Daniela Paula Bartolome
In Christianity, saints are regarded as beings who serve as intermediaries between God and humanity. They hold a central position between holiness and relatability. A saint must have shown heroic virtue, have performed miracles, are worthy of imitation, and perhaps have suffered martyrdom (United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, 2023). However, in this paper, I will present evidence on how the portrayal of gender allows the everyday person to position saints between holiness and intimacy. The familiarity of saints draws them to intimacy, while gender ambiguity portrays holiness through the breaking and transcendence of norms, chastity, and choice of apparel.
Portrayal of Gender and Our Perception of Intimacy with Saints (pdf)