Aug
28
On Bl. Terese of Calcutta
Filed Under Current Issues, Faith, Religion
I have spent a lot of time trying to decide how to address this topic. It is not what I had originally planed but I think it achieves my intention.
A great commotion has been made regarding new revelations that Bl. Teresa of Calcutta struggled spiritually. Though not expected, this is not terribly surprising to me. A great number of holy men and women, long having received their eternal reward, have struggled similarly. St. John of the Cross is know for having first described the “dark night”. I think the most important thing to learn from such a revelation is how to live the faith of the Church even amidst spiritual turmoil. Despite her difficulties, Mother Teresa never gave up her work and the world and the Church are better for it. While the Saints are themselves imperfect humans, they struggled valiantly to serve the Lord. It is this strength, and not their weaknesses, that we must imitate.
Theodore Roosevelt said, “It is not the critic who counts, not the one who points out how the strong man stumbled or how the doer of deeds might have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred with sweat and dust and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, and spends himself in a worthy cause; who, if he wins, knows the triumph of high achievement; and who, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory or defeat.”
The Lord knows that we are all imperfect. Nevertheless, we must strive again and again to follow him. The rest is that for which there is grace. Despite her own struggles, Bl. Teresa of Calcutta strove daily to more fully show the love of Christ in all that she did; this is that which we must follow.