When then nineteen-year-old Luiza Silvério crossed the threshold of the convent, her future companion Francília Costa had already been living there for five years, reported BBC. Francília, raised in a deeply religious family in Northeast Brazil, had already taken solemn vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience and was studying theology. Meanwhile, Luiza came to the convent feeling a calling and wanting to escape the “emptiness” of adolescence.
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Their first acquaintance was not friendly. “I thought: how arrogant, who does she think she is?” Francília now recalls laughing, and Luiza confirms she felt exactly the same at first. However, both women had a common goal – to serve God. Over the years, the initial friction faded. The two young nuns began to communicate more and more, their antipathy gradually turned into mutual respect, and eventually – sincere friendship. But the closer they became, the more their resolve to spend their entire lives in the convent began to waver.
Breakthrough and difficult decisions
The COVID-19 pandemic that gripped the world became a turning point. Francília began to suffer panic attacks due to fear of infection and infecting others. According to BBC, she sought a psychotherapist, which made her reassess her life choices. “The life of a nun is very beautiful, but you must have both physical and psychological health. It is not enough just to know how to pray,” she says.
Luiza also faced difficulties – after her grandmother’s death, she was overwhelmed by depression and panic attacks. Therapy helped her understand that mental health must come first, even if it means giving up the dream of staying in the convent forever.
The decision to leave the convent was extremely difficult. When Luiza decided to leave first, Francília was shocked: “My God! A girl, at such an age, finds the strength to start everything anew. I could not even imagine that, although I had spent more time in secular life than she had.”
Nevertheless, Luiza’s courage inspired. Soon Francília also made the decision to return to secular life, writes BBC.
Unexpected outburst of feelings
Life “outside the walls” turned out to be much harsher than they thought. After seven years in the convent, Francília had to buy a completely new wardrobe. Job hunting drove her to despair. “Imagine a job interview. They ask you: What education do you have? And you answer: Theology. What job can you get with that?” she recalls.
To save on rent, the former nuns decided to live together. And it was then that their lives turned upside down. One evening, while watching the romantic comedy “Love in Verona” (in which the heroes initially hate each other but later fall in love), Francília dared to confess her true feelings to Luiza.
Although in adolescence both women understood they were bisexual, it never interfered with their desire to become nuns. “We really wanted to live in celibacy and follow our faith. I never considered the possibility of leaving and forming a relationship,” Luiza confesses.
Faith, love, and a new mission
Today Luiza and Francília are married, writes BBC. Although the Catholic Church still does not recognize same-sex marriages, the women believe that their spirituality and sexuality are inseparable.
“The human Jesus and the divine Jesus are one. Our sexuality and faith also cannot be separated because they are part of us,” says Luiza.
Although there were no church representatives at their wedding, former companions from the convent sent them many messages of support and prayers. Instead of standing at the church altar, the women took photos by a statue of the Virgin Mary, which symbolizes gratitude and the sanctification of family for them.
Sharing their story on social networks, the women received enormous support. Now they are constantly contacted by other members of the LGBTQ+ community and Christians seeking answers about the compatibility of faith and sexuality.
The former nuns say they have found a new calling. “Every space where we can tell our story is a continuation of our mission – to listen and help people,” Francília smiles. “I always said: if one day I have to create a family, God will show me what it should be like. So… here we are. As incredible as it may be, if Cupid exists in this world, in our case it was God.”
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