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Last edited by JamesWhitehead on 05-12-2002 19:24; edited 1 time in total

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml;$sessionid$342PYTW34DEK1QFIQMGCFFOAVCBQUIV0?xml=/news/2002/11/29/wteres29.xml

Mother Teresa's diary reveals her crisis of faith
By Bruce Johnston in Rome
(Filed: 29/11/2002)

Mother Teresa, who was put on the fast track to sainthood by the Pope after her death five years ago, was tormented by a crisis of belief for 50 years, her writings reveal.
Her letters and diaries present a completely different picture of the nun and Nobel peace prize winner from her public image as a woman confident of her faith.
Biographies would have to be rewritten to take the revelation into account, it was said in Rome yesterday.
The previously unpublished material is to be brought out as a volume in Italy. It was collected by Roman Catholic authorities in Calcutta after her death at the age of 87.
Mother Teresa, who worked for years among the poor of Calcutta, wrote in 1958: "My smile is a great cloak that hides a multitude of pains."
Because she was "forever smiling", people thought "my faith, my hope and my love are overflowing and that my intimacy with God and union with his will fill my heart. If only they knew . . ."
Mother Teresa, who was greatly admired by Diana, Princess of Wales, said in another letter: "The damned of Hell suffer eternal punishment because they experiment with the loss of God.
"In my own soul, I feel the terrible pain of this loss. I feel that God does not want me, that God is not God and that he does not really exist."
Il Messeggero, Rome's popular daily newspaper, said: "The real Mother Teresa was one who for one year had visions and who for the next 50 had doubts - up until her death."
Her years of doubt coincided with the period when, after having visions, she decided to leave her teaching post at a privileged Calcutta school to help India's poor.
After her death the Pope waived the Vatican rule that prohibits investigation of the cause for beatification until five years after the subject's death. It was the first time the rule had been put aside in recent memory.
Mother Teresa's personal writings are being published next month as Il Segreto di Madre Teresa (Mother Teresa's Secret).

Posted: 08-12-2002 08:09 Post subject:

WOW! take that Catholic Hierarchy!

Posted: 08-12-2002 12:15 Post subject:

Unfortunately these diaries will be seen as another sign of grace.

Potential quote
"Despite the doubts that assailed her she maintained her faith throughout her long life of service and humility ..."

Posted: 08-12-2002 17:06 Post subject:

but ofcourse. no one can mess with the true and almighty power of...the Vatican.

Posted: 09-12-2002 15:11 Post subject:

Just goes to show her crisis of conscience and normal human doubts rather than any saintly virtues;perhaps if she had spoken out a bit more publicly the vatican and its right-wing allies might not be in the extremely wealthy and powerful position it is today.They ask us for contributions to help the worls poor yet she saw nothing wrong in using private helicopters and wining and dining with despots who could solve financial and social problems overnight.Has anyone any real idea as to the true value of the treasures contained in the vatican ?
Incidentally when are the Italian people going to wake up and demand an end to the nonsense of a separate vatican stae which gives them the power to do what they like and shelter criminals of all descriptions.
Mother Teresa was merely a puppet,a cog in a very clever wheel which continues to condemn millions to a life of starvation,disease all in the name of God!

jesus help us.

Posted: 10-12-2002 02:52 Post subject:

why won't the church fess up and admit that a person can be human and good at the same time.

Posted: 10-12-2002 08:36 Post subject:

Posted: 17-12-2002 14:30 Post subject:

Quote:

Because she was "forever smiling",

Was she, hell! Whenever I saw a picture of the old dear she looked like a prune with a bad case of constipation.

(Not to criticise her work, of course)...