What do the Traditionalists say about Mother Teresa?

[Glenoy]

Hello to all!

I’ve been visiting this site for the past three months now. My favorite topics are about SSPX with regards to obedience to the Pope. And I would say that reading between arguments here and there leads me to the traditionalist side.

But my question now is about Mother Teresa. How do the Traditionalist Catholics regard her especially about her faith? Her charity works are superb, no question about that. Was Mother Teresa a traditionalist? How about the effects of her faith to the Church? I ask this because ten years ago a priest, during his homily, said that the attitude of the Church no longer put much weight on converting others to the catholic faith but follows Mother Teresa’s example that one has to dig deeper on his faith in all honesty, no matter what his religion is, because one will eventually be led to the true church. Just yesterday I read here in one of the threads that quoted Mother Teresa saying “if you’re a muslim, be a good muslim. If you’re a buddhist, be a good buddhist”. I find this hard to agree. My God, Mother Teresa’s example are really followed here in the Philippines.

I hope to hear from you soon. I’m waiting for your reply.

Thank you.

 

[K_of_A_Director]

Hi, I have attend the Traditional Mass in a variety of places since 1995 predominately with the SSPX from what I can remember about traditionalist comments on Mother Teresa :
Her view on abortion , Good .
Her view against communion in the hand , Good (supposedly withdrawn)(Bad).
Her charitable works, Good .
Her religious indifferentism, Bad.
Her role as Eucharistic minister , Bad .
In short Most traditionalists are not thrilled .
+AMDG+

 

[JKirkLVNV]

Her view against communion in the hand , Good (supposedly withdrawn)(Bad).

+AMDG+

I don’t think it was a question of withdrawing anything. Her community has said that she never said such a thing to them and that it does not sound like something she would say.

 

[paramedicgirl]

I don’t think it was a question of withdrawing anything. Her community has said that she never said such a thing to them and that it does not sound like something she would say.

Here is the reference I have for what Mother Theresa said about Communion in the hand -

"I will tell you a secret, since we have just a thousand close friends together, and also because we have the Missionaries of Charity with us... "Not very long ago I said Mass and preached for their Mother, Mother Teresa of Calcutta, and after breakfast we spent quite a long time talking in a little room. Suddenly, I found myself asking her -- don't know why -- 'Mother, what do you think is the worst problem in the world today?' She more than anyone could name any number of candidates: famine, plague, disease, the breakdown of the family, rebellion against God, the corruption of the media, world debt, nuclear threat, and so on. "Without pausing a second she said, 'Wherever I go in the whole world, the thing that makes me the saddest is watching people receive Communion in the hand.'"

• Father George William Rutler, Good Friday, 1989 in St. Agnes Church, New York City (a precise transcript taken from a tape of his talk available from St. Agnes Church)

 

[JKirkLVNV]

Here is the reference I have for what Mother Theresa said about Communion in the hand -

"I will tell you a secret, since we have just a thousand close friends together, and also because we have the Missionaries of Charity with us… "Not very long ago I said Mass and preached for their Mother, Mother Teresa of Calcutta, and after breakfast we spent quite a long time talking in a little room. Suddenly, I found myself asking her – don’t know why – ‘Mother, what do you think is the worst problem in the world today?’ She more than anyone could name any number of candidates: famine, plague, disease, the breakdown of the family, rebellion against God, the corruption of the media, world debt, nuclear threat, and so on. “Without pausing a second she said, ‘Wherever I go in the whole world, the thing that makes me the saddest is watching people receive Communion in the hand.’”

• Father George William Rutler, Good Friday, 1989 in St. Agnes Church, New York City (a precise transcript taken from a tape of his talk available from St. Agnes Church)

Yes, that’s the quote to which the Missionaries of Charity were responding.

 

[Glenoy]

Her religious indifferentism, Bad.
Her role as Eucharistic minister , Bad .
In short Most traditionalists are not thrilled .
+AMDG+

What does this mean? Is this because Mother Teresa was influenced by the spirit of Vatican 2? How about this statement of her, “if you’re a muslim, be a good muslim. If you’re a buddhist, be a good buddhist”. How do you see this? I think every catholic has a duty not only to spread the gospel through our actions and deeds but also to actively bring them in into the Catholic Church. I mean here active conversion of other religions as what the lord Jesus commanded the apostles.

 

[bpbasilphx]

How about this statement of her, “if you’re a muslim, be a good muslim. If you’re a buddhist, be a good buddhist”. How do you see this?

