Category Archives: Lent

As someone who was raised on “Tobacco Road” and attended Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, I know a little about ACC basketball and March Madness. Unfortunately, as described in The Winston-Salem Journal, yesterday was both the first day of the ACC tournament and the last day of action for the Demon Deacons:

GREENSBORO – Boston College put Wake Forest and all its fans out of their prolonged misery Thursday with an 81-67 victory in the first round of the ACC tournament. “Obviously,” coach Jeff Bzdelik said, “it has been a challenging year for Wake Forest.”

So my attention has turned to another tournament that also began yesterday: Lent Madness (a.k.a. “The Saintly Smackdown”). It was established last year by the Rev. Tim Schenck, an Episcopal priest in Massachusetts, and includes an impressive 32-saint bracket, which you can explore in more detail by clicking on the picture below. The final matchup of the Saintly Sixteen in 2010 was between Stephen the Martyr and Hildegard of Bingen. As the Rector of St. Stephen’s Church, I tried to rally the faithful in support of Stephen, a deacon and the first martyr of the Christian faith. That loss was a tough one for those of us who are proud to be Non-Demon Deacons and/or Martyrs.

The 32-Saint Bracket for Lent Madness 2011

The way this works is that a vote takes place on Tim’s blog, Clergy Family Confidential, to choose between saints in each matchup as they make their way toward the Golden Halo. My initial vote went to Cyprian, the trial lawyer-turned-bishop, who argued for mercy toward those who had abandoned the faith in the midst of persecution and for welcoming their return to the fold after a period of penance.

Now it’s your turn to vote!

The 32-Saint Bracket for Lent Madness 2010

As someone who was raised on “Tobacco Road” and attended Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, I know a little about ACC basketball and March Madness. The Demon Deacons, in fact, have just won their match against the Texas Longhorns in overtime, 81-80. This is the opening round of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament. More excitement is sure to come.

Well, in the spirit of all that is true and noble, the Rev. Tim Schenck, an Episcopal priest in Massachusetts, has established Lent Madness (a.k.a, “The Saintly Smackdown”). It includes an impressive 32-saint bracket, which you can explore in more detail by clicking on the picture above. You will note that it’s about to go from the Saintly Sixteen to the Elate Eight. The way this works is that a vote takes place on Tim’s blog to choose between saints in each matchup as they make their way toward the Golden Halo.

There’s still time to vote here in the last matchup of the Saintly Sixteen between Stephen the Martyr and Hildegard of Bingen. As the Rector of St. Stephen’s Church (or, more formally, the Church of St. Stephen the Martyr) in Edina, Minnesota, I urge you to vote for Stephen, a deacon and the first martyr of the Christian faith! Unfortunately, Hildegard is leading at the moment, so cast your vote now!

UPDATE: The voting has now come to an end. This was a tough one for those of us who are proud to be Non-Demon Deacons and/or Martyrs. Hildegard of Bingen maintained her lead over Stephen the Martyr right up to the final buzzer. But our collective push there in the second half was noted on Tim’s blog, Clergy Family Confidential. Thanks, Tim, for the shout out!