🔥 The final matchup of the Elate Eight is here 🔥
And it does not get more blessed than this.
Under the banner of ora et labora, the man who taught the world how to monk, the one who has taken down two greats… it is Benedict of Nursia ⛪
But standing in his way is a saint of service. Under the banner of “for our lords the sick and the poor,” a model of care for all people regardless of background or creed. Having already taken down two monastics, he is going for a third… Blessed Gerard ✝️
A Benedictine medallion vs a Maltese cross
A rule of life vs a life of service
Two incredible saints, both bringing elite level kitsch.
You cannot go wrong… but only one can claim the final spot in the Faithful Four 👀
And they will join Constance and her companions, who marched into the next round like the ducks at the Peabody Hotel 🦆 (look it up trust us!) winning 61.23% to 38.77 over Peter
Watch the video, read the blogs, and VOTE 🗳️
Benedict of Nursia
There is no shortage of merchandise associated with Saint Benedict, whose influence inspired many aspects of religious life that remain influential today.
The obvious item associated with Benedict is the Saint Benedict Medal. There are a plethora of ways to use one: as a coin, jewelry, crosses or crucifixes, rosaries, prints, clothing, and more. Some glow in the dark to make sure the evil spirits stay far away no matter the hour.
Benedict is famous for the term Ora et labora which translates “pray and work”. Pray the caffeine helps you through work? I do not think that is quite what Benedict meant.
One of Benedict’s miracle stories in my last post touched many readers – the story of a man who asked Benedict for money, then received what he asked for (plus a bit extra) after Benedict prayed for three days. While real gold coins might be too expensive, there are always some gold chocolate coins.
Saint Benedict spent a considerable amount of time in prayer. While the tools we use today to help us focus when we pray might look different from the tools of Benedict’s day, perhaps a rosary or a prayer journal could help.
A monk named Romanus used to lower bread to Benedict in the cave. On Easter, Romanus decided to share his feast with Benedict. Benedict did not believe that was Easter. Maybe if Romanus had brought an Easter basket with a candy necklace, Benedict would have believed him and taken him more seriously.
A monk named Maur was told by Benedict to run to an area to save a boy’s life. He ran on water to rescue the boy. In honor of running on water, I thought some fun socks were in order. I know running on water with socks would not be fun, but they were too fun not to share.
A few of the monasteries Benedict initially founded stood on perilous cliffs. The monks complained about how difficult life was, especially because even obtaining something as basic as water was treacherous. Benedict told them not to worry. That night, he climbed the mountain, prayed for a long time, and then placed three rocks there. The next day, when they came to him, he told them to go to the rocks and start digging. When they arrived, the ground was already wet. I think Benedict would support building easier and cleaner water access to those around the world.
While all the Saint Benedict merchandise is fun and can serve as a useful aid, I think Benedict’s greater hope would be that it draws us closer to Jesus. As he says in Chapter 72 of his Rule, “Let them prefer nothing whatever to Christ, and may he bring us all together in everlasting life.”
— Sara Kay Hill
Blessed Gerard
One of the greatest miracles of Blessed Gerard’s is that when he was bringing food to those in need, he was stopped by hostile forces. They asked to see what he was carrying, and when he showed them, it was only stones. In depictions of Blessed Gerard, he is often shown gently touching the cross of Malta with one hand and holding a loaf of bread in the other. If this image is important to you, perhaps you’d like an hourly reminder of it, in which case, this watch may be of interest to you. What time is it? Time to care for the sick, friendless, and needy like Blessed Gerard.
If you are more of a person that likes to get their hands into the messy, hands-on learning of saints, there is this gluten-free bread recipe, which is marked with the cross of Malta, that Blessed Gerard wore upon his cape as he faithfully served the sick and poor.
For our visual learners, The Order of Malta has produced the first (only?) documentary about Blessed Gerard, and it is available on YouTube - Blessed Gerard: Warrior Without A Sword. In it, you can see the Hospital, and hear (in Italian, I believe, but with English subtitles) about the ongoing and lasting impact of Blessed Gerard.
And perhaps most importantly, for us to have and celebrate a saint from 900 or so years ago whose work we can still support today is a phenomenal gift. It is not just Gerard’s memory that is a blessing, it is his life, work, and legacy. If you live in the United Kingdom, you can turn to St. John’s Ambulance, the modern day version of Blessed Gerard’s Hospital, for all of your First Aid Supplies, and each purchase supports the mission and is up to code! If you, like me, are Stateside, you can learn more about St. John’s International and donate to the mission in Blessed Gerard’s honor. It’s not kitschy, but it’ll do!
— Becca Kello
33 comments on “Benedict of Nursia vs. Blessed Gerard”
For me this is toughest one yet. But for lasting influence have to go with Benedict especially since we already have a premier caregiver with Constance and her companions
Old Ben got me here so it’s still Benedict today!
Don’t think he had anything to do with it, but the only way I’ll eat a runny egg is on that Eggs Benedict muffin w/hollandaise sauce! Good idea for Breakfast now! (Kudos for Constance! let’s get her the Golden Halo !)
