A heartwarming love story has emerged from Brazil as a former nun, Lais Dognini, and her husband, Jackson Dognini, a former Catholic seminarian, secretly tied the knot after falling deeply in love while sharing prayers and emotional support during a difficult period in their lives.
The couple’s remarkable journey began years ago when both were fully devoted to the Catholic Church. Lais had committed her life to the Carmelite convent, dedicating herself to prayer, service, and silence, while Jackson was undergoing training to become a priest, spending five years in the seminary. Their paths crossed briefly during missionary work, but at the time, they had no idea their destinies would one day intertwine.
Their story of faith, struggle, and love
According to O Globo, their love story began when Lais suffered a period of deep depression after leaving the convent. Emotionally broken and uncertain of her future, she found unexpected comfort in Jackson, who reached out to her during her lowest point. He began offering prayers and words of faith, assuring her that God’s love would see her through.
Their connection deepened as they exchanged daily prayers and reflections, creating a powerful spiritual bond that gradually evolved into mutual affection. The pair soon realized that their feelings for each other were growing beyond friendship, even though both initially resisted due to their past religious commitments.
Leaving the church for love
After years of discernment, Jackson made the difficult decision to leave the seminary, realizing that his calling had changed and that his heart belonged to Lais. Around the same time, Lais continued to heal from her depression, rediscovering joy and purpose outside the convent walls. Together, they embraced a new chapter of life — one guided by love, faith, and understanding rather than vows of celibacy.
In April 2024, they officially began dating, and by October of the same year, Jackson proposed to Lais in a quiet, intimate ceremony surrounded by family and close friends. The couple later exchanged vows in March 2025, choosing to keep their marriage private until they felt ready to share their story with the world.
Sharing their joy with the world
On October 7, Lais took to Instagram to reveal their marriage publicly for the first time, expressing gratitude for the journey that led them together. In her emotional post, she wrote, “It doesn’t seem like much, right? But let’s face it, we’re adults now and we know what we want in life.”
The post quickly went viral, drawing admiration from many online users who praised the couple’s courage to follow their hearts while maintaining their faith. Despite their departure from religious life, Lais and Jackson have continued to emphasize the importance of spirituality, compassion, and service in their marriage.
Their story serves as a reminder that love can blossom in the most unexpected places — even in moments of prayer — and that genuine faith is not limited by titles, uniforms, or vows, but by the ability to love deeply and selflessly.