Welcome back to Lent Madness 2024. If you look at the two leaderboards, one in the parish hall, the other just outside the church on the bulletin board by the sacristy, you'll see that the numbers of winners are starting to thin out and the numbers of losers are growing. That's the way Lent Madness works. Fortunately, we're all winners in heaven!
Yesterday I was busy with grandchildren so no time for a post here, but Joseph of Arimathea defeated Kassia of Byzantium. This was a surprising win, as I thought Kassia would be a favourite around International Women's Day, but Joseph shows the drawing power of the biblical saints in this year's contest. Joseph will go on to face either Zita (or is it Rita?) or Julian of Norwich, depending on who wins that contest.
Today's matchup features Canaire of Ireland vs Cyprian of Carthage. Canaire offers a charming story with a feisty feminist retort to a stodgy old abbot (who may have been her sibling), and a win for Canaire would avenge the defeat of her fellow Irish contender, Brigid. It being so close to St Patrick's Day, does Canaire have a shot at the next round?
In the other corner, we have Cyprian of Carthage, whose life, faith, writings, and ultimate faithfulness to our Lord are all documented.
It must have seemed strange to the Roman authorities to have been confronted with such early Christians. Official Roman religion was seen as the glue that held Roman society together, but not something that really mattered spiritually or was ultimately true. The early Christians, however, actually believed that their God was true, real, and lord of the universe, and were willing to die for that faith. Blessed Cyprian was one of that number.
Vote here.
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