Publications
- A woman who spent almost a decade as a nun in Brazil has left the convent to travel the world with her fiancee, Jessica.
- The story of Sister Marilia Gabriela Holanda, 34, went public after 'before and after' pictures of her both as a nun and then after leaving the convent were posted by her partner.
- The former nun is now engaged to partner, Jessica Alves.
Once a devout Catholic nun, Marilia says a decade earlier, she didn't doubt that she wanted to dedicate her life to God until she fell in love at first sight with a woman she met online.
Former nun, Marilia Gabriela Holanda and her partner, Jessica Alves. All photos courtesy @apenasjess/Newsflash
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And now, she has opened up about her experience in leaving the undisclosed Brazilian convent after nine years of prayer and devotion to travel the world with her partner.
Marilia says the reason she left is simple, "I met a girl, I had a great affection for her and we ended up getting very close, and ended up falling in love. I didn't know what I was feeling. Today, I know I was in love."
Speaking to i7 news about her decision as a young woman to join the convent, she says that visiting the church had always been something that she did with her mother and felt relaxed and comfortable in this environment.
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Marilia had even applied to join the Santa Terezinha do Menino Jesus convent, one of Brazil's strictest and most reclusive convents.
However, she had later gone to another convent, which she declined to name.
And although she fell in love and wanted to be with her new partner, Marilia says it was nevertheless a tough decision to leave religious life to start a new course in life, but they were determined to be together as a couple.
The nun is now a social worker and lives with Jessica with whom she is travelling the world.
What's your love story? Tell us about it here.
CREDIT: @apenasjess/Newsflash/MAGAZINEFEATURES.CO.ZA
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