Letters Reveal Mother Teresa's Secret

Book Of Iconic Nun's Letters Shows She Was Tormented By Her Doubts In Her Faith

(CBS)  In life, Mother Teresa was an icon — for believers — of God's work on Earth. Her ministry to the poor of Calcutta was a world-renowned symbol of religious compassion. She was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

In a rare interview in 1986, Mother Teresa told CBS News she had a calling, based on unquestioned faith.

"They are all children of God, loved and created by the same heart of God," she said.

But now, it has emerged that Mother Teresa was so doubtful of her own faith that she feared being a hypocrite, reports CBS News correspondent Mark Phillips.

In a new book that compiles letters she wrote to friends, superiors and confessors, her doubts are obvious.

Shortly after beginning work in Calcutta's slums, the spirit left Mother Teresa.

"Where is my faith?" she wrote. "Even deep down… there is nothing but emptiness and darkness... If there be God — please forgive me."

Eight years later, she was still looking to reclaim her lost faith.

"Such deep longing for God… Repulsed, empty, no faith, no love, no zeal," she said.

As her fame increased, her faith refused to return. Her smile, she said, was a mask.

"What do I labor for?" she asked in one letter. "If there be no God, there can be no soul. If there be no soul then, Jesus, You also are not true."

"These are letters that were kept in the archbishop's house," the Rev. Brian Kolodiejchuk told Phillips.

The letters were gathered by Rev. Kolodiejchuk, the priest who's making the case to the Vatican for Mother Teresa's proposed sainthood. He said her obvious spiritual torment actually helps her case.

"Now we have this new understanding, this new window into her interior life, and for me this seems to be the most heroic," said Rev. Kolodiejchuk.

According to her letters, Mother Teresa died with her doubts. She had even stopped praying, she once said.

The church decided to keep her letters, even though one of her dying wishes was that they be destroyed. Perhaps now we know why.

[invitingall]

Whoever has issues with faith can resolve it by following two simple steps:

1. First be convinced that there is a Creator (look at this universe).

2. Then ask to that Creator to direct you to the right faith.

I''''ll not tell you which religion I belong to. However, trust me it works, God responses if you sincerely ask.

And ask to the unknown Creator of this universe, not to the God of any particular religion. The true religion exists, and God will show you which one it is.

I wish Mother Teresa knew this.

"(cowardly atheist = agnostic)"

Actually, an agnostic is wise enough and BRAVE enough to ADMIT that he is unsure exactly as to what he should believe. It shows a person who is not willing to jump to a forgone conclusion.

"BTW, I was baptized more often than most people go to church (we moved a lot), and, according to Baptist doctrine, once saved, always saved.

Isn''''t that great? I can do whatever I want and still go to heaven. . . (hmmmm...)

Don''t confuse Baptist doctrine with what the Bible teaches...they are exactly the opposite!

In fact, more than likely, you have probably been taught that ungodly sinners will burn in hell for eternity.

Amazingly, the Bible says NOTHING of the sort!

It may well be the most read book in the world (though I doubt it, most just collect dust), but it is UNDOUBTEDLY the LEAST understood.

Could it be that it is just poorly written or could it be that it is cleverly written to be vague and indecipherable (without a revealed key)?

I expect that this thread will soon be expiring on this CBS page. To continue debate on this and many other exciting issues, please go here:

http://www.volconvo.com/forums/

See you there!

"Why anyone would want to rely on a book that is riddled with mistakes and intentional alterations is beyond me. Guys, just step out of the bible - there''''s a whole new world out there. No point letting 1st century foolishness dictate 21st century living. The bible lacks compassion and that is enough reason to toss it."

Wouldn''t you say that it is PEOPLE who lack compassion? The Bible is, after all, an INANIMATE object, incapable of compassion. It can only RECORD the compassion (or lack, thereof) of the people referred to within its pages.

In that regard, its unlike the fairy tales that you normally read. It pulls no punches, showing the ugly side of human nature just as it is, warts and all.

