🔥 This is the ELATE 8 🔥 Join Fr. Christian and Fr. Michael for a full breakdown of our final rounds, crown new Canons of Comments, and lift up how these saints have transformed our faith.
The Elate 8 is all about SWAG. We have read the bios. We have heard the legends. Now it is time to see what kind of kitsch and merch these saints bring to the table.
First matchup of the round…
The denominator of denominations. The man who froze Wesley’s warmed heart and kicked the stool out from Richard Hooker… it is MARTIN LUTHER.
But he faces his toughest challenge yet.
Noah had the ark, but Joan has been sailing through this bracket. She sent Marina the Monk packing, put Nino on the midnight train back to Georgia, and now the pride of Orléans steps into another divine showdown… JOAN OF ARC.
Two giants. One spot in the Faithful Four. The Elate Eight is fully set after Constance and Her Companions sent Cosmas and Damian to Graceland, 82.49% to 17.51%. Will the Martyrs of Memphis make it onto the faithful four with either Joan of Arc or Martin Luther?
Watch the video, read the blogs, maybe even grab some merch… and VOTE.
Joan of Arc
No one can argue that St. Joan of Arc is anything less than the people’s champion in Lent Madness and beyond. Heck, she’s the jewel of all teenage female rebellion, and the model by which we might all live out our angst and zeal more…well…zealously, as our teenage-selves would prefer we had.
And if you’d like to take on St. Joan of Arc as a saint of your own personal devotion, as one of my now-retired bishops used to say, you might begin your day by grocery shopping for this lovely Coq au Vin, which was originally posted as a feast to celebrate Lady Arc’s saint day.
Or, if Coq au Vin isn’t your style, you can cozy up with Joan of Arc’s Illinois Fine Foods recipe book from the 1940’s, an absolute treasure trove of flavor bombs, canned fresh to carry the banner of dinner wars directly into your kitchen and onward toward victory!
Whatever you choose, you can plate up your feast on this fabulous piece of stoneware, a plate ready to inspire even the most hesitant dinner guest to feats of glory upon the battlefield of dessert. No swords here, just as Joan would have wanted – only dessert forks.
If the kitchen is not a spiritual discipline of your saintly devotion, perhaps I could entice you to celebrate and honor our dear Joan as you sit and sip your morning coffee and bask in the early sunlight streaming through the most magnificent stained glass you’ve ever sat before. Very demure. Very mindful. Very battle ready.
And if Lady Arc’s faithfulness to her godly mission, even unto death, has inspired you to more formal representations of your own devotion, may I interest you in a coat of arms which you can attach to any coat (so they tell me)?
And, while you’re writing home about the wonders of Joan’s saintliness and her transformative properties on your own heart, you certainly need to invest in some sealing wax and a one-of-a-kind signet ring – the authenticity of your letters will never be questioned again! May all our voices be as authentically ours as Joan’s was to her, and may our words and lives be ever led by the same Spirit of God which led her.
— Samantha Smith
Martin Luther
Martin Luther: monk, priest, rouser of rabble, writer of lists, and reformer of immense global Christian churches–also can lay claim to much merchandise, like so many of our saints.
When one peruses Amazon (another vast global empire Luther might want to consider aiming a list at), much kitsch is immediately on offer. One can purchase a sweatshirt with Luther’s image, and “Nailed it!” below.
From Etsy, one can obtain a mug that reads “I’ve got 95 problems, but a pope ain’t one”. (Which….would not be correct, strictly speaking. At the time of writing the 95 theses, Luther did have a pope. That’s part of why he wrote them. Come on, mug people–the commentariat of Lent Madness will not stand for such inaccuracy!)
You can also obtain a helpful poster of the said 95 Theses, should you wish to make a footnoted edition, and send it to the mug people, explaining just where they are in error, in classic Luther-style. Or to attach it to their door. Or maybe you want to combine the Theses with a hand-drawn map of Wittenberg, and trace Luther’s path to his festive burning of his papal bull. There’s also a Christmas ornament with Luther’s picture, and the declaration “We found God in a popeless place.” Lutherans have jokes, it would seem.
