Saints Archives - Page 12 of 16

Saint Avertanus and Blessed Romeo: Monks shown as AIDS patrons

by Kittredge Cherry | | Feb 16-29, Saints

Saint Avertanus and Blessed Romeo are 14th-century French monks, traveling companions and “patrons of the AIDS pandemic” who died together of the plague and share the same coffin. They can also provide inspiration during other public health emergencies, such as the...

Andy Warhol: Pop artist inspired by hidden Catholic faith and queer sexuality

by Kittredge Cherry | | Artists, Feb 16-29, Saints

Pop artist Andy Warhol kept his homosexuality hidden and his Christian faith even more secret. The truth is coming out since his death on Feb. 22, 1987. Warhol is famous for painting Campbell’s soup cans, but he made hundreds of other works, including...

Marcella Althaus-Reid: Queer theology pioneer

by Kittredge Cherry | | Feb 16-29, Saints

Marcella Althaus-Reid was a queer theologian who sparked controversy and opened minds with books such as “Indecent Theology” and “The Queer God.” Born and raised in Argentina, she became the first woman appointed to a chair in the School of Divinity at the University...

Sylvia Rivera: Latina transgender woman at Stonewall Uprising

by Kittredge Cherry | | Feb 16-29, Saints

Sylvia Rivera was a Latina transgender woman activist and one of those credited with starting the Stonewall Rebellion that propelled the LGBTQ liberation movement forward. She was a founding member of the Gay Liberation Front, which sprang up quickly in 1969 as a...

Saints Polyeuct and Nearchus: Brothers by affection

by Kittredge Cherry | | Feb 1-15, Saints

Saints Polyeuct and Nearchus were Roman soldiers in 3rd-century Armenia and “brothers by affection.” They are a prime example of same-sex lovers in the early church. Polyeuct’s feast day is Feb. 13. The earliest account of Polyeuct’s martyrdom, a 4th-century Armenian...

Saint Valentine: Marriage equality role model

by Kittredge Cherry | | Feb 1-15, Saints

Marriage equality has a surprising role model in Saint Valentine, a 3rd-century Roman priest who defied the restrictive marriage laws of his era to bless couples who were forbidden to marry. His feast day is, of course, Valentine’s Day (Feb. 14). Saint Valentine was...

Ibrahim Farajajé: Queer theologian, AIDS activist, interfaith scholar, spiritual leader

by Kittredge Cherry | | Feb 1-15, Saints

Ibrahim Abdurrahman Farajajé was a queer theologian, HIV/AIDS activist, interfaith scholar, multi-ethnic artist, and spiritual leader. He died on Feb. 9, 2016 at age 63 in Oakland, California. Formerly known as Elias Farajajé-Jones, he was born on Dec. 19, 1952 and...

Xenia / Andrei of St. Petersburg: Widow adopted husband’s identity and became a queer saint

by Kittredge Cherry | | Feb 1-15, Saints

Xenia of Saint Petersburg is a 18th-century saint who married a soldier and assumed his identity after he died, becoming a “holy fool” who was canonized by the Russian Orthodox Church. This queer saint’s feast days are Jan. 24 and Feb. 6. Xenia (c. 1719-1730 –...

Madonna of Montevergine: Patron of LGBTQ people since medieval times

by Kittredge Cherry | | Feb 1-15, Saints

The Madonna of Montevergine has a reputation for helping queer people since medieval times — including the miraculous rescue of a male couple left to die in Italy more than 750 years ago. Processions to her shrine have been called “ancestral gay pride” marches...

Brigid and Darlughdach: Celtic saint loved her female soulmate

by Kittredge Cherry | | Feb 1-15, Saints

Brigid of Kildare and her soulmate Darlughdach were sixth-century Irish nuns who brought art, education and spirituality to early medieval Ireland. They each served as abbess in Kildare with authority over several monasteries. Brigid (c. 451-525) shares her name and...