Congratulations! You’ve officially made it through the first matchup of Lent Madness 2022. And, like a slow rolling Lenten train, the battles just keep on coming. Today it’s Olaf vs. Kateri Tekakwitha as we pit an 11th century Norwegian king against a 17th century Native American saint. It’s called Lent “Madness” for a reason, after all.
In yesterday’s Opening Day matchup, amid heavy voter turnout, Stephen outlasted Wenceslaus 54% to 46% to become the first saint to make it to the Saintly 16. When last seen, Wenceslaus was overheard demanding someone, “Bring me flesh and bring me wine.” We wish him well.
The first day of Lent Madness 2022 also found the Supreme Executive Committee having to deal with some voter fraud (seriously). At 10:30 pm we removed approximately 600 votes from Wenceslaus, all from a single address. This wasn't enough to tip the scales, but is a good reminder to vote once or face being banned to the outer Lent Madness darkness where there is weeping, gnashing of teeth, and no brackets. Be passionate, vote once, don't be a jerk.
Note that tomorrow is the ONLY weekend battle of Lent Madness 2022 as Mesrop Mashtots takes on Madeline Barat. From then on, Lent Madness will only take place on the weekdays of Lent. Now go vote!
Olaf
Olaf II Haraldssön, also known as Olaf the Stout, was born in 995 of royal lineage. In his short 35 years of life, he was able to unite Norway and help spread Christianity across the land. Olaf’s early years were spent leading small bands of raiders in various conflicts against Danes. In one of the conflicts, he and his men are said to have brought down the London Bridge (thus inspiring the children’s song we all know and love). In 1013, Olaf was staying with Richard II of Normandy and was converted to Christianity. He was baptized by Richard’s brother, the Archbishop of Normandy, Robert the Dane. Shortly thereafter he experienced a call to return to Norway to unite it under Christianity.
He returned to Norway and brought nobles together under his leadership and became king of Norway in 1015, a position he held until 1028. He then proceeded to establish Christianity among the people using missionaries from England. His methods of conversion led to unrest in his subjects that would ultimately lead to his loss of power. Prior to losing his throne, he did manage to establish his Religious Code in 1024 and insisted that all laws be Christian laws. The brute enforcement of these laws, however, further weakened his power. In 1028, he was forced to abdicate the throne, and he fled to Russia.
The following year, he felt the call to reclaim his position and built an army to take back the throne. He was killed in 1030 in an ensuing battle. Tales of miracles abound about Olaf in that final battle and in the area around his burial place. These led to the exhumation of his body. When his grave was opened about a year later, it is said that the body smelled sweet, and his hair and nails had grown longer. He was quickly remembered as a saint and was one of the last saints to be canonized by both the Eastern and Western Church prior to the Great Schism.
His canonization inspired many of the Norse to convert to Christianity. To this day, he is a symbol of Norwegian independence and pride. After Mary, he is the most commonly depicted saint in medieval Norwegian art. His feast day is celebrated on July 29.
Collect for Olaf
Almighty God, you have surrounded us with a great cloud of witnesses: Grant that we, encouraged by the good example of your servant Olaf, may persevere in running the race that is set before us, until at last we may with him attain to your eternal joy; through Jesus Christ, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Kateri Tekakwitha
“The narratives surrounding Saint Kateri are fascinating and, at times, contradictory,” writes Yakama scholar Michelle M. Jacob of Kateri Tekakwitha, the first Native American saint recognized by the Roman Catholic Church. That might be an understatement.
Kateri Tekakwitha’s story is best known from the narratives of two Jesuit priests who knew her, Pierre Cholenec and Claude Chauchetiere. According to the priests, Tekakwitha was born around 1656 to a Mohawk father and Algonquin mother in what is now Auriesville, New York. Four years later, she was orphaned by the smallpox epidemic.
Tekakwitha survived the disease, but it left her face disfigured and her eyes sensitive to light. She hid her face and shielded her eyes by veiling her head with a blanket. She was baptized when she was about 19 years old after Jesuit priests came to her village.
At her baptism, she took the name Catherine—or its Mohawk approximation, Kateri—from Saint Catherine of Siena. In the priests’ telling, her community didn’t take kindly to Kateri Tekakwitha’s newfound faith, and she soon left for a Jesuit mission south of Montreal called Kahnawake. At the mission, Kateri Tekakwitha famously asked the question, “Who will teach me what is most agreeable to God so that I may do it?” She also engaged in severe and disturbing penances, which likely accelerated her death at age 24 in 1680.
Native Christians have, in recent years, offered varying stories about Kateri. Mohawk historian and author Darren Bonaparte points out that the priests ignored that Kateri Tekakwitha was “a part of her culture, and a valued one at that.” She has the distinction of being the first weaver of wampum belts mentioned by name in recorded history. Jacob, the Yakama scholar, explores ways Native Christians continue to claim and be inspired by Kateri Tekakwitha.
For many, the saint “transforms Catholicism and provides Indigenous peoples and their allies with meaningful ways to center Indigenous culture within their spiritual practice”—a form of decolonization.
