🎤 What do you get when you mix papal vestments and Memphis, TN? No, it is not Elvis in a mitre… it is today’s Lent Madness matchup!!!! 😎
In one corner, from Vatican City, 🇻🇦 The defeater of Apostles Thomas and Paul. The man with keys to pearly gates. It is PETER 🔑
In the other corner, from Memphis, TN 🏥 The nuns who stayed when others fled, their healthcare outmatched Cosmas and Damian’s. The Martyrs of Memphis outshined the Martyrs of Uganda. It is Constance and her Companions ✝️
Two more than worthy contenders, two powerful stories of faith and witness, and one step closer to the Golden Halo.
They bring the best kitsch of Memphis and Vatican City swag out today, as they battle for a spot in the Faithful Four… alongside yesterday’s winner 👀
THE ARCH himself, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, who dominated Archbishop Janani Luwum 71.69% to 28.31% 🔥 Watch the video, read the blogs, and VOTE 🗳️
Constance and her Companions
They gave their lives in service to others. They remained in a yellow-fever devastated Memphis, TN to minister to and care for the sick while thousands fled the city. They succumbed to the very epidemic they were fighting. They died in September 1878; nonetheless, their imprint on the city is lasting and remains 148 years later.
They are collectively known as Constance and her Companions, the Martyrs of Memphis: Sister Constance, Sister Thecla, Sister Ruth, Sister Frances, the Rev. Charles Carroll Parsons, and the Rev. Louis S. Schuyler.
There are no t-shirts or bumper stickers or billboards or other popular societal manifestations heralding what they did. But their presence in Memphis – and in the Church – is ubiquitous. Just like them.
The altar of St. Mary’s Cathedral in Memphis features the words "Alleluia, Osanna,” Constance’s final chant, as a touching memorial to Sister Constance, Sister Frances, Sister Ruth, and Sister Thecla.
St. Mary's Episcopal School was founded by the nuns’ order.
A Memphis Street Marker tells their story. 
The city’s Elmwood Cemetery colorfully marks where the Martyrs are buried and is a popular site for pilgrimages.
Stained glass windows colorfully depict their ministry. Icons and greeting cards artfully present their images.
Then there are blogs and recorded sermons and articles such as “The Sisters of St. Mary at Memphis.”
No books specifically about the Martyrs are readily apparent, but there are many books with dedicated chapters and sections about 
them, such as Holy Women Holy Men.
Check out the YouTubes including the Episcopal Women's History Project and The Vicarage.
A statue in their honor towers over Memphis’ Martyrs Park.
The public honors for Constance and Her Companions, the Martyrs of Memphis—Sister Constance, Sister Thecla, Sister Ruth, Sister Frances, the Rev. Charles Carroll Parsons, the Rev. Louis S. Schuyler— are truly befitting of their contributions and their quiet simple dedication.
Remember their names.
— Neva Rae Fox
Peter the Apostle
I have a confession to make: I was mostly ambivalent about the Saints until COVID, during which I discovered The Modern Saints by Gracie. Gracie cuts through the barrier of unfamiliarity and depicts Saints as people we could see in our lives today. Her icon of Peter could be one of my college classmates. I can see him in my philosophy class, debating my professor about whether a person’s character is simply the sum of their actions.
Though Peter looms large in the history of our Church, our next item of kitsch is a Tiny Saint. For those who would sometimes like him to be cut down to size for his idiocy, this is one is perfect for you. (If you did not vote for Peter, you can also get his bros Paul & Thomas as Tiny Saints!)
Since Peter is considered the first pope, I would be remiss not to mention that the past couple years have been interesting for the papacy fandom with the release of Conclave (movie, fictional) and a new pope (real, from Chicago). 
I highly recommend the Conclave movie, Conclave book, and every piece of hilarious kitsch celebrating The Chicago Pope (hat) (shirt).
On the other hand, if voting for Peter is giving your Protestantism the heebie jeebies, here is a sticker to assert your stance.
Now, allow me a small departure – when I ran my campus ministry’s social media (shout out St. Francis House, UW-Madison!), in addition to the kitsch of this round, I highlighted charities that I believed the Saint would support. This practice connected the often historical Saints with people who are continuing their work today.
For Peter, the first I’m recommending is your bishop’s discretionary fund. Episcopal bishops can trace their consecration lineages back to Peter. Their discretionary funds are meant for good works, charities, and ministries not covered by the diocesan budget.
In honor of the fisherman and the fisher of men, the second is the Seamen’s Church Institute, which supports, advocates on behalf of, and offers pastoral care to mariners. You can donate financially or knit scarves for their Christmas at Sea program.