---

**These words are frequently taken out of context by contraversialists, including Protestant ones.

The quote, as I recall, goes on to say, “But sooner or later, the closer a person draws toward God, he will have to make a choice for Christ or against Him”–or words to this effect.**

 

[Glenoy]

**These words are frequently taken out of context by contraversialists, including Protestant ones.

The quote, as I recall, goes on to say, “But sooner or later, the closer a person draws toward God, he will have to make a choice for Christ or against Him”–or words to this effect.**

Hi bpbasilphx! I really wanted to know more of Mother Teresa. So far, of my limited knowledge regarding her, it seems to me that she has a little to do with converting others to Catholic faith. Or was it her way of converting others- through indirect way?

Will you please give me the link of the continuation of the above quote. I love to know more about Mother Teresa.

Thank you in advance, my friend…

 

[Seamus_L]

I’m very uncomfortable with her ecumenical positions, but to be honest she’s just someone I never talk about.

 

[Thomas58]

“if you’re a muslim, be a good muslim. If you’re a buddhist, be a good buddhist”.

I have heard this quote attributed to her as well. But that is alright, because Vatican II teaches that all religions lead to salvation, the Catholic Church does not see the need to convert anyone anymore.

Cardinal Walter Kasper, Prefect of Vatican Council for Promoting Christian Unity. confirmed this new doctrine when he said: ***“… today we no longer understand ecumenism in the sense of a return, by which the others would ‘be converted’ and return to being Catholics. This was expressly abandoned by Vatican II.” (***Adista, Feb. 26, 2001)

And Benedict XVI has confirmed this new belief many times. In a Zenit News story, Sept. 5, 2000, he says: “We are in agreement that a Jew, and this is true for believers of other religions, does not need to know or acknowledge Christ as the Son of God in order to be saved…"

Thomas

 

[JKirkLVNV]

I have heard this quote attributed to her as well. But that is alright, because Vatican II teaches that all religions lead to salvation, the Catholic Church does not see the need to convert anyone anymore.

Cardinal Walter Kasper, Prefect of Vatican Council for Promoting Christian Unity. confirmed this new doctrine when he said: ***“… today we no longer understand ecumenism in the sense of a return, by which the others would ‘be converted’ and return to being Catholics. This was expressly abandoned by Vatican II.” (***Adista, Feb. 26, 2001)

And Benedict XVI has confirmed this new belief many times. In a Zenit News story, Sept. 5, 2000, he says: “We are in agreement that a Jew, and this is true for believers of other religions, does not need to know or acknowledge Christ as the Son of God in order to be saved…"

Thomas

Cardinal Kaspar IS a problem, in my opinion. If Cardinal RATZINGER said that, I’d like to see the rest of the quote. They don’t have to know or acknowledge Christ as Son of God IF THEY ARE INVINCIBLY IGNORANT OF CHRIST AND HIS CHURCH. If they, being invincibly ignorant, ARE saved, they’re saved BY Christ and NOT by their invincible ignorance.

If there are other ways to Heaven, what need was there for the Holy One to die?

 

[Indyann]

Here is the reference I have for what Mother Theresa said about Communion in the hand -

"I will tell you a secret, since we have just a thousand close friends together, and also because we have the Missionaries of Charity with us... "Not very long ago I said Mass and preached for their Mother, Mother Teresa of Calcutta, and after breakfast we spent quite a long time talking in a little room. Suddenly, I found myself asking her -- don't know why -- 'Mother, what do you think is the worst problem in the world today?' She more than anyone could name any number of candidates: famine, plague, disease, the breakdown of the family, rebellion against God, the corruption of the media, world debt, nuclear threat, and so on. "Without pausing a second she said, 'Wherever I go in the whole world, the thing that makes me the saddest is watching people receive Communion in the hand.'"

• Father George William Rutler, Good Friday, 1989 in St. Agnes Church, New York City (a precise transcript taken from a tape of his talk available from St. Agnes Church)

This poster claims to have written to Father Rutler, and he vehemently denies that Mother Teresa ever said that.

The poster offered to provide a copy of the letter. The post is at the bottom of the page.

angelqueen.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=26277&view=next&sid=1c78ad870c241af3f11b699479f1344d

 

[wcknight]

It’s easy to takes quotes out of context or without full explanations and conclude that someone believes Christianity is not important or that spreading the faith is not important.

The statements that both Pope John Paul the great and Pope Benedict have made clearly state that salvation is possible through Christ even IF a person is from another faith and does not believe in Christ or has never heard of Christ.

This does not negate Christ’s role in salvation, or Christ’s divinity or our responsibility to spread the Gospel.

