The ‘Atheism’ of Mother Teresa [Dark Night of her Soul?]

CERC ^ | September 9-15, 2007 | FATHER RANIERO CANTALAMESSA

[Convert from ECUSA]

Persons that have a deep love for God and persevere daily in trying to follow Him always have dark nights of the soul. God tests each one for the quality of their live, faith and perseverence. The deeeper the love, devotion, and perseverence of the person, the greater the test. The great saints of the Church (Catholic and Eastern Orthodox) certainly went through it. I’ve known plenty of Protestants who went through the same dark night experience.

[Salvation]

** Rather than look for something, let us all to OUR prayers! What we see is not as important as Him who always sees us.**

Wisdom spoken here!

[Salvation]

**There are also many examples of this sort thing in the life of Saint Padre Pio that are documented (such as the time Saint Padre Pio was protecting a seminarian from temptation — probably with angels he asked for).

In this particular case of Saint Padre Pio, the devil took a curtain rod and was beating Saint Padre Pio with it.

The next morning, Saint Padre Pio was injured (and frightened) from the attack.**

There are many such stories in the book I just finished about Padre Pio, author is Ruffin. Excellent documentation in it.

[topher]

Do know much about Saint Nilus, friend of Saint John of the “Golden Mouth” (I can’t spell his last name, but that is the literal meaning of it...)

[Mrs. Don-o]

"Thus the apostle Paul begins his writings identifying himself as "chief among apostles." And ends his writings identifying himself as "chief among sinners."

Good observation! I have heard that the prisons are full of robbers, rapists and murderers who say "I don't deserve to be here" or "It was the other guy's fault" or "What I did wasn't that wrong."

In the movie Dead Man Walking --- I don't know if the writer and director intended it this way or not --- but I thought the main dramatic tension was whether Poncelet would ever fully face and acknowledge the horror of what he had done. In other words, whether he would even give himself the bare possibility of repenting for even one minute, before he was executed.

But saints, I think, examine their consciences every day, and see where they fall short, and feel shame, and ask forgiveness.

[the808bass]

In other words, whether he would even give himself the bare possibility of repenting for even one minute, before he was executed.

And fittingly, those who never do acknowledge their need for repentance are dead, even though they may exhibit all the accompanying signs of life. Dead People Walking.

[Salvation]

**St. Paul said: “And to keep me from being too elated by the abundance of revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh” (2 Corinthians 12:7).**

I think a thorn is given to all of us. We just don’t have the insight like Blessed Mother Teresa had, and so we do not realize that the thorn comes from God, and that we can give thanks for it.

(Sorry about the run-on sentence.)

[Salvation]

Is it St. John Chrysostom?

[Salvation]

**those who never do acknowledge their need for repentance are dead, even though they may exhibit all the accompanying signs of life. Dead People Walking.**

You are speaking a huge generality here. Can these people be converted on their deathbed, much like the Good Thief on the Cross beside Jesus, to which Christ replied, “This day you shall be in Paradise with me.”

[Jeff Head]

I agree. My entire intent was to point to "her fruit", which I believe was a result of her faith in the living God...even in hard times.

I also am willing to see and learn that earlier versions of the word mystic are not necessarily at all related to what I was raised to view the word as.

Whatever we may call them, and for me this is the essence, people who exhibit faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and who pray to Him and seek His image in their countenance, and seek to live as He lived and love as He loved...have "things happen". Miracles big and small.

If folks want to call that mystic, and if the early saints did so...then that is fine with me. It points to the fruits of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and the impact it can have on individuals, both those pronounce in their faith, and those whose lives they touch.

...and for me, that is the critical issue. I believe that occurred with Mother Tereasa, precisely as a result of her faith...even when the going was rough.

[Cvengr]

Does the etymology correspond to the word “Mystery” as in “Mystery Church Age”. That word for mystery derived from the Greek MUSTERION, for hidden.

[jacero10]

Thanks for your last post, Jeff.

It is funny how we can use the same words to mean different things and talk past one another.

[Salvation]

It very well might. I was just concentrating on mystic and mystical, however.

[topher]

Yes. It is. I just could not spell Chrysostom.

From the Catholic Saints page (http://saints.catholic.org):

St. John, named Chrysostom (golden-mouthed) on account of his eloquence

[Salvation]

And here are some FR threads about him:

Synaxis of The Three Hierarchs: Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian, & John Chrysostom, Jan.30

The Translation of the Relics of St. John Chrysostom (Jan 27 or Feb 9 Julian calendar)

The Easter Sermon of St. John Chrysostom (c. 400 AD)

The Easter Sermon of St. John Chrysostom (c. 400 AD)

The Life of Saint John Chrysostom

PASCHAL Homily of St John Chrysostom

The Golden Mouthed Preacher-St.John Chrysostom [Bishop,Doctor of Catholic and Orthodox Churches]

[Mad Dawg]

We have achieved “same page” status. Status nominal. Proceed.

[pray4liberty]

Well...at least we know what Paul was talking about!

[GOP_Thug_Mom]

please give me your thoughts on this article, newguy :) (Read the whole thing and know the author is not saying that Mother Theresa was an atheist)