MY JOURNEY AS A FAITHFUL   DISCIPLE WHO IS ATTRACTED TO THE SAME SEX

From my personal observation, the root of the issue goes so much deeper than some people’s inability to “swallow truth” or their mere dislike of the concept of chastity. - As the Body of Christ, it’s on us. - In many ways, we’ve failed and we’re still failing. - We can be better and we must be. - For the sake of the holiness of the Church, others, and ourselves … - There’s a radical reconciliation to be had between the Church and beloveds who have LGBT+ experiences. - Such healing, however, will require us humbly accepting responsibility and asking the Father for His heart moving forward. - - -

The singlehood of persons in the Church who are exclusively attracted to the same sex IS somewhat different than that of otherwise “straight singles” in the Church. - In cases like mine and others with shared experiences of sexuality, our singlehood doesn’t imply the same romantic or sexual possibility as does our heterosexual counterparts. - It’s okay and healthy to acknowledge this reality. - I’d argue that failing to do so ultimately minimizes and even misrepresents the fullness of the Church’s call for those of us who have LGBT+ experiences. - - -

Can we please stop saying “EVERYONE’S CALLED TO CHASTITY!” when talking about homosexuality in the Church? - The statement is true in itself, but there’s too much nuance . . . - In many ways, such a statement mitigates the reality of chastity for those of us in the Church who are exclusively attracted to the same sex. - As if my call to chastity is identical with everyone else’s … - The way I’m called to live chastely as a single person in the Church undeniably LOOKS DIFFERENT than the way a married man or woman is otherwise called to live out conjugal chastity. - It’s okay and necessary to acknowledge these objective differences. - I’d argue that not doing so ultimately misleads and even misrepresents the fullness of the Church’s call for those of us who have LGBT+ experiences. - - -

Manny Gonzalez's full talk on homosexuality at Franciscan University of Steubenville in October 2024.

“a letter to my former self” - a short film by me. - this month marks six whole years since I got on my knees one night and allowed my heart to desperately cry out to Heaven. - I didn’t know what to expect. I wasn’t sure if He would even listen to my prayer. - yet a God who I thought hated people like me so generously met me on my bedroom floor. - I couldn’t let myself leave the conversation that night unchanged. - six years later, the conversation is still happening. - it’s sometimes the worst. but it’s also the best. - I was a sinner then and I’m a sinner now. but now I know Jesus. and that’s changed everything. - if only who I was then knew who I am now. who I’d become... - all glory to God, who continuously raises dead things back to living. - “some of you were these; but now you have had yourselves washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God” - 1 corinthians 6:11 - - -

it isn’t enough to just “preach truth”. - after all… - why would any person care to hear the truths of the Gospel if they don’t foremost know we care about them? - the Church’s heart for people, including for our brothers and sisters in the LGBT+ community, reaches so much deeper than that. - even our Lord didn’t approach people by immediately commanding them to “go and sin no more”. - rather, He intentionally invested in the personhood of each person He came across before investing in their sin. - therefore, when it comes to our neighbor who has an LGBT+ experience, - we must be willing to receive each other and walk alongside one another. - step off the pulpit. sit at the table. - heartfelt friendship is our starting point. let us begin the journey hand-in-hand. - most sacred heart of Jesus, teach our hearts to be more like Yours! - - -

if we’re going to proclaim June as being the month of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, - then we ought to strive throughout this month to encounter ALL our neighbors with the merciful, humble Heart of our Lord. - after all, we’re not honoring or defending the Sacred Heart if we’re misrepresenting it. - when it comes to sin itself, His Heart is surely a great weapon against the powers of darkness. - however. - when it comes to sinners, which accounts for ALL OF US, His Heart is a place of rest for the weary, a home for the broken, and a hospital for the afflicted. - indeed, His Heart calls us to repentance. but it does so by first willingly meeting us wherever we are and then pointing us higher. - may we aim to accurately present and represent the Sacred Heart of Jesus to EVERYONE we encounter throughout the month of June, - including to our brothers and sisters in the LGBT+ community. - most sacred heart of Jesus, teach our hearts to be more like Yours! - - -

as faithful disciples, we ought to be extra diligent and responsible with our online presences during the month of June. - after all, by calling ourselves followers of Jesus, how we publicly represent Him and His Church matters. - this includes how we publicly represent Christ to our brothers and sisters in the LGBT+ community. - what we post matters. what we repost matters. the comments we leave on other people’s posts matter. - our words can attract people to the Heart of Jesus. our words can also push souls away from Him. - every disciple will be held responsible for the ways we LOVE and FAIL TO LOVE our neighbors. - the social media realm doesn’t exempt us from such accountability. - may our public witnesses draw others to want to better know the One we call our King, rather than give them a justified reason to fear or despise Him. - most sacred heart of Jesus, teach our hearts to be more like Yours! - - -