Clearly Mother Teresa is proclaiming the same message. IF you can not accept Christ then be the best possible person that you can be in the faith that you can accept.

I see this as no different that someone who does not want to be a priest but is called to be the best married person that he can be, or the best single person that he can be or the best accountant or best soldier or best garbage collector.

IF you were born and raised as a muslim or buddhist or whatever other faith and you can not accept Christianity, then you need to follow goodness in whatever faith you can accept. All goodness comes from God, and God simply does not condemn good people.

IF you were God would you condemn a good pagan Buddhist and then forgive an ax murdering Catholic ??

 

[JKirkLVNV]

It’s easy to takes quotes out of context or without full explanations and conclude that someone believes Christianity is not important or that spreading the faith is not important.

The statements that both Pope John Paul the great and Pope Benedict have made clearly state that salvation is possible through Christ even IF a person is from another faith and does not believe in Christ or has never heard of Christ.

This does not negate Christ’s role in salvation, or Christ’s divinity or our responsibility to spread the Gospel.

Clearly Mother Teresa is proclaiming the same message. IF you can not accept Christ then be the best possible person that you can be in the faith that you can accept.

I see this as no different that someone who does not want to be a priest but is called to be the best married person that he can be, or the best single person that he can be or the best accountant or best soldier or best garbage collector.

IF you were born and raised as a muslim or buddhist or whatever other faith and you can not accept Christianity, then you need to follow goodness in whatever faith you can accept. All goodness comes from God, and God simply does not condemn good people.

IF you were God would you condemn a good pagan Buddhist and then forgive an ax murdering Catholic ??

With respect, what do you mean by “can not?” (above bolded mine)

 

[Thomas58]

Originally posted by **wcknight **

It’s easy to takes quotes out of context or without full explanations and conclude that someone believes Christianity is not important or that spreading the faith is not important.

The statements that both Pope John Paul the great and Pope Benedict have made clearly state that salvation is possible through Christ even IF a person is from another faith and does not believe in Christ or has never heard of Christ.

This does not negate Christ’s role in salvation, or Christ’s divinity or our responsibility to spread the Gospel.

Clearly Mother Teresa is proclaiming the same message. IF you can not accept Christ then be the best possible person that you can be in the faith that you can accept.

I see this as no different that someone who does not want to be a priest but is called to be the best married person that he can be, or the best single person that he can be or the best accountant or best soldier or best garbage collector.

IF you were born and raised as a muslim or buddhist or whatever other faith and you can not accept Christianity, then you need to follow goodness in whatever faith you can accept. All goodness comes from God, and God simply does not condemn good people.

IF you were God would you condemn a good pagan Buddhist and then forgive an ax murdering Catholic ??

So why convert to the Catholic Faith at all if all religions lead to God, or one can be saved by any religion at all, as you seem to be saying?

This is exactly what the Church as been teaching since Vatican II which stands in direct contradiction of the perineal teaching of the Church that there is no salvation outside of the Catholic Church.

Pope Eugene IV, Council of Florence, “Cantate Domino,” 1441***:“The Holy Roman Church firmly believes, professes and preaches that all those who are outside the Catholic Church, not only pagans but also Jews or heretics and schismatics, cannot share in eternal life and will go into the everlasting fire which was prepared for the devil and his angels, unless they are joined to the Church before the end of their lives; that the unity of this ecclesiastical body is of such importance that only for those who abide in it do the Church’s sacraments contribute to salvation and do fasts, almsgiving and other works of piety and practices of the Christian militia produce eternal rewards; and that nobody can be saved, no matter how much he has given away in alms and even if he has shed blood in the name of Christ, unless he has persevered in the bosom and unity of the Catholic Church.”***

Thomas

 

[Sr_Sally]

I think we all need to keep in mind the context in which Mother Teresa worked. She was living in a minority Christian country, ministering to the poorest street people who were not literate, barely knew their own faith (be it Hindu or Buddhist) who were dying. She did not withhold care from them no matter what their religious affiliation.

Later when she began work with other groups like orphans and lepers, she again did not withhold care from those who were not ready to make a profession of Christian faith. But she did encourage all to act according to Natural Law and according to the moral precepts of their faith–which for Hindus and Buddhists is very similar to our own. Her charism and direction from Christ (she had visions of Christ telling her to start her order) was to care for the “poorest of the poor”. She was involved in “clothing the naked, feeding the hungry, and burying the dead”. Others had the charism to evangalize.

Her work was praised by all Popes during her lifetime and after. I am concerned that when we as Catholics begin to degenerate her work we feed into the efforts of men like Hitchens (atheists) who are trying to discredit her completely.

