Anna Alexander vs. Eglantyne Jebb

March 23, 2018 | Author: Supreme Executive Committee

Today marks the fourth and final matchup of the Elate Eight as Anna Alexander takes on Eglantyne Jebb. To make it this far, Anna made it past Peter Claver and Edith Cavell while Eglantyne cruised past both Seraphim of Sarov and Catherine Winkworth.

Yesterday Maria Skobtsova swept away Martin de Porres and will face Esther in the next round. So the Faithful Four is nearly set: Maria, Esther, Richard Hooker and…today it’s your job to complete this sentence!

Then take a deep cleansing breath and get ready for the last three battles of Lent Madness 2018. On Monday and Tuesday it’s the Faithful Four. And then on Spy Wednesday the scene will be set as we collectively crown the Golden Halo winner. The end is near!

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Posted in Elate Eight, Lent Madness 2018 | 119 Comments

Martin de Porres vs. Maria Skobtsova

March 22, 2018 | Author: Supreme Executive Committee

The fast and furious pace of the Saintly Sixteen continues today as Martin de Porres faces Maria Skobtsova. To get to this round, Martin defeated John of Beverley and Dymphna while Maria took down Thomas à Kempis and Quiteria.

In yesterday’s saintly action, Richard Hooker and his three-legged stool buried Phocas the Gardner and will face the winner of tomorrow’s battle between Anna Alexander and Eglantyne Jebb in the Faithful Four.

As we get deeper into the season, many of the Lent Madness faithful must decide between two saints they voted for in previous rounds. Oh, the agony! And yet in the end, despite all the amazing saintly souls, only one will emerge victorious.

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Posted in Elate Eight, Lent Madness 2018 | 159 Comments

Phocas the Gardner vs. Richard Hooker

March 21, 2018 | Author: Supreme Executive Committee

In the second matchup of the Elate Eight, Phocas the Gardener faces Richard Hooker. Our ever-creative Celebrity Bloggers daily earn their keep (well, their Lent Madness mug) in the Round of Saintly Kitsch as they scour the internet for your voting pleasure. To make it to this round, Phocas bested Isidore the Farmer and Katharina von Bora while Richard made it past Mary of Egypt and Margaret of Scotland.

Yesterday, Esther narrowly defeated Peter, in an epic start to the Elate Eight, to become the first saint to advance to the Faithful Four.

Can you feel the excitement? We are getting ever closer to awarding the 2018 Golden Halo. Every vote counts!

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Posted in Elate Eight, Lent Madness 2018 | 164 Comments

Peter vs. Esther

March 20, 2018 | Author: Supreme Executive Committee

Congratulations! You’ve stuck with Lent Madness as a Lenten devotion and the field has been whittled down from 32 saints to eight. After a long and winding road, we have made it to the Round of the Elate Eight. There is now light at the end of the Golden Halo and by the end of the week we’ll be down to the Faithful Four.

We begin this round with an epic battle of Biblical proportions as Peter faces Esther. To make it this far, Peter defeated Paul and John the Evangelist while Esther got past Lazarus of Bethany and Michael the Archangel. The remaining matchups in this round are Phocas the Gardener vs. Richard Hooker, Martin de Porres vs. Maria Skobtsova, and Anna Alexander vs. Eglantyne Jebb. One of these eight will win the 2018 Golden Halo.

The Elate Eight is also known as the Saintly Kitsch round. After basic biographies, quotes and quirks, what else could there be? There are always some folks who take offense to this approach — we call them Kitsch Kranks. Tim and Scott discussed this in yesterday’s edition of Monday Madness. This is not 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 to our goal.

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Posted in Elate Eight, Lent Madness 2018 | 234 Comments

Monday Madness: Coffee Edition

March 19, 2018 | Author: Supreme Executive Committee

This week, Tim and Scott span the globe. Tim comes live from coffee country in Nicaragua. Scott is in Cincinnati. And they are both live, discussing the Elate Eight. They also warn about people who could be grumpy about this round, so the Supreme Executive Committee once again delivers the two great commandments of Lent Madness.

Check out the bracket tab as you plan your week around Lent Madness Elate Eight contests. Best thing is to vote once (and once only) but refresh your browser dozens of times an hour to check results constantly.