Kateri Tekakwitha was canonized in 2012. She is considered patron saint of the environment and of people in exile, and her feast day is celebrated on July 14.
Collect for Kateri Tekakwitha
Almighty and everliving God, who opened the heart of Kateri Tekakwitha to receive the Good News of Jesus Christ and to devote her life to your service: Grant us the same zeal of devotion to persevere in faith through the trials and tribulations of our lives, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
198 comments on “Olaf vs. Kateri Tekakwitha”
Kateri for me, despite one of the more skimpy bios I can recall. What were her attributed miracles? Was she tortured to accept Christianity?
Not getting anywhere with a power-hungry, brutal conquerer forcing religion on his reluctant people. Good intentions horribly expressed, Olaf.
All in all, a depressing matchup highlighting the ugliness of the early Church.
Unless the Catholic church has changed its criteria for canonization, a person does not make the official roster without having some verified miracles attributed.
See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kateri_Tekakwitha#Miracles
These are Saints? This is Madness!
You are so right!
I was brought up to aspire to sainthood, official or not.
The commentary on Kateri says that she “transforms Catholicism and provides Indigenous peoples and their allies with meaningful ways to center Indigenous culture within their spiritual practice.” If Indigenous people feel she helps them with decolonization, I'm not going to argue with them. Sometimes a saint who suffered a lot helps people find a way through their own suffering. So I am voting for her.
Olaf already has things that honor him, like a US college and a cartoon character in Frozen (LOL). Kateri it is!
Although readily identifying with anyone called “the Stout”, life under Olaf’s Christian reign sounds marginally more unpleasant than under the Jesuits. In addition Kateri is a brave woman and she’s a Canadian so Americans will not have heard of her. I stand by both women and the true north strong and free!
I’m an American and had heard of her well before her previous appearance in Lent Madness. Plus our local Roman Catholic Cathedral (St. Mary’s, Portland, Oregon) has a stained glass window of her in the traditional dress of her tribe.
As one who is 'stout', I was ready to vote for Olaf, but Katari gets my vote for creating wampum belts and being the saint of the environment.
I can't vote. In the third year of Education for
Ministry and tired of Christianity as battle and empire. I can't vote for a saint who tortured herself to the point of death.
Although self torture is not to be encouraged, as a survivor of incest and a former cutter, I would like to appeal to those who refuse to hold up St. Kateri. In the mind and heart of the self abuser, their abuse is an attempt to rid themselves of the “evil” that they have internalized at a very young age. It is extremely difficult to overcome. Have compassion on Kateri and marvel at her ability to embrace Christianity, knowing that it did not negate her cultural practices.
Your comment has persuaded me to vote for her. Thank you
In spite of my Scandinavian background, I voted for her, too...
Congratulations on being able to kick the cutting habit. That is a really tough one to break. Well done!
Thank you for posting this persuasive argument, Carol. God bless you.
There are many examples of saints who practiced self-mortification of the flesh. It's not so common today, but we are talking about an earlier time.
I applaud people who chose not to vote. I wish I’d thought of that option. I’m not sure either saint is an example I’d like to follow in my own path. Like I taught my students this week, part of responsible decision making is getting the facts and information before making a decision.
I agree with you, Christie. I do not wish to emulate either of these saints.
For me, in the midst of all the unrest going on in our world Olaf reuniting a country helped make my decision.
St Olaf has enough accolades. After all, Rose Nyland (Betty White in GOLDEN GIRLS) was from St Olaf. But that just wasn't enough to tip the scale. Kateri has my vote
Violence seems to be the order of the day for these saints. Olaf seems to be of the might makes right school, while Kateri was violent only to herself. Besides, her feast day is celebrated on my birthday so I have to vote for her.
Having visited Auresville, NY as a child, and being a native New Yorker, this was a no-brainer. Besides, I did have a Sister Kateri, a Josephite nun as my sixth-grade teacher at Nativity School in Bed-Sty. She was a tough cookie.
Although neither Saint seemed worthy, it never occurred to me not to vote. So I chose Kateri as patron saint of exiles and the environment. Both are in need of much saintly patronage.
Definitely two lesser known Saints. To keep relations strong with North Americans Kateri gets my vote. And as a tee shirt I have says “I shape history Every time I vote” so always want to be counted but only once ( a day).
Despite being a graduate of St. Olaf College (“Fram, Fram, Free”), I’ll pass on this one. Neither moves me…
I too was very tempted to abstain from voting today. But after reading the thoughtful biographical information (as opposed to what I could find on Wiki). I felt I should vote anyway.
Shouldn't that be "Um Yah Yah"?
Carleton '75
Not an easy decision today. Olaf forced Christianity on others with the sword and engaged in a war of conquest. I know times were different then but with war raging in Europe, again, I cannot vote for him. I am always concerned by stories of self harm, but voting for Kateri for her role in decolonisation, and as patron of the environment and exiles.
Netflix has a new series “Vikings Valhalla”. Pretty violent but portrays the conflict between Christian and Pagan. Christians do not come across as very Christian. There is a character named Olaf although I don’t think it’s our Saint of today’s matchup. Maybe an amalgamation of Norwegians of the day. There is a pretty realistic scene of the London Bridge coming down. Went with Olaf.
