The Spiritual Wisdom of Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta

[Abba]

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ Jesus,

I wonder if you can help me to understand the spiritual wisdom of Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta regarding particularly her understanding in accepting and confirming the beliefs of other faiths of the people that she helped.

I don’t clearly see the harmony in helping someone to be a ‘better Buddhist’ or a ‘better Muslim’.

I am not sure where the line is clearly drawn.

The other day, I met an elderly lady who is a Jehova’s Witness. She was lonely and I listened to her. But, certainly, I was not going to start a religious conversation and try to demonstrate to her that the Catholic Church is the Church that Our Lord Jesus Christ established and is in the fullness of the faith and the value of the sacraments. She was lonely and I listened to her with respect and compassion. I stayed away from a religous discussion, but, if she had started - I would have clearly stated my own understanding and that again with love. To say that, I recognize that it may not be the most appropriate thing to do to evangelize to the dying but - to confirm them in their faith? This, I do not understand.

Furthermore, Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta said that we all pray to the same God it is just that as a christian she considers the christian way to be better. Do we all pray to the same God? Yes, there is only one God but, God himself said that - they do not know me - those who do not pray to him through Christ.

I can see some wisdom in Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta’s approach but in an individual basis and depending on the circumstances and never denying the superiority of the Catholic faith but, I don’t understand how one can go as FAR as to confirm a person in a false faith. I would think that that would be uncharitable. Yet, I consider something I read in the OT (I don’t remember exactly where right now - will quote later) where a reference is made to the beliefs of non-believer and how we should respect their beliefs.

Can someone help me to understand where Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta drew the line?:ehh:

Also, she welcomed people of all faiths to work in her organization - how does this works?

I sincerely thank you in advance for your time and assistance in helping me to understand these points.:coffeeread:

Blessings,

Abba

 

[jtodisco]

Hi Abba, I won’t pretend to be an expert on Mother Teresa’s personal theological beliefs but she is one of my favorite soon-to-be-saints and I have read several books on her life and work.

From my understanding Mother Teresa was a great missionary who really demonstrated something Saint Francis said, “Preach the Gospel at all times and when necessary use words.”

Mother Teresa first and foremost wanted to help the poor in whom she saw the likeness of the Lord (taking Matthew 25.31-46 as seriously as Christ wanted us to). Her life was devoted to doing acts of mercy, which is one of the most powerful ways the faithful can evangelize others. Many people close up their hearts as soon as someone begins to preach, but few are as hard hearted when it comes to seeing the Gospel lived out before them. This is how Mother Teresa converted others. This is how she demonstrated “the superiority of the Catholic faith” (as you put it).

To get a little more personal, I was born and raised in the Church, but strayed from the faith for several years (mostly because I saw so much preaching but so little practicing). Mother Teresa’s life inspired me even when I was still estranged from the Church and I really believe her life had a LARGE impact on my returning to the Church. I saw this woman who was so devout, so loving, so selfless and uncorruptible and I couldn’t understand why she was so obedient and happy in a Church that I at that point felt was so riddled with corruption and hypocrisy. This forced me to re-examine things, and little by little I began my journey home. And I believe Mother Teresa was with me on my journey encouraging me all the way.

But to get back to how telling people to “be a better insert non-Catholic religion here” can lead to conversion. If I were to approach someone who was say, a hindu (as most of the people Mother Teresa helped were) and said “Hey, I’m going to help you but keep in mind that your faith is wrong. My faith is the right faith and if you don’t convert you’ll be in trouble with God real soon.” That person is going to probably get irritated with me and/or be afraid to come back to see me ever again. Now, if in the same situation I instead tell them that I am not going to pressure them into converting to my faith, that I first and foremost am here to help them, and that in fact I’d rather they focus on being a good hindu than on converting they will feel comfortable and will stick around. And they may begin to become curious about what faith it is that has instilled me with such a great confidence and inspired me to be so generous to them. They may begin to ask me questions about my faith out of true curiosity (instead of me forcing the information onto them). And maybe, just maybe, they will after some time decide “I think this guy’s onto something and I want to be a part of it.” and convert. They also may not, but I personally think this form of missonary work is more fruitful than the traditonal style in which you simply keep trying to beat it into people’s heads that you are right and they are wrong. And I think this may have been what Blessed Mother Teresa had been thinking at the time as well.

 

[roveau]

Thank you jtodisco for putting it in a way better than I could.