She has been declared a Blessed and is known as Blessed Teresa of Calcutta.

 

[RyanML]

IF you were born and raised as a muslim or buddhist or whatever other faith and you can not accept Christianity, then you need to follow goodness in whatever faith you can accept. All goodness comes from God, and God simply does not condemn good people.

IF you were God would you condemn a good pagan Buddhist and then forgive an ax murdering Catholic ??

But salvation is not a matter of being good. We are not saved by our works. We are saved by grace. We receive grace through faith in Jesus Christ and then, by grace, we produce the necessary fruits of our faith, which is works.

If a soul can not accept the truth, then they may, by following the lights that God has given them and in spite of their errors, come to salvation. But that’s not a one way ticket to heaven. We don’t know the state of these souls. It’s possible that they “can not” accept the truth because they are being obstinate in their errors and not truely seeking God. We just don’t know. What we do know is that they don’t have the truth and if we have been given the gift of faith, we have a duty to witness that truth to others as the TRUTH and not just one road out of many leading to the same place.

 

[Sr_Sally]

There are two different issues here that need to be cleared up. First, the Church does say that we need to evangalize and that those who are convinced of the truth of the Church do need to convert or risk their souls.

The second item is that those who have not received teaching in the faith (for example very poor, very ill people in India) or who, no fault of their own, do not completely understand what they have been taught (for example people receiving inadequate catechises) may possibly be saved through the Mercy of Christ.

Christ, after all, is the final judge and while His judgement is final, His mercy is infinite. We are all called to evangalize as we are able, which include teaching CCD or possibly being a missionary in India. We are also called to pray for Christ’s mercy to rain down on all mankind.

I believe we will be held responsible for those souls whose understanding we could have assisted and those whose faith development we hindered, whether that be by not stepping up to teach, or by causing scandal where we could have avoided it. Let us all be careful about our idle speculations and discussions.

 

[GodIsGracious]

So why convert to the Catholic Faith at all if all religions lead to God, or one can be saved by any religion at all, as you seem to be saying?

This is exactly what the Church as been teaching since Vatican II which stands in direct contradiction of the perineal teaching of the Church that there is no salvation outside of the Catholic Church.

Pope Eugene IV, Council of Florence, “Cantate Domino,” 1441***:“The Holy Roman Church firmly believes, professes and preaches that all those who are outside the Catholic Church, not only pagans but also Jews or heretics and schismatics, cannot share in eternal life and will go into the everlasting fire which was prepared for the devil and his angels, unless they are joined to the Church before the end of their lives; that the unity of this ecclesiastical body is of such importance that only for those who abide in it do the Church’s sacraments contribute to salvation and do fasts, almsgiving and other works of piety and practices of the Christian militia produce eternal rewards; and that nobody can be saved, no matter how much he has given away in alms and even if he has shed blood in the name of Christ, unless he has persevered in the bosom and unity of the Catholic Church.”***

Thomas

The red bold emphasis is mine.

This is actually the same … uhm… “space” (for lack of a better word) that I am in right now.

Coming back after having been lapsed I have given up A LOT of “earthly” desires to conform to the Catholic church’s teachings. And I do mean A LOT. And when those temptations and desires come back, I pray to not be led to them. So far, God has kept me in His care.

And while for the longest time I have felt and believed that “all roads lead to God,” I wonder now, why? Why should they? Why when I have given up so much? Why couldn’t I have stayed in “invincible ignorance” through “poor cathechesis”, continued to live my life the way I pleased, and still have an assurance of being in communion with God?

It seems that a lot of people are going to get through the gates of heaven because they were just “really nice people.”

oh man, I do so need to go see a priest about this. If this is what Vatican II would have us believe, honestly? Why convert to Catholicism? Why bother to have given up earthly attachments? Or is this my ego and selfish pride questioning?

 

[wcknight]

People go to Heaven through the grace of God. IF God wants to allow non-Christians into Heaven who are we to say that He can’t. Only by the grace of God were you born into the circumstances that you are in.

IF you were born and raised in a muslim or buddhist household do you think you would be Catholic today ? Is it wrong to say that God takes into account the circumstances of your birth and upbringing ? It makes a lot more sense to say that you will be judged according to the amount of grace and opportunity that you were given.

IF people follow the will of God to the best of their knowledge and ability, then that is all that anyone can expect of them. It is not a matter of picking and choosing the easiest faith to follow. IF you know what the Truth is, then you need to follow the Truth. IF you have not been given the grace to determine what is the truth, then you can only be judged on what truth you have been exposed to.