The last is the Good Friday Offering, which raises money for schools, hospitals, and orphanages in the Province of Jerusalem and the Middle East. This is Peter’s homeland. This is our faith’s homeland. And it is currently being torn apart. Of all the links on this page, I ask that you click on this one.
Finally, a blessing in honor of St. Peter: You are loved - no matter your mistakes or successes. God walks with you through every storm, over every mountain, on every long road. May grace and peace be yours in abundance (1 Peter 1:2b).
— Bekah Scholare
62 comments on “Constance and her Companions vs. Peter the Apostle”
Since Bekah brought up movies I would like recommend Shoes of the Fisherman
Anthony Quinn makes a wonderful pope,
I also voted for Peter, Jesus seemed to put a lot of trust in him. Also gave his life for the church’s mission.
Peter's got a Basilica in Rome. Time to give the untiring nuns some major credit.
This! I'm sure Peter won't mind.
Oooh, good. 8 view for Peter for many reasons, but I'm very glad to see Constance advancing! Good job, better humans than this lowly mortal.
I serve as one of the staff chaplains for Seamen's Church Institute. I deeply appreciate you including the deeply rooted work of the Church through SCI in the commentary.
If you would like to come to Port NY/NJ or visit one of my colleagues on the inland waterways, we would welcome you to join us for a visit.
Or check how God is working through SCI via our website: https://seamenschurch.org/
Wow, I am kind of in shock here -- how is Peter, Jesus' friend, the guy who left his boat to follow Him, the Rock, Rocky, the representative of all our questioning, fumbling, failing faith, falling behind??? Constance and her companions were examples to us all, but Simon Peter was a rock to build the church on! Also, he had some terrible ideas, just like we do!
As a former chaplain at the Seamen's Church Institute I had to vote for Peter, although much of my discernment took place at the convent of St. Mary's. Tough choice.
Whether you vote for Constance et al or for St Peter and you are a knitter/crocheter high yourself over to the Seaman’s Church site and get their their patterns for hats and scarfs. and start making them to give to the seamen/women as well as to make for yourselves, family and friends.
YES, I knit and will do as you suggest! But if I may offer a tiny correction, it is "hie" yourself. Still, I'm eager to see who wins this close contest and advances toward the Golden Halo..... Dinah F
Greetings, I live near Albany NY, and worship in the oldest standing church building in my county. (Reformed Church in America, naturally!). I noted that one of Constance's companions had a local Dutch name, Schuyler -so I looked him up.
Louis Schuyler had an adventurous and loving spirit. He was ordained, and had served a congregation in St Louis- but was in Louisville when Constance was stricken. He was asked to come help- here's part of what the site Anglican History says: Louis learned in New York that there was some prospect that another Priest, used to the fever, might be had at Memphis, and upon this account and by other reasons he was dissuaded from starting that evening, and returned to Hoboken. The Revd. Mr. Sword says--
"At six I was astonished by his coming in. Louis still thought he had better go, but would wait until the next day, hoping in the meantime to hear from the Sisters. I begged him to use the greatest caution about entering upon this task, as I was certain he would be wrong in going without the gravest necessity. We talked over the matter all that evening and late into the night. What struck me most of all was the humility he showed. He did not seem to think he was about to do any great thing but simply was following a call of duty. His great anxiety was that there should be no self-will in his action. He wanted to go, not because it was a heroic action, not because his enthusiasm was aroused, but simply because GOD seemed to call him. The next morning he Celebrated in the Church at six o'clock. I served him. After he had vested and said the prayer in the Sacristy, just before entering the Sanctuary, he turned to me and said--'Let it be our special intention at this Celebration that whatever in this matter is of self may come to naught, and whatever is of GOD may be prospered.' So with that intention we offered the Holy Sacrifice, and received together the Bread of Life."
Shortly after this Service Louis went to New York, again prepared to go South. The natural fear and urgency of his kindred had not prevailed with him, and on the night before they had therefore seen Bishop Quintard, who telegraphed to the Revd. Dr. Schuyler at St. Louis asking if he would consent to Louis' going to Memphis. Louis found that no answer to this message had arrived, nor to the message which had been sent to the Sisters at Memphis announcing his readiness to go on and requesting information. He waited all day in vain for these answers, and at evening left for Memphis on the six o'clock train, (Thursday, Sept. 5th).
Bishop Quintard says of this day--"What struck me was his devout collectedness--his concentration of purpose. I am sure that he had consecrated himself to this special mission at the Altar. Once, while talking with him, my attention was arrested by his evidently losing himself in prayer. When he replied to some question which I addressed to him he bowed very meekly and signed himself with the Sign of the Cross."
