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Title: Mother Teresa: Come Be My Light
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Manufacturer: Doubleday
List Price: $22.95
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| Customer Reviews: |
| Mother Teresa: Come Be My Light by Doubleday A painful, distressing story of Mother Theresa's betrayal | | I had not read these reviews before opening this book because it was given to me by a friend. It was obvious from the opening pages that Mother Theresa was a saintly person whose life in the world and her interior life were a spiritual path she was called to by God. Her willingness to sacrifice and devote everything for her beloved Jesus brings tears to one's eyes. As I read on it brought a different kind of tears to realize how deeply she was betrayed by her trusted advisors and confessors. Her letters begging to be allowed to serve the poor are bad enough-- but then the letters begging to have her private thoughts destroyed and burned only to be denied are even more distressing. It is clear that her whole life, every thought, every word, every deed was about Jesus and glorifying God-- she wanted to remain an anonymous no one -- and here is a book that glorifies her in spite of her objections. I could not finish it and felt such remorse having even read the part I did read. It is unfathomable how anyone could contravene the wishes of this saintly woman in this way and make money doing so. I cried indeed when I realized the final indignity perpetrated in her name. I strongly recommend that others respect her wishes and not buy this book. | | Mother Teresa: Come Be My Light by Doubleday Out of the darkness into the Light | How do you rate the private writings of an individual? By rule, if you like what they wrote, you probably will rate them positively. If you do not like what they wrote, they presumably will receive an unfavorable review. Come Be My Light is an exception to the rule. On Amazon, only four reviewers have questioned Mother Teresa's holiness.
Background
The aim of the book is to plumb the "depth of Mother Teresa's interior life," it is not a "theological study" (p. 2). The first letter dates June 28, 1928, it is about her desire to join the Sisters of Our Lady of Loretto (pp. 14-15). The last letter dates May 15, 1995, it is to her Sisters (p. 332). Most of the letters date in the 1940's-1970's. In each chapter of the book there are many subchapters. The title for each subchapter is taken from a quote of Mother Teresa's in that subchapter. The editor then adds a helpful commentary to the text quoted in the title.
Mother Teresa wanted the letters destroyed. But her spiritual advisers were reluctant to carry out her request. Then, Mother Teresa undermined her request with her new status as an international icon and a possible candidate for canonization. Her correspondence being the only prime source materials that future generations would have to judge if she is truly canonizable. Privacy is a right in American law, it is not a right in the Catholic monastery. Some reviews allege the release of the letters broke the seal of the confessional. Fr. Kolodiejchuk addresses that objection in the Introduction (p. 11).
Such attention has been paid to the spiritual affliction recorded in Mother Teresa's letters (chapters 8-12) that it seems the first half of the book is being ignored. For example, in chapter one, she talks about when she felt called to the convent (p. 14). The letter to the Mother Superior of the Sisters of Our Lady of Loretto for admission is also in chapter one (pp. 14-15). There are many other gems in chapters one through seven.
The book is not all doom and gloom after chapter seven. In chapter nine, there is some discussion of her work and the work of the community. She reveals the foundation for her theology of her missionary work in chapter twelve. In the same chapter, she speaks of how abortion is "the greatest destroyer of peace today" (p. 292). And Fr. Van der Peet asks her how she copes with her "movie star" treatment (p. 293). Chapter thirteen records Mother Teresa's letter to President George H. W. Bush and Saddam Hussein.
The book has a couple of nice appendixes that are very helpful. The first is the rule of the community (p. 341). The second is retreat notes of Mother Teresa in 1959 (p. 349). The Index is condensed and incomplete. The book is endnoted rather than footnoted. This is most unfortunate for a book so copiously noted and the notes being so integral to the text.
A Personal Reflection
St. Thomas Aquinas said, "the lover is not satisfied with a superficial apprehension of the beloved, but strives to gain an intimate knowledge of everything pertaining to the beloved, so as to penetrate into his very soul" (Summ. Theol., la. 2ae., q. 28, a. 2). Accordingly, anyone who loves Mother Teresa cannot desire to represent her other than who she really was.
One reviewer said, "Mother Teresa's faith was not a case study in self-contradiction." With due respect, Mother Teresa disagrees, she said, "There is so much contradiction in my soul" (Mother Teresa: Come Be My Light, 169). Mother Teresa has her place in the history books; and the Church and the world should praise much of what she did and said. The task before the soul that loves Mother Teresa is the proper interpretation of her true spiritual reality. The popular interpretation of her words is that she experienced the dark night of the soul. Those who hold that position base it on the presupposition that she was holy. But is that truly the case?
Contradiction was a state of life for Mother Teresa. For example, she wanted to educate about the faith, "There are millions who live in Indian cities and villages in ignorance of God and of Christ, in abominable sinfulness. We shall bring them to Christ and Christ to them" (Mother Teresa: Come Be My Light, 116). But then said taught, "We never try to convert those who receive [aid from Missionaries of Charity] to Christianity but in our work we bear witness to the love of God's presence and if Catholics, Protestants, Buddhists, or agnostics become for this better men--simply better--we will be satisfied" (Mother Teresa: Life in the Spirit, 81). She wanted to preach, "The Kingdom must be preached to all" (Mother Teresa: Come Be My Light, 133). But the kingdom she preached was, "I convert you to be a better Hindu, a better Catholic, Muslim, Jain, or Buddhist" (Mother Teresa: Saint of the Poor, 38-39).