Can I be cured of my same-sex attractions? Does the Catholic Church teach that I even need to be cured of my attractions? Hear me personally answer all of these questions and much more in this third episode of my “SSA Q&A” series! How this call to a vocation of intimate celibacy with our Lord excites me...Thank you, sweet Jesus, for opening my heart to Your truth and for allowing me to embrace it with the strength, confidence and grace necessary to carry my beautiful cross :-) Link to social media Follow me on my journey! —instagram: callmemannyyy —Twitter: CallMeMannyyy —Blog: https://whatabeautifulcross.wixsite.com/website

What is the hardest part of experiencing same-sex attractions? What was the hardest part of experiencing same-sex attractions two years ago? Hear me personally answer all of these questions and much more in this second episode of my “SSA Q&A” series! May all glory and honor be to God, Our Father, who so mercifully grants me the strength, confidence, and grace needed to continue carrying this cross, even during the harder moments :-) WATCH MY “LIVING A CHASTE LIFE” VIDEO! https://youtu.be/pU8Ys-EdSTY READ “JUST JESUS AND I”, MY BLOG ARTICLE ON MY FUTURE WITHOUT A MARRIAGE! https://whatabeautifulcross.wixsite.com/website/post/just-jesus-and-i Link to social media Follow me on my journey! —instagram: callmemannyyy —Twitter: CallMeMannyyy —Blog: https://whatabeautifulcross.wixsite.com/website

Do I still experience same-sex attractions? Do I still identify as “gay”? What are the differences between the two? Why is it important to know these differences? Hear me personally answer all of these questions and much more in this very first episode of my new “SSA Q&A” series! May all glory and honor be to God, Our Father, who has blessed me with the grace to now know and embrace who I truly am in Him. I am who He says I am and so are you :-) Link to social media Follow me on my journey! —instagram: callmemannyyy —Twitter: CallMeMannyyy —Blog: https://whatabeautifulcross.wixsite.com/website

Why do I choose a non-affirming Church instead of an affirming one? What is the hardest part of experiencing same-sex attractions? How do I deal with daily temptations? Hear me personally answer all of these questions and MANY more in my new YouTube mini-series, “SSA Q&A”! Every week will be a new video answering a new question on being a young Catholic man who experiences SSA. Grab your popcorn, hold on tight to your rosaries and do stay tuned ;-) Link to social media Follow me on my journey! —instagram: callmemannyyy —Twitter: CallMeMannyyy —Blog: https://whatabeautifulcross.wixsite.com/website

As of recent, I have been extremely reliant on and inspired by the simple yet profound prayer, “Jesus, I trust in You”. This beautiful line was gifted to St. Faustina of Kowalska by Jesus Christ Himself and has introduced the lives of millions to Our Lord’s Divine Mercy ever since. Watch this video to hear what this powerful quote means to me, along with how I personally think we should apply it to our own lives and much more. I pray that this video may inspire you to lean deeper and more fully on God’s love and mighty plans for you. For the sake of the sorrowful passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world! Jesus, we trust in You :-) LEARN MORE ABOUT ST. FAUSTINA’S STORY & VISIONS! — https://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=510 — https://youtu.be/PLEN7gZ67F0 — https://youtu.be/MYUZRfGIW8M LEARN MORE ABOUT THE DIVINE MERCY CHAPLET! — https://www.thedivinemercy.org/message/ — https://www.thedivinemercy.org/message/devotions/praythechaplet.php Link to social media Follow me on my journey! —instagram: callmemannyyy —Twitter: CallMeMannyyy —Blog: https://whatabeautifulcross.wixsite.com/website

I am BEYOND thrilled to announce the launch of my blog site “What A Beautiful Cross”! For the past few months, I have felt personally called to share my journey via blogging but was never able to fully commit to it until now. How awesome is Our Lord and His good timing! It has been an absolute blessing to have already connected with SO many Christly brothers and sisters via my Youtube channel these past six months. Along with my channel, I cannot wait to now embrace this new blog project in hopes to only further grow my platform for stronger spiritual impact and wider Godly outreach. God has most definitely planted a seed here and may His fruit only multiply if it be for His greater glory! I pray that my writings along my journey may personally resonate with you, whether you experience same-sex attractions or not, and only strengthen your love for Our Creator and His Holy Church. What a beautiful cross it is and what an even more beautiful God He is :-) “WHAT A BEAUTIFUL CROSS” BLOG LINK — https://whatabeautifulcross.wixsite.com/website Link to social media Follow me on my journey! —instagram: callmemannyyy —Twitter: CallMeMannyyy —Blog: https://whatabeautifulcross.wixsite.com/website Song: “How Can It Be” by Lauren Daigle All music rights to Lauren Daigle and Capitol CMG/UMG/Centricity Recordings. Original song written by Lauren Daigle. This video was produced for entertainment purposes only, no copyright infringements intended.

