Blessed Bernardo Francisco de Hoyos y de Seña was an 18th-century Spanish priest who wrote about his mystical marriage to Jesus. This queer saint was beatified in 2010 and his feast day is November 29. Bernardo was 18 when he had a vision of marrying Jesus in a companionship ceremony (you know, a wedding). He described it this way: “Always holding my right hand, the Lord had me occupy the empty throne; then He fitted on my finger a gold ring…. ‘May this ring be an earnest of our love. You are Mine, and I am yours. You may call yourself and sign Bernardo de Jesus, thus, as I said to my spouse, Santa Teresa, you are Bernardo de Jesus and I am Jesus de Bernardo. My honor is yours; your honor is Mine.
Consider My glory that of your Spouse; I will consider yours, that of My spouse. All Mine is yours, and all yours is Mine. What I am by nature you share by grace. You and I are one!’” Yummy. Bernardo had more than one romantic vision concerning Jesus, including Jesus’ proposal of marriage to him: “Handpicked soul of mine, I want you for my companion…Consider, beloved soul, if it would suit you to take me as your husband…Consider it well…” Bernardo did consider, and consent. Bernardo’s experiences fit into a long tradition of mystical marriages comparing the soul’s union with God to a human wedding. It is also called nuptial mysticism. Does romantic Jesus, and homoromantic Jesus at that, make him seem more real or more relevant to you?
