Pier Vittorio Tondelli

 President Obama Designates June as GLBT Pride Month

Always the patriot, and out of respect for President Obama I hope to honor his designation of June as Gay Pride month by posting about good Catholics who left behind the homosexual lifestyle for the sake of the Gospel, heeding Christ's call to "reform your lives, the kingdom of God is at hand!"  Motivated by divine love, these men obeyed the call to "'Come out from among them and separate yourselves from them'... 'I will welcome you and be a father to you and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty". - 2 Cor 6: 17-18. Of course that is not an easy thing to do and requires great grace - but there are holy men and women who have come through the struggle and who are intercessors and models, thus, "since we have these promises, beloved, let us purify ourselves from every defilement of flesh and spirit, and in fear of God strive to fulfill our consecration perfectly." - 2 Cor 7:1



Pier Vittorio redux....
The controversial Italian homosexual writer, who died in 1991 due to complications of AIDS, had been reconciled with the Church before he finally succumbed to the disease. He died a Catholic. I mention Tondelli today, as a sort of patron saint for those who struggle with the issues of homosexuality and Catholic teaching.

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“Tondelli was fascinated with the works of Jewish mysticism, the Imitation of Christ, and the mystics like St. Teresa of Avila. “I love to look through them, to find and read stories, and the idea of holiness,” he wrote.

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In 1989, the Italian writer said, “Everyone that has been raised in the bosom of a religion has his own religiosity. I have always tried to seek out not so much a discussion about the Catholic faith, but rather to express my own religiosity—without a doubt in the bosom of Christianity—which seeks out or questions its own positions, especially in confrontation with other authors.”
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Speaking about chastity after his conversion, Tondelli called it “a mystic virtue for those who have chosen it and perhaps the most superhuman use of sexuality.”” - Catholic News Agency

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My reflections…

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I love Tondelli's statement regarding chastity…”a mystic virtue…the most superhuman use of sexuality.”

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This scripture come to mind: “When he found one really valuable pearl, he went back and put up for sale all that he had and bought it.” - Matthew 13:46

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And this: “I assure you that tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God before you.” - Matthew 21:31

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I also find it interesting Pier Vittorio enjoyed reading the mystics before his conversion. Many saints read the lives and writings of the saints before their own conversions, - two that come to mind immediately, Ignatius of Loyola and Edith Stein - what they read led them to the truth.

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(Originally published on Abbey-Roads 2.)