Just after Louis had left, a dispatch arrived from the Sisters at Memphis deprecating his coming, and also one from the Revd. Dr. Schuyler of St. Louis withholding his consent. Bishop Quintard thereupon telegraphed to the Revd. Dr. Tschiffely, at Louisville, requesting him to stop Louis at that city, and detain him there for further instructions. This telegram was received by Dr. Tschiffely on the 6th, and in consequence of it Louis spent Saturday, the 7th Sept., in Louisville. Of this day Dr. Tschiffely says--
"He came to see me in the morning and inquired about the dispatch, which I showed him. He then asked for the privilege of Celebrating the Holy Communion in the Church, and I made all things ready for him. After breakfast he went to the Telegraph Office and forwarded messages to Memphis and elsewhere. He was much of the day in prayer. He seemed to be completely possessed with the idea that his duty lay in going to the plague-stricken city, and all that could be done by others and myself seemed powerless to move him from what he considered highest duty. In the afternoon he received a telegram from his father imploring him to come home and not to go to Memphis. But so firm were his convictions that he wrote a letter to his father in language so reverent and beautiful that when he read it to me I was moved to withdraw further opposition and advance him on his journey with all convenient speed. Immediately after this letter had been mailed he received a telegram from Sister Hughetta, and, about an hour after, I had the following telegram from Bishop Quintard, in New York--'Mr. Parsons is dead, let Mr. Schuyler go on.' He left this city at midnight of the 7th. When I bade him good-bye I felt very sorry--but he said to me, ' Why do you feel so? I never felt better in my life, and the way seems perfectly clear before me. I feel confident no harm will come to me.' I have never met any one who seemed to be so thoroughly absorbed in the idea of duty and devotion to his Master and LORD, Whose servant he was, and he who gave himself for others is beloved of Him. May his soul rest in peace, and perpetual light shine upon him !"
The telegrams to and from Memphis mentioned by Dr. TschifFely are given by Sister Hughetta, who says:--
"From Louisville he telegraphed to me, 'I am here, awaiting orders. May I come?' I did not dare to take the responsibility of saying 'Come.' Yet so great was our need that I could not refuse his offered ministrations. I therefore wrote--'The Sister-Superior and Sister Thecla hopelessly ill. The Revd. C. C. Parsons is dying. We have no Priest.' I cannot remember that he sent an answer to my dispatch, but on Sunday afternoon he arrived at St. Mary's." For more about Rev, Schuyler, I recommend the website AnglicanHistory.org and may the best of the Elate 8 win!! - Dinah, near Albany NY
I submit a vote for Constance.
I went to Kemper Hall in Kenosha, WI for two years. In a very real sense those nuns of the Commumity of St. Mary saved my life. Go Constance!
Bekah, you got me at mention of St. Francis House where I used to hang out with my husband to be and his sister who married a St. Francis roomer who became a priest, William Murphy!
As much as I like pulling for the underdogs, in what realm does St. Peter not win?
Apparently, the realm in which, on Wednesday, a former healer and caregiver became the latest of his apostolic successors. I'm sure he's fine with it. He already has a grand halo. And fish. Lots of fish.
Both these saints are deserving of the Golden Halo. I went back to the original biographies in the round of 32 and something there convinced me to vote for Peter. I’m not mad about Contamce and her companions winning though! Lastly, thank you for the link to The Modern Saints paintings—they are wonderful!
Constance and her Companions were the living manifestation of that most moving of evening prayers: "Keep watch, dear Lord, with those who work, or watch, or weep this night, and give your angels charge over those who sleep. Tend the sick, Lord Christ; give rest to the weary, bless the dying, soothe the suffering, pity the afflicted, shield the joyous; and all for your love's sake. Amen."
Amen!
I logged on too late to vote, but I am heartened to see that Constance and her Companions won out over Peter. While I love Peter - and identify strongly with his pre-Resurrection impulsiveness, wavering, over-the-topness of some of his actions and ideas- I believe that Constance is a role model for those of us living in the largely secular society of today. She and her companions did what all Christians are called to do - to put others before themselves, to care for the sick and the weak, to succour the helpless. I am so glad that this year's Lent Madness introduced me to people like Constance, her companions, and the Blessed Gerard - all of them people who took Jesus at His word and loved their neighbours as they loved themselves, all of them just plain folks who found themselves in situations that needed them to practice what they believed. I pray that in the same or similar situations we would find the courage to follow their example by living out what our Lord has called us to.
Right, I'm gonna to vote against *Saint Peter*
'Cause that makes sense.