I also had the same experience as you that even in my ‘non church’ days I recognized Mother Teresa as a saint in our times… and how blessed we’ve been for her example to us. She has a deep wisdom. I ask her to pray for me every day. I admire her order as one of the pinacles of religious life that exists today.

 

[Lief_Erikson]

I don’t clearly see the harmony in helping someone to be a ‘better Buddhist’ or a ‘better Muslim’.

I am not sure where the line is clearly drawn.

The other day, I met an elderly lady who is a Jehova’s Witness. She was lonely and I listened to her. But, certainly, I was not going to start a religious conversation and try to demonstrate to her that the Catholic Church is the Church that Our Lord Jesus Christ established and is in the fullness of the faith and the value of the sacraments. She was lonely and I listened to her with respect and compassion. I stayed away from a religous discussion, but, if she had started - I would have clearly stated my own understanding and that again with love. To say that, I recognize that it may not be the most appropriate thing to do to evangelize to the dying but - to confirm them in their faith? This, I do not understand.

If she supported their beliefs in false doctrines, this was a mistake, for we must never teach or encourage what is false. However, she may have seen parallels between parts of their teachings and Christianity and encouraged them in these good beliefs. Also, the Church teaches that people can be saved through the truth they have and believe, even while they, through no fault of their own, are believing many errors. They are saved through the Church even while not being part of her visible, complete unity. So Teresa of Calcutta was not required to evangelize to these souls, and she could encourage them in those parts of their faith that are good for them, while not contradicting the parts she disagreed with (the Church doesn’t require that we argue with people).

Furthermore, Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta said that we all pray to the same God it is just that as a christian she considers the christian way to be better. Do we all pray to the same God? Yes, there is only one God but, God himself said that - they do not know me - those who do not pray to him through Christ.

The Jews, before Christianity, did not know about Christ. However, they prayed to God without willfully rejecting the Son of God. God received their prayers through Jesus even though while they did not know that they were praying through Jesus. What the Scripture means when it says that they do not know God who do not pray through Christ is that some people deliberately reject Christ, with sufficient knowledge to be culpable for this act, and thus they sever themselves from God through mortal sin. They will not be saved while they continue to reject Christ. Only through Christ can anyone be saved. Anyone who knows the Truth, or part of the Truth, and deliberately rejects it, cannot be saved. Jesus is the Truth. No one can come to the Father except through Jesus, yet if they do not deliberately reject Jesus (or some essential part of the Gospel), they can come to Jesus through the Father while intellectually oblivious to the manner in which they receive salvation.

I can see some wisdom in Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta’s approach but in an individual basis and depending on the circumstances and never denying the superiority of the Catholic faith but, I don’t understand how one can go as FAR as to confirm a person in a false faith. I would think that that would be uncharitable. Yet, I consider something I read in the OT (I don’t remember exactly where right now - will quote later) where a reference is made to the beliefs of non-believer and how we should respect their beliefs.

If she encouraged a false belief, that is wrong, but I expect she was trying to make people “better Muslims” by encouraging them in the Christian truths they already held to. The Church, in beatifying her, has expressed the belief that she was fully orthodox, thus I am sure she never contradicted the Catholic faith in her teachings.

Also, she welcomed people of all faiths to work in her organization - how does this works?

Her organization was oriented toward helping the poor and suffering, not toward evangelizing, so the faith of the people working with her wouldn’t have been a barrier.

 

[Ahimsa]

If someone is a Muslim, and you help them in some way, then you have helped them become a better Muslim. Christians are helping non-Christians be better non-Christians everyday. And vice versa.

 

[TheDoctor]

If someone is a Muslim, and you help them in some way, then you have helped them become a better Muslim.

If I may, I think you are close, I think it’s this: “If someone is a Muslim, and you help them in some way, then you have helped yourself become a better Catholic”.

 

[Ahimsa]

If I may, I think you are close, I think it’s this: “If someone is a Muslim, and you help them in some way, then you have helped yourself become a better Catholic”.

And the Muslim has helped you become a better Catholic, by allowing you to help him.

 

[Abba]

Hi Abba, I won’t pretend to be an expert on Mother Teresa’s personal theological beliefs but she is one of my favorite soon-to-be-saints and I have read several books on her life and work.

Me too. I even went as far as to contact the nuns in New York back in the days as I was considering volunteering to work with her in Calcutta. I never applied as I was accept at an institution I wanted to attend.

From my understanding Mother Teresa was a great missionary who really demonstrated something Saint Francis said, “Preach the Gospel at all times and when necessary use words.”

Yes, it’s true.

