Italy Archives - Q Spirit

La preghiera del Cristo arcobaleno (Rainbow Christ Prayer in Italian)

An Italian translation of the Rainbow Christ Prayer shows the many faces of the queer Christ. I colori della bandiera arcobaleno rivelano molte facce del Cristo queer nella preghiera del Cristo arcobaleno della scrittrice lesbica Kittredge Cherry e del teologo gay...

Galla and Benedicta: Queer Roman saints — and lovers?

by Kittredge Cherry | | Oct 1-15, Saints

Saint Galla of Rome was a sixth-century widow who avoided remarriage by growing a beard. She founded a hospital and convent, and begged to have her female beloved Benedicta accompany her into heaven. Galla’s feast day is Oct. 5 and Benedicta’s is May 6. Galla was...

Francis of Assisi: Queer side revealed for saint who loved creation, peace and the poor

by Kittredge Cherry | | Oct 1-15, Saints

Historical records reveal a queer side to Saint Francis of Assisi, one of the most beloved religious figures of all time. The 13th-century friar is celebrated for loving animals, hugging lepers, embracing poverty and praying for peace, but few know about his love for...

Blessed John of La Verna: Kissed by Jesus

by Kittredge Cherry | | Aug 1-15, Saints

Blessed John of La Verna is a medieval Italian friar known for his visions of kissing and being kissed by Jesus. His feast day is Aug. 9. John also had an intense relationship with fellow friar and poet Jacopone da Todi. Traditional writers have done “gender...

Artemisia Gentileschi paints strong Biblical women

by Kittredge Cherry | | Artists, July 1-15, Saints

Baroque artist Artemisia Gentileschi inspires many with her paintings of strong Biblical women — created despite the discrimination and sexual violence that she faced as a woman in 17th-century Italy. She was born on July 8, 1593. Although Gentileschi was...

Saint Francis rejoiced when all-female Trinity called him “Lady Poverty”

by Kittredge Cherry | | May 15-31, Saints

Francis of Assisi, one of the world’s best loved saints, rejoiced when an all-female Trinity greeted him as “Lady Poverty” in a queer experience that has been buried. The subversive vision has been ignored, sanitized and perhaps suppressed for centuries, even though...

Medieval holy men Vivaldo and Bartolo: Love stronger than death for AIDS patrons

by Kittredge Cherry | | May 1-15, Saints

A pair of medieval holy men faced disease together with a love that speaks across the centuries to the LGBTQ community and all people in the age of COVID-19, AIDS and Ebola. Thirteenth-century Franciscans Blessed Bartolo and Blessed Vivaldo ministered in an Italian...

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...

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...

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...