Wilberforce.
Touché.
William Wilberforce has been one of my favorite saints for many years. And an outstanding movie about him, “Amazing Grace” in 2006, staring Ioan Gruffudd, Benedict Cumberbatch, Albert Finney, tells the story beautifully and gracefully. Wilberforce is my choice for the Golden Halo! Here’s a very human person, enjoying this life, and God uses him to change the story of human rights in Great Britain (and ultimately the world)! A miracle? Yes. But doesn’t He do that daily as we reach toward Him and use His gifts to effect love and justice in the world? Yes!
Your matchup make it difficult to choose. Great people , both of them
I graduated from Southern Methodist University with a minor in Human Rights. Agatha has a martyr’s robe, but William has my vote.
Hard choice today--I went with Wilberforce because he battled the powerful and rich.
Though I voted for William Wilberforce for his life’s work to abolish slavery, I was also pleased to learn about Agatha Lin Zhao and her faithfulness even unto death. We are indeed surrounded by a great company of witnesses!