Mother Teresa first and foremost wanted to help the poor in whom she saw the likeness of the Lord (taking Matthew 25.31-46 as seriously as Christ wanted us to). Her life was devoted to doing acts of mercy, which is one of the most powerful ways the faithful can evangelize others. Many people close up their hearts as soon as someone begins to preach, but few are as hard hearted when it comes to seeing the Gospel lived out before them. This is how Mother Teresa converted others. This is how she demonstrated “the superiority of the Catholic faith” (as you put it).

Yes, this is true. It is a good way to convert others to simple love them. Pardon my use of the word ‘superiority’ I hesitated to use it but, then, to be honest, I got lazy and decided to leave as I would have to think of a more clear way to express my thought and I was in a hurry. But, you are right in quoting like that because it is not the correct word to express that simply the Catholic faith is the true faith.

To get a little more personal, I was born and raised in the Church, but strayed from the faith for several years (mostly because I saw so much preaching but so little practicing). Mother Teresa’s life inspired me even when I was still estranged from the Church and I really believe her life had a LARGE impact on my returning to the Church. I saw this woman who was so devout, so loving, so selfless and uncorruptible and I couldn’t understand why she was so obedient and happy in a Church that I at that point felt was so riddled with corruption and hypocrisy. This forced me to re-examine things, and little by little I began my journey home. And I believe Mother Teresa was with me on my journey encouraging me all the way.

That’s beautiful.

But to get back to how telling people to “be a better insert non-Catholic religion here” can lead to conversion. If I were to approach someone who was say, a hindu (as most of the people Mother Teresa helped were) and said “Hey, I’m going to help you but keep in mind that your faith is wrong. My faith is the right faith and if you don’t convert you’ll be in trouble with God real soon.” That person is going to probably get irritated with me and/or be afraid to come back to see me ever again. Now, if in the same situation I instead tell them that I am not going to pressure them into converting to my faith, that I first and foremost am here to help them, and that in fact I’d rather they focus on being a good hindu than on converting they will feel comfortable and will stick around. And they may begin to become curious about what faith it is that has instilled me with such a great confidence and inspired me to be so generous to them. They may begin to ask me questions about my faith out of true curiosity (instead of me forcing the information onto them). And maybe, just maybe, they will after some time decide “I think this guy’s onto something and I want to be a part of it.” and convert. They also may not, but I personally think this form of missonary work is more fruitful than the traditonal style in which you simply keep trying to beat it into people’s heads that you are right and they are wrong. And I think this may have been what Blessed Mother Teresa had been thinking at the time as well.

Well, I agree and understand everything you have written on the quote above. Except the little part about encouraging them to be a Hindu. I find that I can serve people who belong to another religion or sect, just like you described above - to just love them without enforcing my faith. I am fine with that, but, I would not encourage their belief. I can respect for instance someone who is evangelical ( my cousin for instance) but, I am not going to encourage him to be a better evangelical or a better mormon in other cases. I just still don’t understand what Blessed Mother Teresa meant. I have actually considered writing to the nuns in New York and asking them. What do you think?

It is something that I do want to understand because I think that in finding the answer I will come to understand ecumenism better and perhaps other things and in doing so grow spiritually This question also brings to mind the fact that Pope John Paul the Great kissed the Koran. This is the only thing of his that I do not understand. It just makes me think that if all these religions are fine then why evangelize? It also brings to mind the Letter of Paul to the Romans, people who do not know Jesus may be saved and will be judge according to how they followed the laws that are written in their hearts. So, non-Catholics may be saved but, it does not follow that we are not to work to bring them to the Church established by Jesus and into the full faith. I’m up in the air with this one.

Thank you for your help.

Peace,

Abba

 

[Abba]

If someone is a Muslim, and you help them in some way, then you have helped them become a better Muslim. Christians are helping non-Christians be better non-Christians everyday. And vice versa.

Hello Ahimsa,

Well, if you put it that way, then I understand. If you are saying that 'If someone is a Muslim, and you help them in some way, then you have helped them become a better person and live a more dignified life." This I understand. Not to help a Muslim, Hindu, Mormon etc… uphold more a faith which I think is lacking as I believe the Catholic Church is in the fullness of the faith. I would think that it is uncharitable to participate in a deception. I think that it is my duty to bring people to Our Lord Jesus. It would be selfish of me not to and participate in a deception. I want all people to know Our Lord Jesus and be members of the Catholic Church.

