This is kind of an old article but I was wondering what people's thoughts on the idea that many times Mother Teresa described not feeling God's presence.
Here is a quote from the article.
"Jesus has a very special love for you. As for me, the silence and the emptiness is so great that I look and do not see, listen and do not hear.
— Mother Teresa to the Rev. Michael Van Der Peet, September 1979"
Here is the article http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1655415-1,00.html.
I just want people's thoughts on this. Do not try to guess my thoughts.
Thanks
2007-12-13 10:17:17 · 13 answers · asked by queen of snarky-yack again 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
she lacked faith sometimes, everyone does.
what interests me more is that she kept doing her work and didn't go "that's it, there's no God!" and storm away.
2007-12-13 10:20:51 · answer #1 · answered by Quailman 6 · 5⤊ 2⤋
Mother Teresa was not surprised by her "dark night of the soul". As a Franciscan, believe me, she understood. Her Fathers (like St. John of the Cross) and Mothers (like St. Teresa of Avila) wrote much about those times. It happens to all of the great souls along the Illuminative and Unative Ways.
2007-12-13 10:23:37 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
If you were to look at the lives of almost all the saints, you would see they struggled through such dark times. Spiritually inclined and sensitive people who plunge into the darkest part of humanity's suffering--it's no wonder they have those doubts. Mature faith, however, does not depend on rosy feelings. Mother Teresa knew what and Who she believed in. She was also the woman who said, I believe, "God did not call me to be successful. He called me to be faithful." She was amazing.
2007-12-13 10:47:28 · answer #3 · answered by ? 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Mother Teresa was an incredibly compassionate disciple of Christ. She did so much good that, I believe, some people came to forget that she was only human.
ALL people have doubts at times, even the faithful. Just read the Bible..it is full of very faithful followers who, at times, questioned their faith and felt weak.
As brothers and sister in Christ, we are supposed to comfort one another, share our burdens, our doubts and weaknesses as well as our joys. It is not unusual that Mother Teresa would have a few confidants of her own with whom to share. Even Jesus needed people, friends and confidants...that's why He had disciples, Lazarus, etc.
I truly believe Mother Teresa was a faithfull and obedient child of God and yes, I think she had moments of loneliness, weariness, weakness and doubt but ALWAYS God knows one's heart and even "admires" a person who questions and seeks comfort.
God bless.
2007-12-13 10:30:48 · answer #4 · answered by amomentssunlight 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Mother Theresa was a control freak and was in it to get adored not for altruistic purposes.
Read the book "The Missionary Position"for more details.
She was in it for the money and fame. The poverty was an act. She accepted millions from despotic rulers of some countries and from people who had defrauded people. She used the money more to promote herself and start new conventys (with her name on them) than she spent on the people she cared for.
Also the 'care' she gave was harmful not in keeping with modern comfort beliefs.(( it was substandard))
She is not what the media have made her out to be. If you don't believe me read the book "the missionary position". it DOCUMENTS ALL THAT i HAVE SAID AND MORE
2007-12-14 03:45:19 · answer #5 · answered by ??IMAGINE ?? 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Mother Teresa chose to live her life amongst daily suffering, it would be hard if not impossible to not be affected by this. She was a believer and had moments of difficulty where she wisely questioned her life and her beliefs. When she had questions she directed them to others to find answers, her questions did not diminish her faith. She was a special woman who remained Christian to the end of her life.
2007-12-13 10:25:39 · answer #6 · answered by future dr.t (IM) 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
i think Mother Teresa was so overwhelmed by all the work she was doing that she felt like all humans sometimes and when she had to make some of the descisions she made she felt like she was doing it alone. When we read the whole book we will probably understand more.
2007-12-13 10:28:10 · answer #7 · answered by sassyalways26 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I can only speak for myself, but Christ spoke directly to me twice in my life and this was 36 years after my salvation. I went through years of what I call wandering in the wilderness and I got far from God, but God never left me. At every turn He was pulling me back toward Him. Then I asked for an answer in prayer for 3 months, but then He answered in an audible voice as I was awaking one morning. After this I yearned for God. I was hungry to hear His voice again. Two years later after intense prayer and worship He spoke to me once again.
What happens is the encounter with Christ changes us. In His presence we change and the experience is so glorious that we hunger and yearn for Him. It is like a lover that without Him we feel empty and dry and lacking. It is like an addiction, you want just a little bit more of that wonderful feeling and experience and life changing event. Nothing compares to the Lord and being in the presence of the Holy Spirit. I have the Holy Spirit within me and I see His hand in my every day affairs, but there is something about being spoken to directly with words just for me. It is like He did it to bring comfort to me and increase my faith and to show His love.
Without the Lord and after experiencing His voice and not hearing anything audible for 5 years, I hunger and yearn and thirst for Him. I am dry without Him. I want just one more word, one more experience and one more encounter. Only Christ satisfies.
2007-12-13 11:19:07 · answer #8 · answered by Jeancommunicates 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
+PAX i think of that one and all the great Saints besides as us on a daily basis individuals have disaster in faith now and returned. some thing will ensue which will make you question your faith. possibly she only longed to pay attention the Lord's voice as quickly as greater. i will understand that. to pay attention the voice of the only which you like with all your heart soul, concepts, power and being...and by no ability to pay attention it returned. i understand i might pray on a daily basis to pay attention it returned. I do pray on a daily basis to pay attention His voice...to pay attention him communicate...and he does, via Scripture and human beings who he places before me- yet I even have by no ability heard his somewhat voice which i might prefer to pay attention. I do think of that there is distinctive no longer something it somewhat is being made out of this. interior the ability of canonization each and every thing that the guy has ever written is long gone over with a microscope. it somewhat is obtrusive, that even if if she did doubt her faith for a time, she did no longer doubt interior the Lord in any respect only based upon the artwork she did all of her existence. i grew to become into blessed to be in her presence as quickly as, and heard her communicate as quickly as. My heart knew, i grew to become into interior the presence of a residing saint at that factor. i'm going to by no ability forget approximately it as long as I stay. Blessed Teresa of Calcutta, pray for us. j.
2016-11-26 21:09:37 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
i think that it means that all of us, from the greatest, to the most ordinary ones... struggle in our faith walk and that it is OK to do so....
sometimes people feel so bad when they struggle... but so many of the great saints had their own personal struggles and all we hear about is the good and not the bad....
2007-12-13 10:21:42 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋
I think it's absolutely fascinating that she would devote her life to a God that she never had any evidence of. What led her to believe?
2007-12-13 10:21:13 · answer #11 · answered by Let Me Think 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