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Posted in Lent Madness 2018, Monday Madness | 11 Comments

Eglantyne Jebb vs. Catherine Winkworth

March 19, 2018 | Author: Supreme Executive Committee

Today in Lent Madness, it’s the last matchup of the Saintly Sixteen as Eglantyne Jebb squares off against Catherine Winkworth in the Lent Dome. To get to this round Eglantyne routed Seraphim of Sarov while Catherine upset Isaac Watts.

If you had a big weekend and/or your memory is shaky, on Friday Martin de Porres defeated Dymphna 62% to 38% to advance to the Elate Eight where she’ll face Maria Skobtsova.

Tomorrow we begin the Elate Eight, aka the Round of Saintly Kitsch as Peter faces Esther. Hold on to your Bibles, folks!

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Posted in Lent Madness 2018, Saintly Sixteen | 117 Comments

Martin de Porres vs. Dymphna

March 16, 2018 | Author: Supreme Executive Committee

Today in the Saintly Smackdown©, Martin de Porres faces Dymphna, as we move between 17th century Peru and 7th century Belgium. To get to the Saintly Sixteen, Martin eased past John of Beverley while Dympha defeated Gertrude of Nivelles.

Yesterday, Phocas the Gardener took down Katharina von Bora 60% to 40% to advance to the Elate Eight against Richard Hooker. This marks the second year in a row that a member of the Luther Family will not win the Golden Halo. Last year, Katharina’s husband, some guy named Martin, made it to the Faithful Four before running into the Florence Nightingale juggernaut.

It’s hard to believe but the last battle of the Saintly Sixteen will take place on Monday as Eglantyne Jebb faces Catherine Winkworth. Then it’s on to the Elate Eight! Enjoy today’s vote and we’ll see you first thing Monday morning.

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Posted in Lent Madness 2018, Saintly Sixteen | 125 Comments

Phocas the Gardener vs. Katharina von Bora

March 15, 2018 | Author: Supreme Executive Committee

The Quotes and Quirks of the Saintly Sixteen continue as Phocas the Gardener faces Katharina von Bora. To make it to this round, Phocas defeated Isidore the Farmer while Katharina took down Wulfstan. Today’s winner will face Richard Hooker.

Don’t forget, the Saintly Sixteen write-ups are not the sum of what has been shared about each saint by our Celebrity Bloggers. Click the links above or scroll down on the bracket page to supplement your knowledge of our daily contestants.

Yesterday, the great controversy surrounding whether or not it was “fair” to stick an angel in the bracket was decided as Esther soundly dismantled Michael the Archangel 70% to 30%. This sets up the first Elate Eight matchup, a sure-to-be epic battle between Peter and Esther. Now go vote!

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Posted in Lent Madness 2018, Saintly Sixteen | 113 Comments

Esther vs. Michael the Archangel

March 14, 2018 | Author: Supreme Executive Committee

Today in Saintly Sixteen action, Esther squares off against Michael the Archangel. To make it this far, Esther made it past Lazarus while Michael got by Anna the Prophet. Will St. Michael or one of the “all angels” prevail?

Yesterday, Anna Alexander made it past Edith Cavell 65% to 35% to advance to the Elate Eight. She’ll face the winner of Eglantyne Jebb vs. Catherine Winkworth. By the way, our Bracket Czar Adam Thomas delved into bracket history and has ruled that Monday’s battle that saw Maria Skobtsova trounce Quiteria 91% to 9% was the most lopsided victory ever in the modern era of Lent Madness. The previous record was from 2014 when Basil defeated Antony of Egypt 87% to 13%.

Oh, and did you miss the Tuesday edition of Monday Madness? If you can stand the planets being out of alignment, watch it here.

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Posted in Lent Madness 2018, Saintly Sixteen | 159 Comments

“Monday” Madness — March 12-ish, 2018

March 13, 2018 | Author: Supreme Executive Committee

Due to technical difficulties and the burdens of exotic travel (to Beachwood, Ohio and Treasure Island, Florida), Scott and Tim are a day late with “Monday” Madness this week. Rest assured, it was recorded on Monday (we have some truth-in-advertising standards!), so you can enjoy the full Monday “live” ambience. The episode is worth the wait though, as Tim reveals his plan to try to escape Lent Madness and Scott shows his love of exotic locations for video backdrops.

Make sure you consider carefully how you vote in the Saintly Sixteen, because soon enough it will be time for the Elate Eight. Every (single) vote counts!

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Posted in Lent Madness 2018, Monday Madness | 30 Comments