The last post was incomplete. Here''s the corrected one:

Have you ever tried to rid your house of mice or roaches or ants? Did you try to SPARE the women and children of these PESTS? Did you hate yourself or expect others to hate you because of your ''genocide'' (pesticide)?

If you place such little value on lesser species than yourself, why are you angry at God who does much less than this. If you could realize that ants and roaches and mice are so much closer to being your next of kin and that God is removed so way beyond anything remotely human, you would understand that there is no comparison. Your killing of a mouse is like killing your own brother. God killing a human is like you smashing a dirt clod. There''s no comparison.


Another thing that you fail to realize is that EVERY child killed will be brought BACK to life...but to a BETTER, more GLORIOUS life. By allowing these UNFORTUNATE children to die, He has spared them the misery of future ungodly lives and brought them straight into paradise.

Of course, when you get rid of the roaches, you are a hero to your ''family''. To the roaches, you are a MONSTER!

EVERY child killed will be brought BACK to life...but to a BETTER, more GLORIOUS life. By allowing these UNFORTUNATE children to die, He has spared them the misery of future ungodly lives and brought them straight into paradise.

Of course, when you get rid of the roaches, you are a hero to your ''family''. To the roaches, you are a MONSTER!

"THIS IS AN IMMORAL BOOK!! CHRISTIANS TALK ABOUT MORALITY!!
LOOK AT THE BOOK THEY WORSHIP!! IT HAS TALES OF THE MOST IMMORAL THINGS I HAVE HEARD OF AND THEY ARE SANCTIONED BY THE LORD!!!!
SICK!!!"

Are newspapers immoral because they REPORT immoral acts of humankind?

Then neither is the Bible.

These immoral tales recorded in the Bible are NOT sanctioned by God although, at first glance, they indeed APPEAR to be. Christians don''t worship the BOOK; they worship the God revealed in this book. The title "Christian" has been misappropriated by very un-Christian people who have given Christianity a very bad name.

Nggr, you have repeatedly called God a child-killer and a murderer and other names as if that was a bad thing. This only shows your lack of understanding of WHO God is and what He is capable of. (continued)

[tuckerndfw]

Poorly written? You''''re not a very adept literary critic, are you?

Posted by orinvee at 11:47 PM : Aug 26, 2007

Are you claiming it is well written?

Okay.

We disagree.

"The Bible is book of very poorly written fairy tales and legends."

Poorly written? You''re not a very adept literary critic, are you?

"People who organize their lives around fallible texts are surely building their houses of belief on shaky ground."

ALL texts are fallible since they are written by humans and humans are extremely fallible.

It''s kind of amusing that those who usually say this are speaking only of the Bible and are not including all of those other much more fallible books that they seem to follow without questioning. You know the ones (the really riduculous ones), like "The Origin of the Species" by Charles Darwin and those other SPECIOUS texts force-fed our children in the schools and touted as scientific in the Hallowed Halls of Hokum.

Want fallible? Go to school, talk to experts, ask a doctor or a scientist! There''s your fallible.

[tuckerndfw]

your money won''''t mean squat when you take your last breath tucker.

Just remember that.
Posted by singinrick at 10:39 PM : Aug 26, 2007

We absolutely agree and why I am attempting to spend it all before I take that last breath.

When we take our last breaths, nothing will matter, so I may as well enjoy it now while I can.

Next time you are at the liquor store or porn shop (whichever you frequent most often), pray for Jesus to pay the bill. And, see what happens . . .

*ROFL*

[tuckerndfw]

Posted by singinrick at 10:33 PM : Aug 26, 2007

Have a good evening, Ricky boy, thanks for the entertainment.

I don''t do re-runs, I already tried Jesus. I prefer Money. It''s much more efficient and reliable.

But, to each his own. . .

[tuckerndfw]

Posted by singinrick at 10:28 PM : Aug 26, 2007

Have you ever heard the term blasphemy?

I was just wondering.

Between your using the Lord''s name in vain and your blasphemies, it appears you should spend more time concerning yourself with the fate of your own soul than worrying over others.

