Courage, Culture, Current Affairs, Life, Love, Social Issues, Women

So Now she is Saint Teresa. Now What? [ With Additions! ]

63 Comments

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[ This post has been updated. New elements at the Very End! Regards. ]

[ And I have removed that ugly word of mine, with Apologies All around. ]

Teresa skipping

In the Traditional way of things, people would start praying ‘to’ her. And Indirectly the church has encouraged this by demanding that miracles worked through her alone would give her the status of a saint. What is Needed is…

But before that.

Found the following in Facebook. I am editing it, by breaking it into two segments. NO other changes:

  1. Very few have seen Mother Teresa in real action,,, and oh, she was really tough too, especially with Christian priests, bishops and her own missionary sisters of charity too.
  2. She’d take 2 of her sisters to Howrah Stn. With their slim, cloth shoulder bags, buy 2 open general class compartment tickets– one to Nagaland-Kohima and one to Gujarat–Surat. As the first train pulls in, she would juggle the tickets and whichever sister got that ticket was sent off by that train and left the other sister on the platform to catch her train whenever it arrived….

…

As regards point One. Kudos to her. That is Wonderful. Super. Heartily Commended. …But a bit Surprising, is it Not? That a Nun would be Chiding ‘priests!’ …It shows her Internal ‘Worth,’ which made the priests and others to listen to her.

Now for the second point. In this she was Unwise. She had lived in India long enough, and her houses house any number of Young Women who have been the Victims of Rape. Yet she sent out Young Nuns alone! On Long trips!

Holiness does not stop Us from being unwise; Just as Sanctity is No Protection against Rape.

It happened in All corners of the earth. I have personally met, and ministered to, 7 Young Nuns who had been Raped in UP. 

Raping Nuns because they are Nuns is a sport for a particular faction of the majority community. For it was they who had done that in the instance that I mention, as well as the many other such incidents. Search for Kandhamal in Google. Whole villages, some 20,000 driven away, scared away, and told they can come back IF they are ready to become Hindus.

…

But the above are NOT the main points of this little essay.

She Sacrificed her life for the Service of the Poor. Whatever her background, she could have a live a much more comfortable life. It was her Sacrifice and Extreme Simplicity of life that Attracted so many to her congregation (society). Whereas, vocations (people joining) other congregations is going down, in many instances drastically. The MC’s, the Missionaries of Charity, Mother Teresa’s congregation, is one of the very few that is Attracting Candidates.

MCs in Water

Am Sure this Good little Sister is quite a bit embarrassed at being photographed. They like to work in the Background, away from all limelight. …All photographs from the Internet.

MOTHER TERESA WAS A GREAT PERSON. HER LOVE FOR THE HELPLESS, AND HER TRUST IN GOD, ARE WHAT MADE HER SAINT.

AND IT IS THESE QUALITIES THAT WE HAVE TO EMULATE.

What most would be doing is to pay tributes to her, laud her, and a good many, as I said, would be praying to her. Nothing wrong with that. Pray to her if you feel so inclined.

But Christ, the World, the Future Generations, Our Own Children and Grand-Children would have us Live Like her. Now that she has been declared a saint, That’s What. LIVE LIKE HER.

One of her Most famous statements was: ‘Give till it Hurts.’ …If it has Not hurt me, I have Not given!

So, let’s have less of her praises, and More of Following her Example.

***

Now for the New elements:

Fellow Blogger Patricia, of <https://newbloggycat.com/&gt; has written in the comments that: ‘But I’ve read some articles about her which are very disturbing and disappointing.’ And she has given the following reference:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/krithika-varagur/mother-teresa-was-no-saint_b_9470988.html

{ https://looneybitch.wordpress.com/ also mentioned the huffing post(!) }

This is what I wrote to Patricia:

Hello, Patri! Thanks for sharing this. …Went to the link and read a few lines. It was enough!

This is what I would call the writings of the ‘Fringe’ elements. The author of the post herself mentions: ‘the chief of a Hindu nationalist NGO said.’

I have been with the Missionaries of Charity, which is the name of her congregation, in the branch for men, for a whole Nine months. I have also met her personally a few times. So I should know First hand.

The Only things for which I criticise her are her Autocratic way of functioning (very little ‘Consultation’ took place), and her Unwise ways of sending off Young Nuns ‘by’ themselves over long distances. But actually as I recall now, that was based on a False report. They were/are Always sent out at least Two by Two.

As for:

1. Forced Conversions: Humbug. Their houses are FULL of People who Remain Hindus and Muslims.

2. Bad Medical Care: The MC’s were not founded to give Medical care. Rather they take care of ‘Street People,’ those whom the World ‘Discards,’ leaving them dying on the streets., – allowing them to live and die in Love and Dignity.

3. Gross mismanagement: Her’s was not a NGO. To take care of the Abandoned, living a life of Povery, Chastity and Obedience requires the Very Hand of God, and many special qualities in a person. Which are Sacrifice and Love. Not Educational degrees. …The Indian govt is a Giant, after all. If there had been mismanagements, would they not have found it out?