If St. John of the Cross, St. Teresa of Avila, St. Thérèse de Lisieux, or even Martin Luther read Mother Teresa's words in the last paragraph, it is safe to say they would not conclude that her words were the words of a Saint who experienced the dark night of the soul. Could it be that, perhaps, on some level she knew she was contradicting the creeds of her faith and was undergoing divine affliction because of her infidelity?
This reviewer is aware that many reading this review have great respect for Mother Teresa, and, in part, she earned that respect by her many good works. This reviewer is deeply sorry for any pain those reading this review are experiencing.
The issue Come Be My Light raises is not whether she is worthy of praise; the issue is, if she was a Saint of God who experienced a dark night of the soul as part of her sanctification. | | Mother Teresa: Come Be My Light by Doubleday She is indeed the darkest saint. She chose to be blind. | I have to apologise to Mother Teresa one more time, that i read her private letters without her permission. Please forgive me.
I had to take many breaks from the book, from her words, because while reading them, I could visualize her visuals, the slums, her experiences, her darkness. She was a very strong lady with very strong words. It is with no doubt her words could touch lives.
Since I am not a christian, it will be inappropriate for me to judge her experiences. but for sure, I know, they are real to her. her life.
By reading her letters, having a glimpse of what was going on in her mind, i learnt a couple of things that is applicable to myself:
1) Difference between NO SELF and NON SELF
2) Difference between SUFFERING and DISSATISFACTION
3) Difference between NOTHINGNESS and EMPTINESS
If she had seen things differently, many more hearts may have been reached.
She also made me realised, that I have chosen a path, rather different from her. If I encounter SUFFERING, I will acknowledge it, understand it, and find ways to eliminate it and eventually, be free from it.
A quote from the book: "The joy of loving Jesus comes from the joy of sharing in His suffering - Mother Teresa".
I can never do what she did.
And she was right, if she is to become a saint, she will be the darkest. For she chose to be blind. And she made it through, with faith.
May she be comfortable wherever she is, be free from suffering, free from ill-will. May she be well, be happy and be at peace. | | Mother Teresa: Come Be My Light by Doubleday A remarkable book | | This is a remarkable story about a remarkable woman who became a remarkable nun who provided a remarkable service to the poorest of the poor and who will make a remarkable saint, hopefully in my lifetime. | | Mother Teresa: Come Be My Light by Doubleday Perseverance in the Absence of Tangible Reinforcement: The Ultimate Expression of Faith | When this book was published, the media crowed about "the would-be modern saint who doubted God." However, the "Dark Night of the Soul" is a well-known phenomenon, particularly among holy souls far advanced in their faith journey.
What greater testimony to faith in God than one who perseveres in that faith despite long periods of feeling a complete absence of God's presence, or even any positive reinforcement of any kind? Mother Teresa of Calcutta persevered in this state for DECADES. Now that this persistent state of her "Dark Night" has become known, her intense answer to God's call and her constant, unwavering and undaunted choices to say "Yes," to God at every turn become an heroic example of virtue with truly awesome proportions.
What struck me the most about her was her vow, taken voluntarily and with guidance and permission from her confessor and spiritual director, to " . . . always say "yes" to God, under pain of mortal sin."
Under Roman Catholic teaching, all sin falls into one of two broad categories. The first is Venial Sin, which only wounds and lessens our relationship to God, but does not completely break our relationship with God and therefore is not capable of leading to the death of the soul. The second is Mortal Sin, which does kill the life of Grace in the soul, breaks our relationship with God, and if one dies unrepentant of such sin, does lead to the death of the soul. (For Scriptural underpinnings of this teaching, see 1John 5:16-17. There are others, but in this passage it is quite plainly stated.)
Mother Teresa loved Jesus SO much, and she wished to bind herself so fully to His will, that she was willing to voluntarily risk death of her soul if she ever refused Him the slightest thing. Now THAT'S serious commitment! Although I'm not ready for such a vow, I do hope that she will pray for me, that I too, will refuse Jesus nothing.
I love this book. However, it is not lightly read. It has some real meat to it and takes some "chewing" to fully understand and appreciate. | | Mother Teresa: Come Be My Light by Doubleday Product Description | This historic work reveals the inner spiritual life of one of the most beloved and important religious figures in history.
During her lifelong service to the poorest of the poor, Mother Teresa became an icon of compassion to people of all religions; her extraordinary contributions to the care of the sick, the dying, and thousands of others nobody else was prepared to look after has been recognized and acclaimed throughout the world. Little is known, however, about her own spiritual heights or her struggles. This collection of her writing and reflections, almost all of which have never been made public before, sheds light on Mother Teresa's interior life in a way that reveals the depth and intensity of her holiness for the first time.
Compiled and presented by Fr. Brian Kolodiejchuk, M.C., who knew Mother Teresa for twenty years and is the postulator for her cause for sainthood and director of the Mother Teresa Center, MOTHER TERESA brings together letters she wrote to her spiritual advisors over decades. A moving chronicle of her spiritual journey—including moments, indeed years, of utter desolation—these letters reveal the secrets she shared only with her closest confidants. She emerges as a classic mystic whose inner life burned with the fire of charity and whose heart was tested and purified by an intense trial of faith, a true dark night of the soul.
Published to coincide with the tenth anniversary of her death, MOTHER TERESA is an intimate portrait of a woman whose life and work continue to be admired by millions of people. |
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