As a graduate (MA, liturgical studies) of St. John's University School of Theology, Collegeville MN (founded by St. John's Benedictine Abbey), my vote went to St. Benedict. Praying the liturgy of the hours with the monks of St. John, learning from monastic and lay professors, and forming friendship with an ecumenical mix of students over conversations about liturgy ... priceless. Benedict's flexible rule has endured for 1500 years. Even this Lutheran is a fan.
I was impressed by the Monks at the monastery in Three Rivers. Michigan years ago when my brother took me there.
Not for the first time, I must wait for more comments to help me make a decision. Bless those who help us on our way.
It's Gerard for me! Who's work caring for the sick ,the poor and the needy lives on today!
I've been voting to advance Benedict all along. The mention of glow-in-the-dark merch confirmed it for me. When I made my 1st Communion in '68, I recd a glow-in-the-dark rosary. I loved it. Thanks for the memory.
Benedict for the wet socks!
Michael, Michael, Did you hear the Rooster crow?
I went with Benedict of Nursia for a number of reasons, but I to admit to both the socks and the glow in the dark merchandise might have swayed me a bit.
Thank you for introducing me to the Blessed Gerard (I hope he'll show up in future rounds of Lent Madness) but my heart belongs to Benedict, so he gets my vote.
I've got to go with Gerard. Benedict already has monasteries, Gerard is the example of a person who sees a need and fills it, no matter the cost. A good example for today.
Oh my, Blessed Gerard was about 900 years ago and the 11th Doctor was 900-ish years old for the Bells of St John episode? Blessed Gerard will continue to get my vote! For my silly reason and for the many people helped by the St. John’s Ambulance, I case my vote.
This oblate OSB has to vote for Benedict, but I nominate Gerard as the patron saint of the Resistance.
This one was almost a coin toss for me, and I will be content with whoever advances. Going in, I thought I would vote for Blessed Gerard, with war a powerful current context. But Sara Kay Hill's write-up moved me for Benedict, especially the conclusion: “Let them prefer nothing whatever to Christ, and may he bring us all together in everlasting life.”
By the way, did anybody else notice that the rosary pictured is an Anglican rosary rather than a Roman Catholic rosary? Is that a nod to our Lent Madness roots?
Becca, you have outdone yourself. Plus, gluten free bread recipe as part of the kitch! Exactly what we needed.
WHy didn't you guys vote for Peter I don't see Constance and the Companions as followers of Jesus and with Jesus
Please reread the bio and the literature about her and her companions. Faith in action, not faith with words.
cowplain522att.net Great fun doing Lent Madness
Well done, bloggers! I particularly like the socks for walking on water. As we approach Holy Week, I wish everyone a thoughtful Palm Sunday and a joyous entrance into spring.
This was a tough choice, but my vote went for Gerard. I admit, as someone who has celiac disease, the gluten free bread recipe made all the difference for me! Just a small gesture like that goes a long way, evidence of this Saint who cares for the sick, friendless, and needy.
I worked with elderly for a long time. We read almost the entire Bible before I retired. This was always my greatest program for them. I found Lent Madness after I retired. I can only imagine the fun we would have had doing this together. Today I am voting for Gerard as I liked his calling. He is not well known. Now I will look at that cross differently. Can you please find an easier way for some of us to get to Lent Madness next year. I am in my 80’s.
Our baptismal vow to "seek and serve Christ in all persons" is perhaps the most important rule of life for all of us in times like these. My vote went to Gerard, who embodied this.
Why is there so much merchandise (aka junk) offered wit regard to truly saintly people? No amount of stuff would influence my vote.
Round One is general biographies of the saints. Round Two is Quirks and Quotes. Round Three is the Kitsch round. I generally base my vote on the information from previous rounds, but I look forward to the Kitsch Round every year!
Remembering all of the medical staff killed and healthcare facilities destroyed in the land of Jesus, my vote goes to Blessed Gerard.
I was all about Benedict in earlier rounds, but this time I'm going with Blessed Gerard. Health care, ecumenism, and bringing the world together is what our world needs now. The video that was cited called Blessed Gerard "Everyone's Monk," and that outreach speaks volumes to us in today's fraught world.
Vote for Blessed Gerard!
PEOPLE! I have always preferred faith in action over faith in words. Benedict may have started a revolutionary way of life for a lot of people, but Bl. Gerard took the Gospel to heart and cared directly for people. And his successors and imitators do to this day, bless them all. My vote, and I hope yours, will go to Bl. Gerard! (Aside from the fact that Benedict already HAS lovely mug to his credit. He certainly would have no need of two in his solitude.)
Voting for Benedict in honor of the Benedictine sisters in Mexico who showed true benedictine hospitality to groups of Americans.
As a Benedictine oblate,I voted for St. Benedict.
How is it that no one has mentioned that they share the most important merch of all - ice cream and Ben gets first billing.
Love that thought!
The Blessed Virgin herself gave St. Benedict the gift of the rosary. Like, think about that for a minute: no St. Benedict, no rosary. Pretty sure that worth a vote or two million.