So Relax. These are Empty Vessels making Noise. 🙂

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63 thoughts on “So Now she is Saint Teresa. Now What? [ With Additions! ]”

  1. I haven’t heard of any M.C. sister being sexually assaulted. Two years ago an American youngster, traveling with 2 MC sisters in Calicut was beaten up. The SI asked the sisters to sign a complaint letter against the Rt. Wing Hindutwa elements. But the sisters pulled off THEIR Fuse by saying like Gandhiji, ‘No Complaints’.

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    1. Too many comments, my Dear Phil? Is there such a thing? Haha! 🙂

      If You think ‘that’ would annoy me, just Try! Hehe.

      Thank You VERY much for Your kind support. …And Don’t worry, I Use pretty militant words too, as You would have noticed! …Regards. 🙂

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  3. Great analogy Fr. Let’s live like her. Unfortunately no one talks about that, all I see in the media and on the internet is accolades…and “Saint mother Theresa pray for us”.
    People want her miracles and not her attitude.

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  5. So many in Western culture have forgotten what true Christianity is. Mother Teresa knew. She lived it. You may remember that Mother Teresa died within a few days of Princess Diana. The princess got all the press. And Princess Diana did support some worthwhile causes. But she lived a life of luxury. Mother Teresa lived a life of poverty and sacrifice. I have no doubt who touched more lives.

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    1. Thank You for reminding Us of All that, my Dear Anna! Yes, Mother Teresa ‘touched’ a lot of lives. But the world wants Just that. Positive Strokes. …Jesus had Touched, and Healed Hundreds at least. And it was the same people who asked for His Death! Sad, Mad world! …Love and Regards to You. 🙂

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      1. My Dear Jackie, I am not a reader of the ‘huffing post.’ Hence my writing has Not been based on it. …Have also added some material to my article by way of edit, which You might like to read. Thanks and Regars. 🙂

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      11. Hello, Jackie! …The times when newspapers and magazines dispensed news is long gone. Now they are owned by magnates, for whom these mediums are just another way of making money. …Each seems to cater to a particular ‘segment!’ …Regards. 🙂

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      13. I went to the site, my Dear Jackie. And, as You say, they ‘Are’ a good group. But perhaps an exception. …In India, have lost faith in Most media and governmental agencies. …Exceptions Only Prove the Rule!

        …Did not see anything on Mother Teresa, though.

        Regards. 🙂

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    4. Hello, Patri! Thanks for sharing this. …Went to the link and read a few lines. It was enough!

      This is what I would call the writings of the ‘Fringe’ elements. …I have been with the Missionaries of Charity, which is the name of her congregation, in the branch for men, for a whole Nine months. I have also met her personally a few times. So I should know First hand.

      The Only things for which I criticise her are her Autocratic way of functioning (very little ‘Consultation’ took place), and her Unwise ways of sending off Young Nuns ‘by’ themselves over long distances. But actually as I recall now, that was based on a False report. They were/are Always sent out at least Two by Two.

      As for:

      1. Forced Conversions: Humbug. Their houses are FULL of People who Remain Hindus and Muslims.

      2. Bad Medical Care: The MC’s were not founded to give Medical care. Rather they take care of ‘Street People,’ those whom the World ‘Discards,’ allowing them to live and die in Love and Dignity.

      3. Gross mismanagement: Her’s was not a NGO. To take care of the Abandoned, living a life of Povery, Chastity and Obedience requires the Hand of God, and many special qualities in a person. Which are Sacrifice and Love. Not Educational degrees. …The Indian govt is a Giant, after all. If there had been mismanagements, could they not find it out?

      So Relax. These are Barking Dogs. 🙂

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    5. Hello, Patri! Thanks for sharing this. …Went to the link and read a few lines. It was enough!

      This is what I would call the writings of the ‘Fringe’ elements. The author of the post herself mentions: ‘the chief of a Hindu nationalist NGO said.’

      I have been with the Missionaries of Charity, which is the name of her congregation, in the branch for men,
      for a whole Nine months. I have also met her personally a few times. So I should know First hand.

      The Only things for which I criticise her are her Autocratic way of functioning (very little ‘Consultation’ took place), and her Unwise ways of sending off Young Nuns ‘by’ themselves over long distances. But actually as I recall now, that was
      based on a False report. They were/are Always sent out at least Two by Two.

      As for:

      1. Forced Conversions: Humbug. Their houses are FULL of People who Remain Hindus and Muslims.

      2. Bad Medical Care: The MC’s were not founded to give Medical care. Rather they take care of ‘Street People,’ those whom the World ‘Discards,’ leaving them dying on the streets, allowing them to live and die in Love and Dignity.

      3. Gross mismanagement: Her’s was not a NGO. To take care of the Abandoned, living a life of Povery, Chastity and Obedience requires the Hand of God, and many special
      qualities in a person. Which are Sacrifice and Love. Not Educational degrees. …The Indian govt is a Giant, after all. If there had been mismanagements, could they not find it out?

