Mail Call: A Crisis of Faith

A Dark Night of the Soul
Readers of Christopher Hitchens's Sept. 10 piece on Mother Teresa defended the nun staunchly. "Great saints have grave crises of faith," wrote one. Another said, "Why doesn't he spend a few months in her shoes?" A third took us to task: "You should be ashamed to allow an atheist to write such a diatribe."

Christopher Hitchens's elegant critique of Mother Teresa's personal letters to her confessors ("The Dogmatic Doubter," Sept. 10) is typical of the vocal and eloquent intellectual who feels uneasy when faced with the profound mysteries of the Christian faith in a world of materialism and temporal interests. Mother Teresa's pain and doubts were generated by the inability of her senses to feel the presence of God in her life, not by his absence. Doubt is the ordeal of every Christian who decides to live his or her faith fully. Hitchens's pedestrian and shortsighted analysis of Mother Teresa's spiritual journey on earth reflects a complete misunderstanding of what it means for a Roman Catholic to be called by God to a life of intimacy with Jesus. It has been the journey of many saints throughout history who, captivated by his call, were driven to lead sanctified lives. It is this sense of hope, perseverance in their faith and unconditional surrender of their self to an impalpable, invisible God, absent to their senses, that made them perceive eternity. And it is this failure to seek what is essential and eternal from the many things in our life—which, though beautiful and enjoyable, are temporal and mortal—that makes for the misery of man. Mother Teresa's canonization will continue, despite the skepticism raised by nonbelievers in a world filled with hatred, greed, war and materialism.
Freddie C. Hamdy
Sheffield, England

Christopher Hitchens has failed to write even one line that lends credence to his theory that Mother Teresa was a "confused old lady whom [the church] knew had for all practical purposes ceased to believe." He simply skims the surface in a rush, hoping that the use of a word here or a phrase there will do the job. His statements are flippant, vacuous and unsubstantiated and his quotations seem out of context. It's hard to imagine that anyone would take him seriously enough to think that Mother Teresa was not a faithful believer. He should have the decency to let the earth lie lightly over an exemplary human being who did so much, with such commitment and passion, to transform the lives of less fortunate fellow beings, all of whom revere her memory.
Mahendra Fernando
Colombo, Sri Lanka

Great saints have had grave crises of faith: the greater the saint, the graver the "dark night of the soul." Over the centuries, many saints and holy people chose not to give voice to their inner problems. It is surprising that Teresa did not destroy her notes. But the church can—and will—explain away practically anything. Those who have no difficulties or doubts are usually simpletons, or just superstitious, and irrational. Intelligent, scientific, rational believers know how to adjust their faith to suit reason and science. But explaining faith satisfactorily will take reams of print. If I question the pope about his personal faith, will he give me the truth, or just a politically correct answer? Likewise, if he were to question me? Faith cannot be gauged or compared—no two people's faith is identical. Their actions can give us some gauge: depending on whether they accept martyrdom or apostatize; build a monastery or molest little girls; become suicide bombers or found the Missionaries of Charity. But when the Archbishop of Calcutta subjects Teresa to an exorcism, then I have to puke. If she was aware of the exorcism, she probably died of despair.
R. Lane-Smith, S.J.
Mumbai, India

I have never written a letter to an editor before, but after reading the article by Christopher Hitchens, I just could not resist. His judgmental tone is infuriating. What is my opinion of Mother Teresa? Should she be canonized? I don't really know. What I do know is that she spent her time on earth serving others. Why does Christopher Hitchens scrutinize a woman who gave so much of herself to the world? Was Mother Teresa insecure? Hysterical? Doubtful of her faith at times? Critical of herself? Maybe. Perhaps she wasn't always "balanced." But then again, most great thinkers, artists and musicians aren't always content, self-satisfied or sleeping peacefully through the night, either. Mother Teresa was hardworking and selfless and not, in my opinion, a fanatical, miserable, crazy woman. I think Hitchens takes many of her comments out of context or too literally. Maybe she was tired, depressed or lonely when she wrote what he quotes. When she said to the Nobel Prize audience, for example, that abortion is the greatest threat to world peace, perhaps she just meant that we would have a more peaceful world if we weren't always thinking "me first." Why doesn't Hitchens spend a few months in Mother Teresa's shoes and then reassess his analysis of her? He might see things differently.
M. Fitzgerald
Amsterdam, Netherlands

All Mother Teresa did was spend 87 years building a legacy that would outlast her. She poured her life into what she believed in. And in one shameful article, Christopher Hitchens has attempted to tarnish a precious woman's life's work. How does he live with himself? How does he sleep at night? The only solace is to know that the God that Mother Teresa served is real, and he is merciful. May his mercy someday find Hitchens.
Jerry Lawson
Via Internet