A Tuesday during Lent, can mean only one thing: time to cast a vote in Lent Madness! But first, some results. Yesterday, Eva Lee Matthews soundly defeated Hervé (and his little dog too!) 61% to 39%.
Today, the second of the four Elizabeths in the 2020 bracket makes an appearance, as Elizabeth of Hungary takes on Herman of Alaska. Will this 13th century Hungarian royal with the generous heart prevail? Or will it be the Russian-born 18th century missionary monk? Two compelling saints but, alas, only one will move on to the Saintly Sixteen.
In case you missed yesterday globe-trotting edition of Monday Madness (and if you did...for shame!), you can watch it here. In it, we gave a shout out to the good people of St. Stephen's in Terra Haute, IN, who have embraced Lent Madness with reckless abandon. Read an article in the local paper about their foray into the Saintly Smackdown, led by their pastor, the Rev. Drew Downs.
And if you have compelling stories or photos to share from your own context, please do send them our way. Now go vote!
Elizabeth of Hungary
Elizabeth of Hungary did not live long—she died at the age of 24 in 1231—but she left a powerful and lasting impression during her short life.
Elizabeth was born into the royal family of Hungary and promised in marriage to Ludwig IV, Landgrave of Thuringia, to cement a political alliance between the two noble families. Once she reached the age of fourteen, the two were married.
Two years later, Elizabeth heard the teachings of the Franciscan community. She was deeply moved by the Franciscan ideals and almost immediately began to put them into practice in her own life. She became known for dressing simply despite her royal station and for regularly baking bread in her estate and then distributing it to the local community.
Some in the royal entourage became suspicious of Elizabeth’s activities and accused her of stealing goods from the royal household. Legend says that on one day, Ludwig and his hunting party encountered Elizabeth. She had hidden bread in the folds of her dress to be handed out to those in need; Ludwig saw an opportunity to clear her name so he asked her to show what she was carrying. When she opened her arms, the bread was gone and instead her cloak was full of white and red roses—proof to Ludwig that she was doing God’s work.
When Elizabeth was twenty years old, tragedy struck when her husband died en route to the crusades. Given her relative youth, Elizabeth’s family was ready to match her in another marriage for political gain. Instead of the welltrod path of being used as a political pawn, Elizabeth took vows of celibacy and obedience to her confessor. She joined the Third Order of Saint Francis and used the funds intended for her dowry to build a hospital dedicated to Francis.
When Elizabeth died at the age of twenty-four, miracles were almost immediately attributed to her at her grave.
Elizabeth was so highly revered that she was officially declared to be a saint just four short years after her death, an acknowledgement of her tireless generosity toward the poor and ill. She is considered a patron to the Third Order of Franciscans, widows, exiles, and people experiencing homelessness.
Collect for Elizabeth of Hungary
Almighty God, by your grace your servant Elizabeth of Hungary recognized and honored Jesus in the poor of this world: Grant that we, following her example, may with love and gladness serve those in any need or trouble, in the name and for the sake of Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Herman of Alaska
Herman of Alaska was known for his Christian compassion, leadership, humility, personal warmth, and deep kindness. Although his birth name and details of his childhood are lost to history, Herman was born in the 1750s near Moscow.
Never ordained, Herman—his monastic name—joined a hermitage near St. Petersburg at sixteen years old and then transferred to Valaam Monastery to study with Abbot Nasarios. After taking vows, he happily lived the life of a hermit until he was called to join others for missionary work in Alaska, at that time owned by Russia. The area was a thriving trading post for sea life, animal pelts, and crops. In 1794, the missionaries established their base on Spruce Island, near the village of Kodiak. Herman chose to live a spartan life, sleeping on hardwood boards and eating little.
Herman was good to the native people, something his fellow Russians were not. He was shocked and saddened to witness the abuse of the Aleuts, the Native Americans living in the area, by the Russians and Europeans. Herman defended the rights of the Aleuts against many, including his own government.
Despite the hardships of low supplies and harsh weather, Herman and his monastic group preached the gospel throughout the Kodiak area, baptizing a reported 7,000. He was named head of the mission in 1807. Herman was well-known and well-loved, living among the Aleuts and being a participant in their everyday lives as a teacher of reading, writing, music, and catechism, and as a medic. During an 1819 epidemic, he nursed the people of the village—both Aleuts and Europeans—without thought about his own well-being.
