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Associated Press also covered the revelation about her dark years that the new compilation of writings, “Mother Teresa: Come Be My Light,” has unearthed. You can read the story, join the Beliefnet conversation, and take a poll about feeling the presence of God by clicking here.
The AP story begins with a quote from my former professor at Notre Dame, Richard McBrien:
Mother Teresa’s hidden faith struggle, laid bare in a new book that shows she felt alone and separated from God, is forcing a re-examination of one of the world’s best known religious figures.
The depth of her doubts could be viewed by nonbelievers and skeptics as more evidence of the emptiness of religious belief. But Roman Catholic scholars and supporters of the woman who toiled in Calcutta’s slums and called herself “a pencil in God’s hand” argue that her struggles make her more accessible and her work all the more remarkable.
“It shows that she wasn’t a plaster-of-Paris saint who never had a doubt about God or the ultimate meaning of life,” said the Rev. Richard McBrien, a University of Notre Dame theology professor and author of “Lives of the Saints.” “This can only enhance her reputation as a saintly person with people who aren’t easily impressed with pious stories. Those who think otherwise have a lot of learning to do about the complexities of life and about the nature of faith.”
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Therese J. Borchard writes the daily blog, Beyond Blue, on Beliefnet and is a regular contributor to the award-winning blog, World of Psychology, on Psych Central. Therese is the author of Beyond Blue: Surviving Depression & Anxiety and Making the Most of Bad Genes and The Pocket Therapist: An Emotional Survival Kit. Subscribe to Beyond Blue, visit her website, or follow her on Twitter @thereseborchard.
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Therese J. Borchard writes the daily blog, Beyond Blue, on Beliefnet and is a regular contributor to the award-winning blog, World of Psychology, on Psych Central. Therese is the author of Beyond Blue: Surviving Depression & Anxiety and Making the Most of Bad Genes and The Pocket Therapist: An Emotional Survival Kit. Subscribe to Beyond Blue, visit her website, or follow her on Twitter @thereseborchard.
posted August 30, 2007 at 5:12 pm
We must remember that in order to do what God the Father wants us to do, does not depend on us “feeling” God’s presence but through the promptings of the Holy Spirits urging.
There are many months on end when feeling just don’t happen, that is why we keep on pressing in with prayer and waiting for the small inner voice that prompts us to help others.
posted August 30, 2007 at 5:20 pm
SO MANY TIMES WE SEEM TO FEED INTO OUR TURMIOL; LOOKING THROUGH TO DARKNESS, RATHER THAN LIGHT!
I KNOW THIS; I AM A SUFFERER OF THIS VERY THING.
I PRAY TO GOD TO RELEASE ME FROM MY BONDAGE, BUT AT NOT.
I BELIEVE STRONGLY THAT THIS CAN BE A STRENGTHENING TOOL FOR WHAT’S ABOUT TO COME NEXT!!
WE ALL NEED TO KEEP EACHOTHER HELD HIGH, FOR US THERE IS HE WHO IS MIGHTIER THAN I.
MOTHER THERESA WAS HUMAN, A WONDERFUL SELFLESS ACT OF PURE HUMANITY!!!
posted September 1, 2007 at 11:41 am
i was born on mother teresa’s birthday (aug 26), so i find the fact that she, too, had dark moments is very comforting…altho i may strive to serve like her, it’s good to know she was “human” in her feelings & thoughts, as opposed to “divine” during her lifetime…
if you think about it, Jesus, too, was/is(?) “like us in all ways” (ie: experienced dark days), being human as well as divine…
so, i suppose it makes sense to look at both Jesus & mother teresa as good “models of faith”, but remember: it’s a model, not a recipe for “all things are always wonderful all the time”…
something to keep in mind, no matter how you feel: you’re not alone in experiencing a wide range of thoughts & feelings…teej
posted September 26, 2007 at 8:37 pm
Whether Mother Theresa had “dark moments” or not has nothing to do with her faith. Her faith in God is solely expressed by her perseverence, strength in service, preaching throughout the world, and prayer life. A person with depression and doubt in God would not go out in service and preaching for the love of Christ, the way she did. A person in depression and doubt would simply back off and remain in silence searching for the truth. Her dark moments could very possibly be due to her inner pain, a pain that pierces her soul, from the world’s harshness, darkness, and paganism that is going on today. Only a person with an extremely sensitive soul is able to feel deep pain and sadness for the world’s sins. Those who condemn Mother Theresa will be condemned one day, the same way. God have mercy on them!