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Julian of Norwich Wins 2024 Golden Halo!

Congratulations to 2024 Golden Halo winner Julian of Norwich! In the final battle of Lent Madness XV, Julian defeated Albert Schweitzer to take this year's crown. Both of these last remaining saints, one modern and one ancient, captured the imagination of the Lent Madness voting public, but only one can wear the golden headgear. And that is Julian of Norwich, 14th century English writer and mystic.

Julian joins previous Golden Halo winners George Herbert (2010), C.S. Lewis (2011), Mary Magdalene (2012), Frances Perkins (2013), Charles Wesley (2014), Francis of Assisi (2015), Dietrich Bonhoeffer (2016), Florence Nightingale (2017), Anna Alexander (2018), Martha of Bethany (2019), Harriet Tubman (2020), Absalom Jones (2021), José Hernández (2022), and Jonathan Daniels (2023).

To celebrate Julian's victory, perhaps you'd like a commemorative mug? You can enjoy your favorite warm beverage (the SEC recommends fair trade single-origin coffee, though they understand these also work well with tea) while remembering this epic season of Lent Madness 2024. Order your own mug today at the Forward Movement website! They're just $18 and should ship sometime in the early summer, if not before.

Would you like to nominate a saint for Lent Madness 2025? Tim and Scott will be opening up the week-long nomination process (aka Nominationtide) in the coming weeks. While many are called, only 32 are chosen. Stay tuned for details!

Finally, blessings to all as we head into the Triduum and enter into the death and resurrection of our Lord. It’s been a privilege to have you join us on our Lenten pilgrimage. Happy Lent!

For the Golden Halo: Julian of Norwich vs. Albert Schweitzer

The end (of Lent Madness 2024) is near! It's hard to believe we kicked things off over five weeks ago on “Ash Thursday” with 32 saintly souls. With your help, the field has been whittled down to just two: Albert Schweitzer and Julian of Norwich. Who will receive the coveted 2024 Golden Halo? That, friends, is up to you.

Regardless of the ultimate outcome, we’ve met some truly remarkable holy people along the way. Perhaps you learned about some folks you’d never heard of before or maybe you renewed acquaintances with saints who have long offered inspiration.

Of course the entire notion of placing saints in a bracket is absurd — each “contestant” has already earned a crown of righteousness in addition to a “golden halo.” But at the heart of Lent Madness is the abiding conviction that encountering those who have come before us in the faith enriches and enlivens our own walk with the risen Christ.

Of course we literally couldn’t have done this without our amazing Celebrity Bloggers to whom we offer sincere gratitude: Laurie Brock, Megan Castellan, Anna Fitch Courie, David Creech, Neva Rae Fox, Miriam McKenney, Emily McFarlan Miller, Keegan Osinski, and David Sibley. Thanks to Bracket Czar Adam Thomas for his stellar behind-the-scenes work in keeping the bracket updated daily. You all rock!

Thank you to everyone at Forward Movement for putting up with our yearly shenanigans. And special gratitude goes to Ashley Graham-Wilcox for helping get words and images into the website each day. She’s a star.

Finally, thanks to all of you who participated by voting, commenting, drinking coffee out of Lent Madness mugs, filling in brackets, talking about saints with friends, liking us on Facebook or following us on Twitter (or X or whatever), and allowing us to play a small role in your Lenten journey. We’ve loved having each one of you along for the “madness” and on behalf of the Supreme Executive Committee we wish you a blessed Holy Week and a joyous Easter.

Before we invite you to cast this final vote, we should note that Anna Courie has ably shepherded Albert Schweitzer through the bracket, while Laurie Brock has done the same for Julian of Norwich. These two veteran Lent Madness contributors are amazing souls, aside from being terrific writers. We’ve asked them for a single image and one quote either by or about their saint. We’ve already heard a lot about Albert and Julian, so now it's time to make your final choice.

The polls will be open for 24 hours and the winner will be announced at 8:00 am Eastern time on Maundy Thursday. Now go cast your vote — the 2024 Lent Madness Golden Halo hangs in the balance!

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All is Well! Julian of Norwich Wins!

The Golden Halo

March 27, 2024: Julian of Norwich (56%) defeats Albert Schweitzer (44%)

Faithful Four

March 26, 2024: Julian of Norwich (58%) defeats Andrew the Fisherman (42%)
March 25, 2024: Albert Schweitzer (66%) defeats Henry Whipple (34%)

Elate Eight

March 22, 2024: Julian of Norwich (61%) defeats Joseph of Arimathea (39%)
March 21, 2024: Henry Whipple (52%) defeats Canaire (48%)
March 20, 2024: Andrew the Fisherman (82%) defeats Ambrose of Milan (18%)
March 19, 2024: Albert Schweitzer (69%) defeats Cornelius the Centurion (31%)

