Mother Teresa's doubts

A new book was released today, "Come Be My Light," which compiles letters written by Mother Teresa to her spiritual director. Much has been made of the book -- particularly by the growing atheist movement -- of Mother Teresa's repeated references to suffering a "dark night of the soul." Of course, folks like Mother Teresa-bashing author Christopher Hitchens would like nothing more than to portray Mother Teresa as a sham who only put on a pious face in public. But don't fall for that.

Don't forget that the book was released by the postulator for her cause for canonization, not by somoene looking to debunk Mother Teresa's life and ministry. The letters have been well-known to the Vatican and are seen as examples of Mother Teresa's great faith through dark times. Those who think the Vatican conspires to hide sad or depressing information from the public should take those facts to heart, for if that was the case then they would not want these letters public. Rather, they acknowledge the difficulties that come with embracing Christ's Cross and see these letters as important for us to read. Being a saint is not quite how Hollywood portrays it.

I had hoped to review the book in time for our next issue on Sept. 7, but alas it did not arrive in time. I will write about it in the Sept. 21 issue, perhaps as an editorial. A Catholic News Service story on the book appears on page 23 of the Sept. 7 issue.

In the meantime, here are two outstanding commentaries on the book, one by the preacher of the papal household, Father Raniero Cantalamessa, and the other by renowned Vatican journalist Sandro Magister of L’espresso.