Today we have the final battle of the Elate Eight as Johann Sebastian Bach faces Martin de Porres. In 24 hours the Faithful Four will be set! One of these two saints will join Joanna the Myrrhbearer, Jonathan Daniels, and Chief Seattle (who defeated Bertha of Kent yesterday 55% to 45%) as one of the last four saints standing in Lent Madness 2023.

To get to this round, Bach bested Harriet Monsell and Richard Hooker, while Martin defeated Maximus the Confessor and Leoba. (Note to Kitsch Kranks: click on these links to view the write-ups from previous rounds).

After Palm Sunday weekend, we'll be back on Monday morning to close out this year's tournament just before the start of the Great Three Days.

Vote now!

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In the penultimate matchup of the Elate Eight, Chief Seattle takes on Bertha of Kent. To make it to the Elate Eight, Chief Seattle took down Botulph and John Donne, while Bertha sent Olga of Kiev and Edmund packing.

Yesterday, Jonathan Daniels easily advanced to the Faithful Four by defeating Florence Li Tim-Oi 68% to 32%.

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The Elate Eighty continues as Jonathan Daniels face Florence Li Tim-Oi. The winner will join Joanna the Myrrhbearer in the Faithful Four following her overwhelming victory over Blandina 78% to 22%.

To get to the Elate Eight, Jonathan defeated Rutilio Grande and Josephine Bakhita, while Florence took down Nicolaus von Zinzendorf and Enmegahbowh.

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Welcome to the Elate Eight! From 32 saints, we've whittled the field down to an octet of saintly souls. Today, Joanna the Myrrhbearer takes on Blandina, and from here we'll see Jonathan Daniels vs. Florence Li Tim-Oi, Bertha of Kent vs. Chief Seattle, and Martin de Porres vs. Johann Sebastian Bach.

The Elate Eight is also known as the Round of Saintly Kitsch. After basic biographies, quirks and quotes, what else could there be? Now, there are always some folks who take offense at this approach — we call them Kitsch Kranks. Please remember that this round is not meant to belittle or demean our saintly heroes but to have some fun and gaze in wide wonder at the breadth of devotional practice. So kindly relax and enjoy the spirit of the Madness as we push ever onward toward our goal.

To get to this point, Joanna defeated Monica and Augustine of Hippo, while Blandina bested Simeon Bachus and Brendan of Clonfert.

Vote now! (after watching Monday Madness)

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Everyone's talking about their brackets these days, and so are Scott and Tim. They're back this week to help you transition into the Elite Elate Eight. They also offer pastoral counsel if you find the format of the Elate Eight challenging.

Of course, it would hardly be an episode of Monday Madness without some wanton commercialism. This week, in light of the impending arrival of the Easter season, Tim and Scott both mention that they've coincidentally each written an Eastertide book. Tim's book is a lighthearted look at Lent and Easter, Dust Bunnies in the Basket: Finding God in Lent and Easter. Scott's book is a set of reflections, Easter Triumph, Easter Joy: Meditations for the Fifty Days of Eastertide. You can buy them from your local bookseller, Amazon, or Forward Movement directly. Both are also available as ebooks, naturally.

That's a lot for one episode, and we have left out a mention of their weather discussion. Watch to see it all!

Welcome to the FINAL matchup of the Saintly Sixteen. With the conclusion of today's battle between Martin de Porres and Leoba, the Elate Eight will be all set.

In case you missed it, on Friday Chief Seattle sent John Donne packing 60% to 40% to set up a matchup with Bertha of Kent.

Look for the Elate Eight edition of Monday Madness later today. Assuming Tim and Scott get to it, which we assume they will?

And in the meantime, go vote!

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Whew! It's been a wild week of Saintly Sixteen action, which concludes with today's battle between Chief Seattle and John Donne.

Yesterday, Jonathan Daniels swept past Josephine Bakhita 72% to 28% to advance to the Saintly Sixteen, where he'll face Florence Li Tim-Oi.

Enjoy (or rue) the weekend voting respite, and we'll be back to conclude the Saintly Sixteen first thing on Monday Morning as Martin de Porres faces Leoba. The Elate Eight looms...

But for now, go vote!

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Another day, another heart-wrenching matchup between two saintly souls. Today it's Jonathan Daniels vs. Josephine Bakhita.

Yesterday, Blandina swept past Brendan of Clonfert 59% to 41% to advance to the Elate Eight where she'll face Joanna the Myrrhbearer.

Remember to read the comments and perhaps even comment yourself! There is a wealth of information that gets shared by the Lent Madness Global Voting Public and it's always fun and faithful to see where the conversation goes. Not to mention the occasional limerick, poem, and hymn dedicated to our two competing saints.

Vote now!

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Well, friends, we are exactly halfway through the Saintly Sixteen, with four battles down and four to go. The round of Quirks and Quotes continues today as Brendan of Clonfert faces off against Blandina in a battle of the Bs.

Yesterday, JS Bach sung his way past Richard Hooker 64% to 36% to advance to the Elate Eight.

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Well, Bach is back. And he's facing Richard Hooker in today's Saintly Sixteen matchup. Where but Lent Madness will you find such deliciously absurd pairings?

Yesterday, Bertha of Kent trounced Edmund 82% to 18% to advance to the Elate Eight.

Also yesterday, Tim and Scott released another rousing episode of Monday Madness. You've surely already seen it, but you can watch it here.

And finally, here's your occasional reminder that you can always visit the Brackets tab to find the write-ups from earlier rounds and refresh your voting memory. Just scroll down and right underneath the updated bracket, you'll find links to all the earlier matchups.

Time to vote!

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