Saintly Sixteen

March 18, 2024: Henry Whipple (58%) defeats Clare of Assisi (42%)
March 15, 2024: Julian of Norwich (82%) defeats Zita (18%)
March 14, 2024: Ambrose of Milan (63%) defeats Gertrude the Great (37%)
March 13, 2024: Cornelius the Centurion (59%) defeats Adomnan of Iona (41%)
March 12, 2024: Canaire (60%) defeats Cyprian of Carthage (40%)
March 11, 2024: Joseph of Arimathea (52%) defeats Kassia (48%)
March 8, 2024: Andrew the Fisherman (55%) defeats Hyacinth (45%)
March 7, 2024: Albert Schweitzer (60%) defeats Thomas the Apostle (40%)

Round of 32

March 6, 2024: Clare of Assisi (58%) defeats Rafqa of Lebanon (42%)
March 5, 2024: Julian of Norwich (62%) defeats Brigid of Kildare (38%)
March 4, 2024: Gertrude the Great (63%) defeats Gertrude of Nivelles (37%)
March 1, 2024: Cornelius the Centurion (53%) defeats Piran of Cornwall (47%)
February 29, 2024: Henry Whipple (71%) defeats Jackson Kemper (29%)
February 28, 2024: Zita (79%) defeats Rita (21%)
February 27, 2024: Ambrose of Milan (65%) defeats William Byrd (35%)
February 26, 2024: Adomnan of Iona (68%) defeats Joseph Vaz (38%)
February 23, 2024: Cyprian of Carthage (56%) defeats Pachomius (46%)
February 22, 2204: Joseph of Arimathea (72%) defeats Lazarus (28%)
February 21, 2024: Andrew the Fisherman (72%) defeats Polycarp (28%)
February 20, 2024: Albert Schweitzer (75%) defeats Henry Mühlenberg (25%)
February 19, 2024: Canaire (54%) defeats Barbara (46%)
February 17, 2024: Kassia (89%) defeats Casimir (11%)
February 16, 2024: Hyacinth (74%) defeats Rose of Lima (26%)
February 15, 2024: Thomas the Apostle (57%) defeats Thomas Cranmer (43%)


Review the 2024 bracket in advance, make your selections, and then come here every day of Lent to keep up with your favorite saint.

Clicking on the bracket will bring up a larger, up-to-date, printable one (get a blank bracket to print at home HERE).

You also can buy your very own Bracket Poster from Forward Movement! These posters are excellent for churches, families, and business to keep up with Lent Madness each day of Lent!

Download the free Digital Saintly Scorecard right now!

2024 Calendar

Download a printable matchup calendar HERE.

Round
of 
32

February 15
Thomas Cranmer
vs
Thomas the Apostle
16
Hyacinth
vs
Rose of Lima
17
Kassia
vs
Casimir
18
FIRST
SUNDAY
IN
LENT
19
Canaire
vs
Barbara
20
Henry Muhlenberg
vs
Albert Schweitzer
21
Polycarp
vs
Andrew the Fisherman
22
Lazarus
vs
Joseph of Arimathea
23
Pachomius
vs
Cyrprian of Carthage
24
25
SECOND
SUNDAY
IN
LENT
26
Adomnan of Iona
vs
Joseph Vaz
27
Ambrose of Milan
vs
William Byrd
28
Rita
vs
Zita
29
Henry Whipple
vs
Jackson Kemper
March 1
Piran of Cornwall
vs
Cornelius the Centurian
2
3
THIRD
SUNDAY
IN
LENT
4
Gertrude the Great
vs
Gertrude of Nivelles
5
Brigid of Kildare
vs
Julian of Norwich
6
Rafqa of Lebanon
vs
Clare of Assisi
7
Thomas C 
or 
Thomas A
vs
Henry M 
or
Albert S
8
Hyacinth 
or
Rose of Lima
vs
Polycarp 
or
Andrew 
9
Saintly
16
10
FOURTH
SUNDAY
IN
LENT
11
Kassia
or
Casimir
vs
Lazarus
or
Joseph A
12
Canaire
or
Barbara
vs
Pachomius
or
Cyrprian 
13
Adomnan
or
Joseph Vaz
vs
Piran
or
Cornelius
14
Ambrose
or
William Byrd
vs
Gertrude G
or
Gertrude N
15
Rita
or
Zita
vs
Brigid
or
Julian
16
17
FIFTH
SUNDAY
IN
LENT
18
Rafqa
or
Clare
vs
Henry W
or
Jackson K
19
Upper
Left
Quadrant
20
Bottom
Right
Quadrant
21
Bottom
Left
Quadrant
22
Upper
Right
Quadrant
23
Elate
8
24
PALM
SUNDAY
25
Faithful
4
26
Faithful
4
27
Golden
Halo
28
Maundy
Thursday
29
Good
Friday
30
Holy
Saturday
Icon style image of various saints.

About

Lent Madness is an offering of Forward Movement. Best known as the publishers of Forward Day by Day, a daily devotional published since 1935, we offer many print and digital resources to support spiritual growth and vitality in your church, home, and heart. Follow us on Facebook and sign up for email updates from Forward Movement to find out more about how we can support your faith journey.

Also, follow @ForwardDaybyDay on Twitter and Facebook for daily inspiration, or sign up for our daily email in English or Spanish.

Oh, and since you are in the mood for Lent, why not check out Forward Movement's excellent array of Lenten material?