 

[Sirach2]

This is your second thread on Mother Teresa, and I suppose you began it here in Evangelization because of the scant response you received in Spirituality. This suggests to me a sense of disapproval on your part that is not being satisfied by anyone’s explanations, and you seem to be struggling with some repressed resentment toward both she and Pope John Paul II.

Pius XII used some beautiful but firm language in Mystici Corporis Christi that may help explain why Mother did not attempt to evangelize:

1. Hence they are most certainly not genuine Christians who against their belief are forced to go into a church, to approach the altar and to receive the Sacraments; for the “faith without which it is impossible to please God” is an entirely free “submission of intellect and will.” Therefore, whenever it happens, despite the constant teaching of this Apostolic See, that anyone is compelled to embrace the Catholic faith against his will,** Our sense of duty demands that We condemn the act. **

Let’s consider a moment the example of St. Paul in dealing with pagan Greeks.

Acts 17:22-23, So Paul, standing in the midst of the Areopagus, said: "Men of Athens, I perceive that in every way you are very religious. For as I passed along and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription, ‘To the unknown god.’ What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you.

St. Paul, and probably Mother Teresa, built on the unknown, to bring them to the known. That is the essence of Nostra Aetate, that we reach those outside the faith, where they are, and strive to use the good beliefs they already uphold and lift them further to embrace the deeper truths of our faith.

Another probability may be the very Constitutions of her Order, which were NOT drawn up to evangelize and preach the gospel, but to reach out to the “poorest of the poor” and assist them, rendering their service as to Christ Himself. If the Order’s rules did not envision changing the faith of those they ministered to, then we can dismiss your question as being rhetorical and subjective, since you and I have not the mind of Mother Teresa to understand her reasons. Nevertheless, the two aspects I quoted above from papal documents would shed good light on this reasoning.

 

[Lief_Erikson]

Abba, was my post any use to you?

 

[magdelaine1173]

Hi Abba, I won’t pretend to be an expert on Mother Teresa’s personal theological beliefs but she is one of my favorite soon-to-be-saints and I have read several books on her life and work.

From my understanding Mother Teresa was a great missionary who really demonstrated something Saint Francis said, “Preach the Gospel at all times and when necessary use words.”

Mother Teresa first and foremost wanted to help the poor in whom she saw the likeness of the Lord (taking Matthew 25.31-46 as seriously as Christ wanted us to). Her life was devoted to doing acts of mercy, which is one of the most powerful ways the faithful can evangelize others. Many people close up their hearts as soon as someone begins to preach, but few are as hard hearted when it comes to seeing the Gospel lived out before them. This is how Mother Teresa converted others. This is how she demonstrated “the superiority of the Catholic faith” (as you put it).

To get a little more personal, I was born and raised in the Church, but strayed from the faith for several years (mostly because I saw so much preaching but so little practicing). Mother Teresa’s life inspired me even when I was still estranged from the Church and I really believe her life had a LARGE impact on my returning to the Church. I saw this woman who was so devout, so loving, so selfless and uncorruptible and I couldn’t understand why she was so obedient and happy in a Church that I at that point felt was so riddled with corruption and hypocrisy. This forced me to re-examine things, and little by little I began my journey home. And I believe Mother Teresa was with me on my journey encouraging me all the way.

But to get back to how telling people to “be a better insert non-Catholic religion here” can lead to conversion. If I were to approach someone who was say, a hindu (as most of the people Mother Teresa helped were) and said “Hey, I’m going to help you but keep in mind that your faith is wrong. My faith is the right faith and if you don’t convert you’ll be in trouble with God real soon.” That person is going to probably get irritated with me and/or be afraid to come back to see me ever again. Now, if in the same situation I instead tell them that I am not going to pressure them into converting to my faith, that I first and foremost am here to help them, and that in fact I’d rather they focus on being a good hindu than on converting they will feel comfortable and will stick around. And they may begin to become curious about what faith it is that has instilled me with such a great confidence and inspired me to be so generous to them. They may begin to ask me questions about my faith out of true curiosity (instead of me forcing the information onto them). And maybe, just maybe, they will after some time decide “I think this guy’s onto something and I want to be a part of it.” and convert. They also may not, but I personally think this form of missonary work is more fruitful than the traditonal style in which you simply keep trying to beat it into people’s heads that you are right and they are wrong. And I think this may have been what Blessed Mother Teresa had been thinking at the time as well.

I agree with you jtodisco. You can draw more people to Catholicism through love, patience, and kindness, than out of forcing someone to hear your words even if they came from the saints themselves ;or God for that matter. Blessed Mother Theresa was a very good example to follow on how to evangelize people in my opinion.