confessor, and that her dying wish was that they be kept private? According to church law, "the sacramental seal is inviolable; therefore it is absolutely forbidden for a confessor to betray in any way a penitent in words or in manner and for any reason." Its interesting that the book's subtitle is:The PRIVATE writings of the Saint of Calcutta. My question:why wasn't Teresa's request honored, and for what possible reason could the Vatican have allowed the breaking of a centuries old church law? Your thoughtful answers will be appreciated.
2007-09-10 10:38:31 · 13 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Yes, I am aware.
This is something that the Congregation for the Causes of Saints would likely not have promoted. The Vatican is notoriously tight-lipped about the inquiries of that body precisely so that the privacy of candidates for sainthood can be preserved and their wishes respected as much as possible within Canon Law. Rev. Kolodiejchuk would have done better to leave the investigation of the letters up to the relevant bodies of Church authority and leave all decisions as to their future after the investigation is complete to the Missionaries of Charity as a whole, and to the Vatican. Publishing them now certainly violated the spirit of what Mother Teresa would have wanted.
2007-09-10 10:49:52 · answer #1 · answered by SpiritRoaming 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I asked my self the very same Q's, I felt her betrayed to say the least. I read the church felt it would help those that had
doubts of God, even some one as holy as Mother Teresa
would be a help to non-believers to believe! but I think that back fired on them, As i saw on c-span "Indepth" over the week-end an intervew with the athesit author who wrote best
current seller "God Is Not Great" by Christ/opher Hitchens,
He had a field day with it, more or less calling her a 100%
phoney. Which is not my opinion or truth of Mother Teresa,
or doubting Thomas! ----- I don't have the answers to reasons
why, But I have no desire to read the book,(at this point in time anyway.) RIP Teresa you lived an unselfish journey the best you knew how.
2007-09-11 05:24:12 · answer #2 · answered by jenny 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Confession must take place in person and not by writing or email, etc. Therefore her letters do not come under the seal of confession.
I do not know what Mother Teresa wishes were but when a person is considered for sainthood, all of her (or his) writings are studied as part of the investigation process.
It is probable that someone thought that the rest of humanity would helped and inspired by these honest and heartfelt letters.
Mother Teresa was not perfect and did not have it easy. She was a real human being with real thoughts and feelings. Just like the rest of us, sometimes she felt close to God and, at times, felt abandoned by God.
She wrote in one of her letters, "I am told God lives in me -- and yet the reality of darkness and coldness and emptiness is so great that nothing touches my soul."
Her letters show a real human struggle with her own spirituality and shows her humanity.
Even Jesus cried out on the cross, "My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?"
Sometimes it seems to be the people with the greatest souls have the greatest doubts.
Just like Mother Teresa we need to struggle through and do not give up. God is with you even if you don't feel His presence at this moment.
With love in Christ.
2007-09-10 18:30:56 · answer #3 · answered by imacatholic2 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Just because she sent the letters to her confessor does not make them a confession. Only confessions are sworn to secrecy. From what I'm finding online, these letters aren't to her confessor anyway. (One review on Amazon describes them as letters "to the great clerics of India".)
Also, while she asked for them to be kept private, the reason she was "for fear that she would be given a prominence that she believed was due to God alone."
2007-09-10 11:05:25 · answer #4 · answered by Nightwind 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I asked a similar question a few days ago.
I understand them being held onto by the Vatican for various reasons, but I have a problem with them being published in a book, and can only hope the proceeds go to her charity.
It seems like a betrayal to me since she wanted them destroyed.
2007-09-11 13:28:05 · answer #5 · answered by maxmom 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it particularly is not adversity over being Catholic..i'm uncertain the way you come to that end. mom Teresa grew to become what actual saints grow to be, a vessel for God. once you abandon your self to God, your will, emotions, emotions etc. are 2d to that. What she experienced many actual saints have experienced. The extra you're with God, the extra your flesh will become an impediment to being what God needs. The extra a soul belongs to God, the fewer he/she might "experience" his love. it particularly is by way of fact the emotions we tend to place self belief in are human. it is the place it is going to become all faith, it is going to become all God.
2016-12-13 05:31:52 · answer #6 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i am unaware of this book but you raise a good point. not knowing anything of the book i have to ask, was it issued by the vatican? did they give it the okay? if not, then someone is either lying about her letters or is out to make a buck and doesn't care about the right of confession. if the vatican did okay this, then all i can say is, i'm disgusted.
2007-09-10 10:49:34 · answer #7 · answered by racer 51 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I suspect that the reason was monetary. hard to make a buck if you don't deliver a product. The Church takes great panes to decide what is in it's OWN best interest...good to never forget that.
2007-09-10 10:56:27 · answer #8 · answered by Night Owl 5 · 1⤊ 2⤋
cold hard cash
2007-09-11 10:47:51 · answer #9 · answered by slopoke6968 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
who gives a rats azz
2007-09-10 11:22:58 · answer #10 · answered by Babybear 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