In order to maintain my tenuous hold on sanity, I have been dutifully avoiding most secular media. I have, however, gotten a tiny smattering of the hogwash going around about Blessed Mother Teresa.
She wrote letters to her confessor, which have been recently published and show her fifty year period of feeling that God was not present in her prayer life.
There are those who now say she should not be canonized, and even that she was an atheist.
Balderdash. This happened to many, many saints. It is called "the Dark Night of the Soul." Mother Teresa persevered for FIFTY YEARS, feeding the poor and marginalized in India, with NO inner consolation from God. If that is not faith, I don't know what is.
Saints, Christians, are not necessarily overly smiley people for whom life always goes swimmingly. That is a misconception. God does not promise that life with Him, in this world, will be all sweetness and light, much less emotional (or even financial) prosperity.
Stuff happens. God is there, whether we feel Him or not.
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!??! I didn't know that stuff about people not wanting her to be canonised...what crap!
ReplyDeleteShe was an amazing woman of God, whether she could feel His presence or not.
there are many who are not able to "feel" that God is there- that is why we live by faith.
thanks for updating me on that
God Bless xoxo
You're welcome, Rachi.
ReplyDeleteSort of related ... and hopefully ok to post here:
ReplyDeleteI recently attended a workshop taught by a Native American woman, high up in her tribe's hierarchy. She was telling of a time when her life was very tough -- for a few years (not 50 though!). Anyway, each morning and each evening she would "connect" with 'Father Creator'. Her husband asked her why does she keep on doing that if she is not happy with the way her life was going. Her response:
"I'm p***ed, not stupid." In other words, in times of strife, when we may not feel God's presence, and are wallowing in how we will survive the immediate crisis ... it doesn't mean we don't believe. It simply means we are hurting. Even Jesus cried out, "My God, My God, why have you foresaken me?" Does that mean he didn't believe? Absolutely not.
During times when Mother Teresa could not "feel" God, she continued to do the work she was called to do. That is what being a Saint is all about.
I'm stepping off my soapbox now.
"That is what being a saint is all about." Exactly.
ReplyDeleteWonderfully put!
ReplyDeleteThanks, AutumRose!
ReplyDelete