Remember, we are getting some facts and a lot of legend in the biographies. There is a great Cloud of Unknowing across all the brackets. I chose Kateri who represents those persevering while in exile.
Problematic candidates today. Olaf is, at this time in the world, a...challenging choice, what with his warmongering and all. I can also understand how Kateri would be bring discomfort to many Native Americans. She got my vote.
"Who will teach me what is most agreeable to God , so that I may do it"
thank you St. Kateri.
I agree with the comments regarding 'skimpy' information and can commiserate with those who have abstained from voting, however. . .
Though the info is less than compelling, I vote for the one who was 'compelled' rather than the one who was the 'compeller' knowing full well that she will likely not advance. As a member of St. Catharine (yep, with an 'a') parish and having a heart for the exile, I am compelled to vote Kateri.
PS I, too, am not receiving the emails. . . and fear my older computer has gone 'buggy' on me!
Can't support Olaf with forced conversions and war.
Interesting video on Youtube with images of Kateri...appearing much more beautiful without smallpox scars.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2KLrYdh9fY&list=PL58g24NgWPIzvBk2IQVES_xC4WTm6-CDI
In the priests' telling, her smallpox scars disappeared after her death, and she appeared radiant. But I have to save some things for the next round (fingers crossed!).
It's always bothered me that Kateri made patron saint of the environment. Her life and works should make her a great candidate to be patron of education for girls, perhaps, or those who struggle with self-harm...but the environment? What does that have to do with anything she did in life? It smells uncomfortably of a sort of outdated Pocahontas mysticism, where Native Americans are assumed to have a special bond with nature as a matter of course. Doesn't sit right with me.
That said, Kateri herself has a fascinating story, and deserves to be better known. I'll vote for her over a warmongering Norseman any day. (And I say that as a graduate of Stanwood High School and great lover of lefse. Oof dah!)
I originally planned to vote for Olaf, but the patron saint of exiles and the environment spoke to me, given the current situation in Ukraine. May God's peace be with all, and may we all be taught what is most agreeable to God so that we all may do it.
Thank you for this lovely benediction.
All so true - Amen!
Mary Beth
Well, information aside....my spouse is Norwegian heritage
( blonde hair, blue eyes, tall and thin so Stout is a mystery), David Creech who wrote the bio is at Concordia
College of which my spouse is a graduate, all Scandihoovians
from MN know Olaf College and the lovely Olaf choir SO,
I voted for Olaf ( Ah, peace in the valley and at home ).
John Cabot - I took your dare and wrote a Kateri limerick. In the new website, it now appears in "Older Comments" so if you want to see it go look for it. I have to say I liked the old website better where all the comments appeared in one long stream.
I saw it, and thank you for stepping up to the challenge, Kathy!
Out of 70+ comments, I only got 4. AM I being punished?
You probably are. (lol) Good to see you still have your sense of humor.
You may need to click on "older comments" to get the first set. Sounds like you just got the initial comments of the second set.
I vote, not for the Native American, but for the woman who went against her tribe/family to follow the dictates of her soul in a time that women were valued at less than the horses or cattle.
I find it interesting that we are judging people born hundreds of years ago by today's morals and standards. I hear condemnation, and rightly so, of small kings and dukes for the forcing of Christianity upon an entire nation yet I have yet to hear condemnation of Charlemagne or Constantine.
There was actually quite a stir up in that regard with Constantine last year (or was it the year before) when he was in the running...
Dear Marian, Just wanted to let you know, that although you are correct in saying that most Native American tribes were run by the men and the women were not valued, in the Iroquois Confederation of which the Mohawk were a member, the society was matriarchal and they traced heredity through the female line (matrilineal).
Haudenosaunee culture is not only matriarchal, but matrilocal, meaning under certain conditions, a man must leave his birth family to live with that of his wife. Women's perspectives were/are integral. They were instrumental in developing The Great Law. They are responsible for electing chiefs and choosing the men to represent in the Grand Council. Women are also the ones who depose leaders as well (among the Seneca). They are the property owners and inheritors. There's significant gender role complexity in Haudenosaunee law and culture, which is reflected in the complexity of The Great Law which values balance. (Little known fact, Benjamin Franklin was the colonial ambassador to the Haudenosaunee and brought back The Great Law as a template for the US Constitution. Of course, the wealthy, white men in power appropriated it and then twisted it out of all recognition. But we can see remnants of the Great Law's complexity in the Constitution. But I digress.) Suffice to say, Haudenosaunee women were/are highly respected and integral in their society; and Kateri Tekakwitha gets my vote.
Thanks Doug, you make me want to go back and read more about the Haudenosaunee culture and law.
Well, claiming my tenuous link to Danish heritage, I can never forgive Olaf for his crimes against the Danes. And as a proud uncle to two Native American nieces, I must support Kateri.
As a St. Olaf Alumni and a "stout" person, I was predisposed to vote for Olaf. But when you read Danish and English history, it's hard to get behind a Viking, even one carrying a cross. So I went with Kateri a vote for the "First Nation."