Back in June of this year, I was blessed with the opportunity to visit the sacred home and grotto of Servant of God Rhoda Wise. I have been spiritually connected to Rhoda and her profound story for a number of years now, so it was beyond a thrill to be able to walk on the grounds where she once walked. Rhoda’s life has inspired me beyond words and I pray that this video may inspire you to also get to know the amazing saint that she was. The Holy Spirit was absolutely present at this home of hers and I honestly cannot WAIT for the day she is canonized as an official saint of the Catholic Church! Servant of God Rhoda Wise, my friend, please pray for us :-) FIND OUT MORE ABOUT RHODA WISE AND HER STORY! — http://rhodawise.com/ Link to social media Follow me on my journey! —instagram: callmemannyyy —Twitter: CallMeMannyyy —Blog: https://whatabeautifulcross.wixsite.com/website

Why did I used to celebrate “Pride Month”? What do I think of it all now? How do I think that we are called to respond to it as faithful Catholics and Christians? Hear my own personal answers to these questions and much more based on my past experiences and where Christ has led me to now! Again, this video is intended for nothing less than to spread the true Love of God and the full beauty of His truth. There are absolutely no hateful or negative motives behind it. I love all of my brothers and sisters, including those actively participating in “Pride Month”, and I just simply want to share the sacred heart of Jesus with all of you! I pray that whoever is watching this may hear me with an open mind and, more importantly, may receive Christ’s truth with an open heart. Remember that God loves you for who you truly are; HIS BELOVED CHILD :-) Link to my testimony in case you missed it! https://youtu.be/1E8_KlNkWT4 Link to social media Follow me on my journey! —instagram: callmemannyyy —Twitter: CallMeMannyyy —Blog: https://whatabeautifulcross.wixsite.com/website

Do we have tips for anyone who is discerning a chaste life? Where do we see the Church on this topic in 10 years? Join Avera Maria Santo and I as we personally answer these questions (and many more) based on our own experiences being Catholics and living with SSA. A huge thank you to my dear sister in Christ for being so open to doing this with me and in the rest of her beautiful ministry work. I pray that God will open the hearts of whoever is watching this and that they may find clarity and refuge in His full truth and love being reflected in us. May God continue to bless His Church, especially Her children battling SSA and living in obedience with Her teachings :-) —IN CASE YOU MISSED PART 1! Link ——— https://youtu.be/2-m3Ladi7T4 ——CHECK OUT MORE OF AVERA MARIA SANTO! —YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCECS_BEBUPSZOScAOvcg_4g —Twitter: diary476 —instagram: averamariasanto —blog: http://couragegulfcoast.wixsite.com/blog ——CHECK OUT COURAGE INTERNATIONAL! —Website: https://couragerc.org/ ——CHECK OUT EDEN INVITATION! —Website: https://www.edeninvitation.com/ —Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmgNJ_UWwpyk_i1JlCP2Rbg ——-CHECK OUT FR. MIKE SCHMITZ! -Videos on Homosexuality: https://youtu.be/fWZ171V0wEQ https://youtu.be/9vLsf14Gk6c Link to social media Follow me on my journey! —instagram: callmemannyyy —Twitter: CallMeMannyyy —Blog: https://whatabeautifulcross.wixsite.com/website

Do we believe that we were “born this way”? Why don’t we just “pray the gay away”? Join Avera Maria Santo and I as we personally answer these questions (and many more) based on our own experiences being Catholics and living with SSA. A huge thank you to my dear sister in Christ for being so open to doing this with me and in the rest of her beautiful ministry work. I pray that God will open the hearts of whoever is watching this and that they may find clarity and refuge in His full truth and love being reflected in us. May God continue to bless His Church, especially Her children battling SSA and living in obedience with Her teachings :-) LINK TO PART 2! ——— https://youtu.be/VZtEClTgzKY CHECK OUT MORE OF AVERA MARIA SANTO! —YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCECS_BEBUPSZOScAOvcg_4g —Twitter: diary476 —instagram: averamariasanto —blog: http://couragegulfcoast.wixsite.com/blog Link to social media Follow me on my journey! —instagram: callmemannyyy —Twitter: CallMeMannyyy —Blog: https://whatabeautifulcross.wixsite.com/website