The level of debate on this issue has been pitiful and painful to watch as the secular media has picked up on some details of Mother's spiritual journey and run with them in totally the wrong direction. Those who have piled on have likewise displayed a spectacular ignorance of the spiritual life.
The truth is that Mother Teresa's doubts were a severe trial permitted by God in the fashion experienced by all the saints. The critical point is that Mother Teresa experienced this trial amidst her heroic work to the poor and of founding a religious order in which she persevered to the end. This requires real faith and her perseverance in the face of these doubts marks her work as heroic and saintly. Had she desisted and left the religious life as many have done, it would be a different story. However she faced this trial humbly and courageously and ran her race to the end.
Likewise, St. John Vianney battled all his life with a temptation to flee Ars and his work as a confessor because he believed he was obstructing God's work and doing nothing good. He was tempted to retire and live a solitary life.
Sunday's second reading from the Letter to the Hebrews is particularly relevant to all of this: "Whom the Lord loves he chastises and puts to the test".
Mother Teresa was tested and tried by God and not found wanting.
The length and depth of this trial only confirm her saintliness. The ultimate “dark night” was Jesus’ death on the cross. I don’t think we can appreciate the intensity of one member of the triune God “abandoned” to Death by the Father. There aren’t words to describe that. The severity of this test upon Blessed Teresa united her that much more intensely to the suffering, abandoned Christ upon the Cross, than those who suffered less.
I really get a kick out of the media’s attempts to wield a theological stick at a subject they are utterly clueless about. As usual, God will take their feeble attempt and use it to illustrate how worthy this woman is of sainthood.
The length and depth of this trial only confirm her saintliness. The ultimate “dark night” was Jesus’ death on the cross. I don’t think we can appreciate the intensity of one member of the triune God “abandoned” to Death by the Father. There aren’t words to describe that. The severity of this test upon Blessed Teresa united her that much more intensely to the suffering, abandoned Christ upon the Cross, than those who suffered less.
I really get a kick out of the media’s attempts to wield a theological stick at a subject they are utterly clueless about. As usual, God will take their feeble attempt and use it to illustrate how worthy this woman is of sainthood.
Mother Teresa persevered to the end despite doubts and temptations, and thus demonstrated her sainthood.
I don't believe the media is ignorant of this. Nobody could be that stupid.
That's it! Doesn't want anyone else modeling her behavior. Her sisters are required to spend a certain amount of time in prayer each day before the Holy Eucharist. They joyfully comply even when they have worked overtime and are exhausted. It's no wonder Satan wants to see her reputation smeared. And he has willing accomplices in the media.
"If God causes you to suffer much, it is a sign that He has great designs for you, and that He certainly intends to make you a saint." - St. Ignatius of Loyola