Any compilation of Luther kitsch would be bereft if it failed to mention perhaps the crowning glory of Luther-mania: LUTHER: THE ROCK OPERA. The music group Lost and Found wrote and performed this modern opus in 2018, and it is now available for you, wherever you stream your music. There is perhaps no person more deserving of rock opera treatment than Martin Luther, who I’m sure would have really enjoyed a good guitar solo as he argued against his foes.
— Megan Castellan
97 comments on “Joan of Arc vs. Martin Luther”
The food references today decided my vote, and a French grandmother.
Lady with sword is pretty cool, but puns and sarcastic humor are the way to my heart. Nailed it!
I love puns etc, also, but should we allow the wit of the commentary to sway our vote? One young lass against her world, at a time when women had basically no rights? I follow the banner today.
De rigeur for the Luther fans... the Lego figure. Complete with quill and scroll. Mine keeps my commentaries company.
I found a Playmobil, but not a lego.
Martin Luther, you had me at "We found God in a popeless place"
They burned her at the steak, and now there's a cookbook tribute? People, vote for Joan!
Stake, steak? Okay. Very nice.
A formidable opponent today but I have to stay with my fav, Joan of Arc. “Go ahead! Light your fire!”
Formidable is a French word. It can mean fearful or terrific, as you like it.
Joan of Arc worked within the political and military construct of her time to champion her country and its people, to influence unelected leaders, all this from a humble villager background because it was her call to do so. As a female, as a teenager. Joan of Arc all the way!
We like Martin Luther, good old Martin Luther,
We think the Reformation's grand,
He set the world on fire when he called the pope a liar.
Good old Martin Luther, he's our man.
(another verse)...
He started quite a schism when he wrote his catechism....
I learned this many years ago but didn’t know there was a second verse. I must know what it is!
The maid has my vote! The painting of her, hearing the saints voices in her garden, with the overturned spinning lying nearby, was my favorite to visit at the Met when I was in college. “I am not afraid. I was born for this.”
That was my favorite painting at the Met when I was a young teenager, and two of my church friends said the same. I wonder how many generations of young women were inspired by that painting?
As an Episcopalian living in the Pittsburgh area, I want to mention that there is a magnificent statue of Joan in the Catholic Cathedral in Pittsburgh. It's in a side chapel to the left after you enter the main doors. She is wearimg armor, sitting on her heels, hands clasped in her lap, and looking directly upward. Her hair is roughly cut short. There are fresh lilies, stained glass windows, and plaques quoting her in French. A former Bishop of Pittsburgh, Cardinal John Wright, was devoted to Joan and commissioned the statue. It is well worth seeing if you're in the area.
Sorry, the chapel is on the right and not the left!
The rock opera. Fabulous.
"It was an age of Lust and power...." imagine!! And c tht was written 8 years ago.
I would have hoped that Joan could have been brought down by someone more obscure, and will be duly shocked if Luther does not prevail today. Come on people - don't make me succomb to my biased suspicion that the only reason she got so far is that Joan was not a male warrior "saint"!
Joan didn't even get out of the first round in 2017 or 2021, so she's doing a lot better this year.
I think well of Joan ...
But Fr. Martin has seen me through many struggles.
Besides: I can read him in the orginial:
makes me struggle with the 16th century Middle German,
working on the Latin.
Seems as though he did more.
Just like what he did.
I was hoping to see the Martin Luther bobble-head and the "Martin Luther Scathing Insults" mug listed amongst the kitsch.
Joan of Arc did NOT become a saint because she led French troops into battle at the behest of Charles VII. In fact, she carried the king's banner into battle, not a sword.
She became a saint because she was a teenage girl who refused recant her story in the face of men who found her spiritual calling to be inconvenient and she was burned alive for daring to use her voice.
There were accusations of witchcraft. Every anti-woman trope we have seen throughout all time was hurled at her. The Vatican buried facts about her for 500 years. It was only in 1920 that she was canonized.