[tuckerndfw]

Posted by singinrick at 10:23 PM : Aug 26, 2007

"Let he who is without sin cast the first stone."

Watch out for Roman soldiers and Jewish priests . . .

BTW, Ricky boy, how''s that research on usury going? You seem to have ignored my previous comment about the topic. I sure hope you aren''t paying or receiving interest on Money (usury).

[tuckerndfw]

Equating the bible to a book of porn reveals the true nature of you''''re perverted thoughts. I am going to leave you to wallow in you''''re desperation and disalusionment as "intelligent" debate is lacking on you''''re part

I know who wrote the bible and so do millions of other christians who know the "truth"

Posted by jankebenz at 10:09 PM : Aug 26, 2007

Did you know that the "Passion of Christ" should have been rated X due to its pornographic content? Amazing how all those good "God fearing" parents dragged their innocent children to a porn flick. And, how so many churches actively promoted it.

I''ll leave it up to you to look up the definition of "pornography" since you seem to be unfamiliar with its meaning.

Have a good evening and I sincerely hope your imaginary friend brings you comfort. So long as it does not require inflicting harm on others.

[jankebenz]

The Bible is the earliest known written book of pornography. If it was written today, in modern English grammar, it would only be sold in adult bookstores, mail-order or online.
Posted by tuckerndfw at 09:45 PM : Aug 26, 2007


Equating the bible to a book of porn reveals the true nature of you''re perverted thoughts. I am going to leave you to wallow in you''re desperation and disalusionment as "intelligent" debate is lacking on you''re part

I know who wrote the bible and so do millions of other christians who know the "truth"

[tuckerndfw]

Posted by jankebenz at 09:49 PM : Aug 26, 2007

During the course of my life, I have visited a church of every major denomination, including Mormons.

I was never asked about my beliefs during those visits, so your church is not unique in any way.

The conversation with Ricky boy related to Baptist doctrine. Baptist doctrine is based on the idea that every person is responsible for his own soul. And, that no other person has the authority to instruct him on how to pursue his spiritual goals. (sovereignty of the soul, priesthood of the believer)

A Baptist pastor is the manager of the church and is allowed to entertain congregants, but, his opinions are no more valid than anyone else''s.

That is basic Baptist doctrine and the foundation for the Baptist church.

Baptists who follow Baptist doctrine do not preach to anyone unless they are chosen to do so by the congregants.

Ricky boy clearly does not follow Baptist doctrine. Neither do you.

If I want you (or anyone else) to preach to me, I''ll inquire as to where you are conducting services, otherwise, you can safely assume I am not interested in whatever it is you think God told you. Or, what you think the Bible means.

If God wants to tell me something, he''ll do so directly. He does not need your help.

[jankebenz]

erhaps you should explore a career as a Catholic priest. They even accept atheists.
Posted by tuckerndfw at 09:23 PM : Aug 26, 2007

I don''t know what kind of church you went to but my and any other true church welcomes atheists and sinners alike to present the sin forgiving gospels to them. We sincerly hope that they will "see" the light and accept Jesus as their saviour

[tuckerndfw]

You are sinking very low in you''''re desperation to bash the bible by using trash and filth

Posted by jankebenz at 09:35 PM : Aug 26, 2007

I didn''t write the Bible.

As a matter of fact, no one really knows who actually wrote the Bible. But, whoever he (she?) was, he wasn''t very good.

Stating the truth is not "bashing the Bible," except to those who refuse to acknowledge the truth.

The Bible is the earliest known written book of pornography. If it was written today, in modern English grammar, it would only be sold in adult bookstores, mail-order or online.

[jankebenz]

The Bible is one of the earliest known written books of pornography. Which explains why it is such a best seller.

Porn always sells. . .
Posted by tuckerndfw at 09:08 PM : Aug 26, 2007

The bible does not sell porn ,only dollar loving evil seks exploiters do. The bible does not sell anything but renders the "free" gift of grace and salvation trough Jesus
You are sinking very low in you''re desperation to bash the bible by using trash and filth