In time, yearning for his solitude, he returned to the life of a hermit, but he never considered himself alone. “God is here, as God is everywhere,” he maintained.
Herman never left Alaska and died on Spruce Island in 1837. St. Herman’s Orthodox Theological Seminary in Kodiak is named in his honor. Herman, called the “Wonderworker of All America,” is remembered on November 15.
Collect for Herman of Alaska
Almighty God, who raised up your servant Herman to be a light in the world, and to preach the Gospel to the people of Alaska: Illuminate our hearts, that we also in our own generation may show forth your praise, who called us out of darkness and into your marvelous light; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
—Neva Rae Fox
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117 comments on “Elizabeth of Hungary vs. Herman of Alaska”
I'm still voting for everybody named Elizabeth in Lent Madness 2020, but Herman is a compelling saint indeed!
Herman gets our vote today! Go Herman!
I voted for Herman because of his care and concern for the treatment of the indigenous people of Alaska. At a time in Canada when many of those of us who are not indigenous North Americans are beginning to realize how much the indigenous peoples have suffered under colonial/settler regimes, Herman spoke to my heart. I realize that Elizabeth of Hungary, a better-known saint, will probably win hands down, but it's Herman for me.
St. Elizabeth turned her back on a life of riches and ease. Instead, she sacrificed all she had in order to serve the poor. The story of the roses, which I’ve always loved, is a bonus.
This is a difficult choice as both did good works and Elizabeth used her royal resources to help those in need. Not sure if I believed the miracle of the roses but It's a good story. However, as one who hates cold Canadian winters, my vote goes to Herman for surviving the bitter temperatures of Alaska and staying on to finish his work.
another tough choice . . . I voted for Herman because he lived a life of love and service to all in a way that honored God and left a lasting legacy, secure in God's presence and love (just checked out the seminary named after him - my faith was encouraged just visiting this website - https://www.sthermanseminary.org/)
Anyone who leaves the comfort of his own culture and works with indigenous people in a harsh and foreign land deserves respect, and he did it with such commitment and grace. Plus, "Herman" is the name of my favorite uncle who always shared what he had learned and what he had in wordly goods with others.
Elizabeth H gets my vote today just because I'd like to see 4 Lizzie in the Fina Four, but Thanks for the info on Herman. I always wondered about the Russian Domed church on Deadliest Catch
My second vote of the day for an Elizabeth
Me too!
Finally at the end of the day, I see what you did there! (I kept thinking of the queen.) Thank you! Me too!!! (in anticipation). You just made Tuesday super.
Saint to the homeless.... that clinched it for me.
This is a tough decision...on one hand you have Elizabeth who was 13th c. #MeToo who saw herself in the most impoverished vs. Herman who fought for Indigenous Peoples rights at the outset of colonialism in Alaskan frontier. One an upbringing in affluence vs. the other whose likely was abject poverty. While I want one for the ladies here, I'm voting for Herman whose 16th c. example shows us the Way as we navigate the coronavirus pandemic this Lenten season.
Well, somewhat to my surprise, Herman's in the lead. I confessed last week to a sympathy for hermits, and I served a year in the Army in Alaska, in Fairbanks. At first I thought, on the basis of my memory of winter in Fairbanks, that a hermit in Alaska would have a rough time in winter, but I notice Kodiak is considerably south of Fairbanks and on the sea coast, so winters there might not have been that bad. Plus, his advocacy of and work with the Aleuts is another selling point.
I never saw yesterday’s post . I kept looking but to no avail
Hard choice today - I love Herman's kindness and respect for the native people. But, as my grandmother was born in Hungary, I have to support my peeps. Elizabeth of Hungary it is.
Team Lizzie. I like Herman as well though. Tough call.
I visited Kodiak Alaska last September and toured both the chapel at the Institute and the Russian Orthodox church there. (Herman is interred at the front of the church.) I was overwhelmed by the beautiful icons in both places. Under any other circumstances I would have voted for Elizabeth.