Joan is a reminder to every woman alive and those who support us that women's voices matter and should be heard in every location from rural pastures to seats of power.
Amen, amen, amen. Joan was not a warmonger. She is a shining example for women young and old. Definitely getting my vote.
Plus won't vote for someone who disparaged Jews.
Amen!
Amen, Sister!
I have been wearing a cross of Lorraine as a sign of Christian resistance for the past several months - despite Luther's enormous impact, I had to go with the saint I need right now - Joan.
#this!
Yet another close one. My first inclination was to cast my vote for Jeanne d'Arc, but in honour of one of the best teachers/preachers/pastors I have ever known I cast my ballot for Martin. This one is for you, the Rev. (in ELCIC terms)/Very Rev. (in ACC terms) Paul N. Johnson, ELCIC pastor who became the first North American Lutheran to become the Dean of an Anglican Diocese (Rupert's Land) and Rector of St. John's Anglican Cathedral in Winnipeg. Paul retired in 2024, and we are now currently trying to find his replacement - not an easy task.
Ahhh, the best round in all of Lent Madness, the Saintly Kitsch! I love seeing what the bloggers come up with, especially for those saints who have been long dead. Today’s round did not disappoint! Laughed out loud with the “Nailed it” sweatshirt, and giggled at, “Lutherans have jokes, it would seem.” Well done Megan Castellan. HOWEVER, there is nothing better than a wine infused Coq au Vin, and this recipe is amazing. Best eaten while watching the classic 1928 silent film The Passion of Joan of Arc by Carl Theodor Dreyer (there are actually about 10 films to choose from on the life of Joan—not bad for a female teenager idol). I’m surprised Samantha Smith didn’t include this cinematic masterpiece in her list of kitsch, so I have taken the liberty to do so. In this case, I must go with Joan, hoping to earn the coat of arms badge!
I am not a mystic, so can identify with the human struggles of Martin Luther.
I went back and reread the bios. Both are strong candidates. IMHO the kitsch at this point is fun but for me hardly a basis for the vote.
Based on Kitsch alone, Martin Luther is the clear winner!
Gave me several chuckles this morning and I even bought the sweatshirt for my Lutheran Pastor brother!
Wow! It is always inspiring to see the kitsch.
Now I have a burning desire for a St. Jeanne d’Arc signet ring.
As a former RC and a lover of Episcopalian reforms I applaud the courage that Luther demonstrated in 'nailing' the 95 Theses.
As the over 45,000+ Christian denominations worldwide illustrate Luther had no choice than to provide his controversial Theses.
My own propensity toward reform in all peoples and churches I grunt "We've only just begun". Isn't that what Lent is challenging us to do? REFORM!
No matter how important his reforms, in these times I cannot and will not vote for someone who in his later years did great and lasting damage to the world with his virulent and unrepentant antisemitism. I'll vote for the dream-driven battlemaiden.
Amen
I never leave a comment, although I've been "playing" for years, but I have to tell the world that I began listening to Lost and Found as a teenager. They are fabulous, and I'm so glad Megan mentioned them!!!!
Wow! It looks like my vote for the intrepid teenage girl baddie put us at exactly neck and neck - exactly 1142 votes each!
Yes! I voted for Joan of Arc…. I did not vote for her in the previous round. I do find her remarkable and as a matter of interest, I did make Coq au Vin in the beginning of Lent… Coquille St. Jacque…. as well and Cassoulet, Veal Scallops with Boursin wrapped in bacon-definitely a French Lent!
Vive la France! ! Et vive la Révolution! ! We need to go into battle with our banners this Saturday at No Kings!!
Tuesday March 24 I voted early in the day, for me. At that time, Joan had the lead by just 6 votes out of 2248. Back about 1970 I was confirmed in a Pittsburgh Lutheran church, so I cast my vote for Martin Luther. However, this is a TOUGH CHOICE!!
Joan may be my middle name, but Luther is who I feel had a more lasting effect on modern Christianity.