Posted on 07/01/2011 6:55:12 AM PDT by marshmallow
She Entered the Convent the Day Benedict XVI Was Born
GUADALAJARA, Spain, JUNE 30, 2011 (Zenit.org) - She entered the Cistercian Buenafuente del Sistal Convent the day that Joseph Ratzinger (now Benedict XVI) was born, and today Sister Teresa is 103 years old and the world's record holder for having lived the longest as a cloistered nun.
After 84 years as a cloistered nun, Sister Teresa says that the greatest gift she has received has been prayer: "Without it, one cannot sustain oneself. I never cease repeating: 'Thank you, forgive. Thank you, forgive.'"
The nun is one of 10 cloistered nuns profiled in the Spanish-language book "¿Qué hace una chica como tú en un sitio como éste?" (What's a Girl Like You Doing in a Place Like This?). In the book, author Jesús Garcia brings to light the secluded world of cloistered nuns by getting to know what life is like behind the grail, and what inspired them to join.
Sister Teresa's story began as young girl living in Alava, Spain. She was known then as Valeria, and she was happy with her life on the family farm. "We were in the field from morning 'til night, working, but we were happy," she said.
The eldest of seven children, her father saw how hard Valeria and her younger sister worked and he wanted a different life for them. "Thinking nuns didnt work, [my father] would say to my sister and me: 'Wouldnt you like to be nuns?'" she recalls.
"I didnt like nuns," she continued, "given how comfortable I was at home, [but] to please my father, [I] prayed to the patroness of Vitoria and asked her to give me a vocation. And did she give me one!"
Upon entering the Cistercian convent in Guadalajara, Spain, Valeria took the name Teresa. "I was afraid to enter, but the Lord helped me," she said. The sister said that she prayed to both God and St. Teresa for the courage to be committed to her new vocation.
Though Sister Teresa says that there was a time when she wondered about her contribution to society from behind the convent walls, her worries were soon put to rest: "Once, I was tempted to imagine how my life would be outside [the convent] because I felt I wasnt contributing anything by being here."
She adds that it is a concern of many cloistered nuns. After consulting a priest about her feelings, Sister Teresa says "He told me I had a very beautiful vocation; that its worthwhile."
Sister Teresa says that she is very happy and does not desire anything from the outside world. "Its a grace from God," she says. "I know that many wont understand my way of living, but I dont understand any other."
From your posts, it is clear that you have no actual information.
I think humans were made to experience all that life offers, not cloisture themselves away. I agree with your “sad” statement. A waste of a good and long life.
So you never met a nun you liked? But willing to put your self out there with statements only? No intelligent discourse? Very smart position if we do not want to answer? How to make a statement without truly knowing? But let’s state it anyway?
Judith, you know fully well there are historical and current records of such incidences....and that throuhgout the church History. But now as then catholics will generally always “demand” evidence from any who comment or have an opinion of such....which the next stage is to attack whatever the evidence is...via the author, the writer, the even or whatever the source is...it’s always going to be disputed regardless.
So it should not wonder you that I will not enduldge that game. I have stated my comments and am quite fine with doing so....without referencing the research or documentation from.
Perhaps you and others might rather present your research that this has NOT happened? that it’s all manufactured by so called anti-catholics? that unless the Pope says it’s so it’s a not? So prove that it’s not happened, isn’t happening....and then we’ll talk.
It is mind reading for you to tell me that I know something. In fact, I know NO SUCH THING. I do know nuns and priests; I have worked with convent nuns in a school setting and in a hospital setting. That is, worked right along side them. I have worshipped with them, gotten to know them, attended social functions with them, laughed with them, prayed with them, cleaned incontinent patients with them, given medications with them, sung with them, had them teaching my children — not only is it “mind reading” for you to tell me what I know, it is WRONG.
Then you post: “So it should not wonder you that I will not enduldge that game. I have stated my comments and am quite fine with doing so....without referencing the research or documentation from.”
I don’t care why you have no proof, I just observe that all you have done is state falsehood. When someone tells a falsehood, it is not a game to demand that they either prove the falsehood, or cease.
Discuss the issues all you want, but do not make it personal.
Perhaps I should have said ‘some know’...thank you for reminding me better to frame comments not personal.
Well then you might google “cloisture abuse”....or you could the ‘Vatican website’, where Rome attests to the problems. Then you might write the Pope and their counsels, and voice you’re complaint they are mistaken as well....never can tell your imput might set the record straight from your perspective.
CAWW “”conclusions based on critical thinking along with extensive research.”
JG ; “ Really? You figured this all out by yourself with this great research you do?”
Are you claiming you did the research because by your statements, I get that YOU did the research. If that isn’t so, please clear it up.
Relying on OTHERS research is not reseach per se unless you are attempting to prove a statement or promote a theory or new fact.
If your opinion is simply on some reading, I wouldn’t quantify that as “research.”
” You can rebutt all you want but it has no bearing on my opinion”
Ah. So you have an opinion. Not research. Thanks for clearing that up for us.
You know what they say about opinions don’t you?
Just trying to help out another poster find a beginning... the Internet has ome fasinating discoveries....but my research and sources remain that...mine....and will not be presented on this forum.
“It is a complete mystery to me, why you would tell me to look for evidence to prove the false statements you have posted.”
What can you expect from the anti’s:
That’s the last fallback on a bad argument: Prove me right.
A beginning of what? Research into what? Are you saying your "internet research" is your intellectual property? If so, we need a lolcat or two around here.
It's interesting when a poster makes a FALSE STATEMENT and then says something about "research" and "sources" supposedly found on a google search but then kept private...
Internet research.
Sure.
The Anti- books and anti-site are so brainwashing to common sense.
Nun holds holds World Record: 84 years of Cloistered Life!
Somebody better tell Anna from the Bible.
Luke 2: 36 And there was a prophetess, [n]Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in [o]years and had lived with her husband seven years after her [p]marriage, 37 and then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple, serving night and day with fastings and prayers. 38 At that very [q]moment she came up and began giving thanks to God, and continued to speak of Him to all those who were looking
**cloisture**
What kind of a word is that?
Gee sounds like another name for a Nun. What a wasted way of Life. What no second husband. Another wasted life in the Lord. Well let's chalk it up to History these wasted Lives. Just terrible! How many Saints of note are Nuns just like this Anna. The one that has influenced me has been Sister Faustina. The Divine Mercy Chaplet has warped speed G forced my prayer life. I am more in the Spirit than any other time in my life since this Prayer.
Praise Jesus!!
I would think if the Vatican itself heavily uses the Internet for searches, and as well a topic they might be researching, it should be good enough for it's members wouldn't you think? Much of the Vatican's library is accessible from the Internet for study etc. You might try to utilize that...very interesting reads once you wade thru the clutter.
“**cloisture**
What kind of a word is that?”
It’s the sequel to Waterworld.
In this sequel, the kid with the map on her back stays on the only dry land, Mt. Everest’s peak, and reinvents the Rule of Benedict.
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