I, too, went with Herman. Treating indigenous people as fellow human beings is an important witness, especially nowadays.
Elizabeth of Hungary for Lent Madness 2021!
I’d never heard of Herman but was captivated by his story, so I did a little research. His last decades when he returned to being a hermit ended up as being more outgoing than he likely anticipated! It sounds like people loved him so much that they couldn’t just leave him alone in the forests of Spruce Island. And he continued to work with them. He received visitors, especially indigenous people, on Sundays and feast days. He would preach on those days in the chapel that soon needed to be built at his hermitage, along with a guesthouse and a school, where he taught.
Many fans of Lent Madness esteem "active" saints more highly than "contemplative" saints. Herman is both!
Although I find Elizabeth lovely too. Who knows what more she would have achieved had she been graced with a longer life. I'm glad Herman was.
Love this, Barbara!
How could the Elizabeth bio NOT have mentioned that Elizabeth of Hungary, who became Elizabeth of Thuringia, lived in the Wartburg Castle 300 years before Martin Luther translated the New Testament from Greek into German there?!
I have a poster in my office of the chalk drawing of the depiction of Rosenwunder der hl. Elisabeth from the Wartburg Castle which I got on a trip there with my father, a church historian, in 1982. Go Elizabeth!!!
Herman, for his selfless work with the indigenous people of Alaska.
Thanks for this fascinating pair of saints today! I've always been a fan and almost in awe of Saint Elizabeth of Hungary; however I did not know about Saint Herman and found his experience and story most compelling. He seemed to embody what is best in the missionary endeavor showing profound respect and love for the native peoples of Alaska. Also his feast day, November 15 is my birthday! Wishing everyone a holy Lent. David, parishioner of All Saints' Church, Peterborough, New Hampshire
I love the urgency of Herman of Alaska’s prayer:
From this day, from this hour, from this minute, let us strive to love God, above all, and fulfill his holy will.
Saint Elizabeth is also the patron of bakers so it's fair to say she's the patron of pizza and calzones! Plus, she was so crafty, she qualifies as a patron of sewing, needlepoint and quilting, imo. She reminds me of Our Lady of Guadalupe too, since they both opened their robes and dressings to reveal miraculous sights!
I'm going against my own bracket and voting Elizabeth. When I read about them in the Saintly Scorecard, I was Team Herman. But, today I saw that Elizabeth was a Third Order Franciscan. In honor of my friend and fellow parishioner Bonnie, who got our church to tear up part of our parking lot to make room for a refugee garden, and who also is Third Order, Elizabeth for the win!
Thanks for that mention of a "refugee garden." I had to Google the phrase, and learned that there is at least one, right in central Phoenix. https://northcentralnews.net/2019/home-garden/garden-offers-refugees-camaraderie-purpose/
My fourth grade class is studying the upcoming Iditarod in Alaska (so I thought they'd vote for Herman), but the bread-to-roses miracle swayed them to vote as a class for Elizabeth!
I find it hard to pick and choose between such worthy candidates every day. Although all of us Christians are called saints of God, it is inspiring to read the stories of those amazing and humble saints doing their part in serving our Maker.
The 1918 'plague' was influenza, the 'Spanish' flu that decimated the whole world. Worst hit were soldiers fighting WWI, probably in deplorable conditions, but it is worth paying attention to that flu, as the latest coronavirus (Covid-19) is at this point pretty similar in its global influence, though very fortunately nothing like as deadly. I'm sure St Herman wasn't the only monk/minister/missionary/evangelist working with sufferers in the 1918 flu, but in honour of those working very hard now to keep Covid-19 from going down the same trail, Herman seems the one to vote for!
Oops--I have numbers dyslexia, apparently! 1819, not 1918. Even so, my sympathies are with those caring for the ill, at the moment!
Have to go for Herman. My stepmom was a native Aleut—1908-2008–sweet caring loving.
Lovely to make the acquaintance of Herman today. He wins my vote for recognising and upholding the rights of indigenous peoples, and for balancing the active and contemplative life.
I thought the E'beth from Hungary spelled her given name with an "s": Elisabeth. We gave our first-born this name and spelling because of this saint. Live and learn! Sigh...