Two saints who have become popular with gay Christians over the past few decades are Sergius and Bacchus, who were martyred sometime in the third century. According to pious tradition, they were best friends who served together in the Roman army, and who secretly worshipped Christ. Somehow, their devotion to the outlawed religion was discovered, and the two men were subjected to various humiliations and tortures before being put to death. These saints were greatly revered for centuries, particularly in the Byzantine Empire, where cults honoring soldier-saints were quite popular.

In recent times, historians such as the late John Boswell have argued that Sergius and Bacchus would be, in today's language, considered homosexual, and that their deep love for each other was romantic or erotic, as well as spiritual and fraternal. Other scholars have argued against such a case, and so the debate continues unresolved.

Whatever the precise nature of the relationship between these two saints was, one thing is clear: they loved each other a great deal, and they loved Christ, even to the point of choosing death rather than rejecting their Lord and Savior. And these two brave and loyal men did not see the love they bore for each other as in any way demeaning or contradicting their love for Christ. Indeed, their common piety undoubtedly helped them maintain their strong friendship and gave their love for each other an added depth.

Oh Sweet Jesus, my Most Gracious Lord, I thank you so much for the life and witness of your Saints, such as Sergius and Bacchus! They inspire and encourage me, for they show me clearly that life in accord with the Gospel teachings is not an impossible ideal, but rather something I can strive to attain. You ask of me not perfection, but simply my best effort, and the example of the saints shows me that whatever I lack, you will supply in abundance.

Blessed Sergius and Blessed Bacchus, from your thrones in Heaven where you see God face to face, look with mercy and compassion upon all who strive to lead lives of virtue, especially those who find the path of righteousness burdensome and difficult. Through your constant prayers at God's feet, remember all those who are persecuted for their Faith, and bless those Christians who find their best friends, spouses, partners, and soulmates among persons of the same gender. Smile down upon all gay men and lesbians who seek to be loving and kind, and from your Heavenly repose, protect us from all harm, both temporal and spiritual. Oh Holy Saints Sergius and Bacchus, pray for us, and obtain for us from Our Blessed Lord and Our Gracious Mother every good thing that our spirits require! Guide us in the path of peace until that glorious day when we will see God face to face, and at last experience what it truly means to love and to be loved!