      So Relax. These are Barking Dogs. 🙂

      Like

      Reply

      1. My Dear Patri, went to the link You have sent, and frankly, read just the first paragraph.

        …Much misunderstanding is generated by many who do not understand what the Catholic Church calls ‘Carism’ of a particular congregation. Simply put, it is what they set out to do. Don Bosco had started with working with Street Boys. The Carmalites in particular take up Education, particularly for Girls.

        …As for the MCs, as I have already stated, they were NOT formed by Mother Teresa to give Medical Care. …Even today, speaking Only about India, ever so many are abandoned by their families, or lose their families, and wander around on streets, and finally, die there, without Love, Food or Water. The MC’s were founded to just give these kinds of ‘Abandoned People’ a place to stay in Love and Dignity.

        I do NOT think the world is ready to give So much money that the last poor person can be fully treated, fed and rehabilitated. The hundreds of Refugee camps is Proof.

        …Let us come to the talk of Millions. Even in India, do people have an actual idea of the cost of building the simplest (Safe) house for about 50 people? And what it would cost to Feed 50 people every day? At the LEAST, would this not come to Rs. 2,500 every day? And does not this come to Rs. 75,000 every month? Let us go a step further and see what it comes to per year: It would be Rs. 900,000!

        …Wikipedia says that there are some 4,500 sisters in the congregation. If We say 5 in each house, then that means 900 houses! Would that not mean at least 900 houses multiplies by at least 100,000 per month? = 90,000,000 (Nine and seven zeroes). There it is! Already 90 million per year just for Food. And the Simplest of Food. Remember, I have said Rs. 50 for the Whole day.

        …As I have said earlier, I have LIVED with the MC’s for over 9 months. The People who are ‘Staying’ there for Care get Fish and things, which are NOT there for the Brothers and Sisters!

        …Sr. Theresa Aletheia Noble’s answer in her has been Sidetracked into Atheism versus. But She has given some VERY good answers there.

        The Proof of the Pudding is in the Eating. Anybody who has questions has Just to go and Live in one of their houses as a ‘Volunteer’ for a month.

        Regards. 🙂

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  9. great read. interesting perspective. I think the fact that she did have faults, makes her human and therefore subject to failure. On the whole, she did some great work and maybe we need to focus on her positives and not the negatives.

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    1. My Dear Jackie, the devil is said to attack Not directly, but Obliquely. The attention gets diverted to the +ves and -ves, whereas the idea of Folling the example of Selflessness gets lost! …We are Not going to let the devil win! 🙂

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  12. I have read this again and notice you said I quoted Huffington Post. I did but it was a huge sarcastic comment. I don’t take a lot of notice of it, I was being frivolous and on such a subject, I apologise. The Huffington Post reminds me of the UK Daily Mail and USA Fox News. All to be taken with a large pinch of salt
    On a positive note…. Good blog. Thank you. I think the ” RETURN IF YOU WANT TO BE A HINDU” could be similar to the converting to ISIS. Sad.. very sad.

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    1. Thank You for this continued interest. Very kind of You. …I can only Sigh. …Really had not known that You had written those words in Sarcasm! (There should be some sign/symbol to signify that!)

      Thank You also for Your kind words of Appreciation. And Yes, the fringe elements of the Hindus is quite blatant, too! Very sad. …Regards. 🙂

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  13. Interesting perspective. I still don’t feel entirely comfortable with the millions of dollars donated to Mother Theresa which apparently went straight to the Vatican…but you know, she was a faithful servant of the Church, so she saw these things very differently than I do. Either way, she did a lot of good for people…and living like her would be much too tough of a challenge for me 🙂

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    1. Thank You, my Dear Karolina!

      Millions is a Big amount, yet, not so big, when organizations are concerned.

      In one of my responses to Patricia, as in ‘New Bloggy Cat,’ I have tried to calculate just how much it would be to feed, just Feed, the People of whom 4,500 Sisters take care. As I remember it, it came to 90 Millions a year. And I Dare say it is a very conservative amount.

      I have shared how simply I live. And yet, in spite of India being Inexpensive compared to the West, the place I live, much of which I have not been able even to plaster yet, leave alone paint, with most of it Corrugated roofing, came to 300,000 Indian rupees. Of course it had been designed to house at least a dozen people. …And the Solar panels, the two batteries and accessories have come to nearly 100,000! My computer cost me some 40,000! My monthly internet expenses …around 8,500 per year!

      In the Catholic church, all monies that are not required at a particular parish goes (at least it is supposed to!) the Diocese, and if there is a surplus, to the Vatican. Standard practice.

      The Catholic Church does Educate, I would say, Millions, though it might be Basic Education. Some 30 years ago, the Educational Budget, mostly by way of salaries, and these very nominal, of Bhagalpur diocese where I worked for nearly 5 years, was… 7.5 Million a year. 30 years ago.

      And finally, We don’t have to ‘live like her,’ which ended up in Just Three sets of Dresses per Nun!

      But We would do well to Care, perhaps a little More!

      Regards. 🙂

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  15. It has been said that Mother Teressa had many struggles with depression.. Her diary was published after her death.. and she doubted her own salvation.. It is sad that a woman gave so much of herself that she lost track of who she was in Him.. Thank you for sharing 🙂

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