This historic work reveals the inner spiritual life of one of the most beloved and important religious figures in history.
During her lif...
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Apr 07, 2008
Clark
rated it: 
I have to be honest, I didn't finish this book. And, I'm ambivalent about it, the book that is.
It's mostly Mother Teresa's letters to her spiritual director/confessor and bishop and others, with some interpretive and connecting material in between from the author. I found the author's emphases to be strange. For example, the time of waiting while the Missionaries of Charity was being considered and approved by the church hierarchy was stretched out over a handful of chapters. I m More...
It's mostly Mother Teresa's letters to her spiritual director/confessor and bishop and others, with some interpretive and connecting material in between from the author. I found the author's emphases to be strange. For example, the time of waiting while the Missionaries of Charity was being considered and approved by the church hierarchy was stretched out over a handful of chapters. I m More...
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Aug 06, 2008
Dave
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I found this book somewhat disturbing. There is no doubt in my mind that Mother Theresa is a saint; her behavior leaves no doubt about that. And it is not her spirituality that perplexes me, but rather her understanding of that spirituality. She seems to contradict herself from one sentence to the next. Admittedly, she is working from the context of a spirituality formed in a time and place very different from our current one; but she seems to show no growth in understanding from her experience.
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Nov 23, 2007
Rachel
rated it: 
I am so disappointed in this book! The prologue explains all about how Mother Teresa never wanted her papers published, and even asked people to burn letters she sent to them. Now that she's dead she'll surely understand that her life belonged not to her but to the church, which can do with her writings as it sees fit. I guess that's probably true, but still, ick.
Furthermore, I expected to read about the crises of faith that working among the poor without seeing improvement over time mi More...
Furthermore, I expected to read about the crises of faith that working among the poor without seeing improvement over time mi More...
Jan 21, 2008
Allie
rated it: 
Mother Teresa had so much love for God and for others, that to sit down and read about her work...is difficult. It is difficult to measure my own feeble efforts to love against her self-sacrifice and dedication.
Yet this book has helped me. The most valuable thing I took away was the idea that we each must look to the unloved, unwanted and uncared for in our own homes, community and life--and that we must realize that whatever we do to them, we do to Jesus. We cannot separate our care More...
Yet this book has helped me. The most valuable thing I took away was the idea that we each must look to the unloved, unwanted and uncared for in our own homes, community and life--and that we must realize that whatever we do to them, we do to Jesus. We cannot separate our care More...
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Nov 03, 2007
Sue
rated it:
Reveals a level and type of devotion that I am unable to comprehend.
The editing was excellent. I especially appreciated the parallels between what Mother Teresa experienced and what other saints experienced.
But still, as a book, it wasn't that satisfying.
The editing was excellent. I especially appreciated the parallels between what Mother Teresa experienced and what other saints experienced.
But still, as a book, it wasn't that satisfying.
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Feb 01, 2008
Astin
rated it:
In this book, I encountered the private writings of somebody that I've always admired, and touted as my personal hero. Through this book, I discovered the specific reasons why Mother Teresa has always been a person who resonates with my personal ethos. Her deep devotion and love of Jesus is a recognition of her depravity as a human being, her complete devotion to the concept of servent, and her embodiment of the command to love one another. The result is somebody that you can't help but admir
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Apr 06, 2008
Cara
rated it:
I'm demolished by this book. Honestly I still don't know what to make of it but for the time being I am absolutely consumed, brained and agog by it.
I was raised Catholic but the church and I parted ways many moons ago. Much like an enstranged relative, I still keep up with news of what's shaking with the new Pope, what taco Jesus appeared in and what photo's crying blood and all that.
Mother Teresa has always intrigued me. Always. How can someone be so selfless? Divine C More...
I was raised Catholic but the church and I parted ways many moons ago. Much like an enstranged relative, I still keep up with news of what's shaking with the new Pope, what taco Jesus appeared in and what photo's crying blood and all that.
Mother Teresa has always intrigued me. Always. How can someone be so selfless? Divine C More...
May 29, 2008
Cindy
rated it:
I've always been impressed by the sacrifice and life of service given by Mother Teresa. I was surprised by the revealations found in her personal letters. Her innermost thoughts and burdens are shared from a most sincere heart.
It was interesting to learn what led Mother Theresa to begin her sisterhood. She shares some of the struggles and dangers they faced as they served the people.
I was disappointed to learn of her sorrow and lack of peace. The end of her life was More...
It was interesting to learn what led Mother Theresa to begin her sisterhood. She shares some of the struggles and dangers they faced as they served the people.
I was disappointed to learn of her sorrow and lack of peace. The end of her life was More...
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Aug 10, 2011
Sara
rated it:
Girl meets God. Girl falls in love with God. Girl starts religious order because God told her to. Girl spends the rest of her life feeling deeply, utterly, irrevocably abandoned by God.
That's pretty much the plot of this alternately compelling and disturbing spiritual biography. The backbone of the book are the letters Mother Teresa wrote to her spiritual directors. First they detail the visions and inspiration that made her suddenly leave her nice decent Sisters of Loretto school-tea More...
That's pretty much the plot of this alternately compelling and disturbing spiritual biography. The backbone of the book are the letters Mother Teresa wrote to her spiritual directors. First they detail the visions and inspiration that made her suddenly leave her nice decent Sisters of Loretto school-tea More...
Aug 08, 2011
Jeff
rated it:
So much to learn from this lady whose relationship with Christ was so deeply passionate and yet she always shared Christ with people without herself thinking about her life. Though she suffered a severe "dark night of the soul" she was willing to see how her life was to be lived for the greater glory of bringing "heaven on earth" to the "Poorest of the poor." Though she suffered silently, she always offered a smile to those around her in hopes of sharing Christ wi
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Jul 28, 2011
Adriane
rated it:
In this autobiography of a modern-day saint, I was startled to read that Mother Teresa called her life’s calling a “vocation, to be beautiful…full of thought for others.” On the surface, she and the fellow nuns in her order are, out of humility and duty, as plain of face and clothing as it is humanly possible to be, hardly what most people would call “beautiful.” You can’t see anything of their figure or hair, and their faces are careworn from the elements and harsh living among those whom the
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Jan 06, 2011
Kristin
rated it:
Very interesting and thought provoking. There are many of her personal letters in here, so you get a glimpse into her heart and life. I didn't know much about Mother Teresa before reading this book. She had such a heart for Jesus and her calling was clear...and the most difficult part of her journey was after she started the Missionaries of Charity to the poor, she began "the dark night of the soul" and rarely experienced Jesus' closeness like she had before that period of time. She
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Nov 03, 2010
Theresa
rated it:
I loved this book. I was very surprised that for almost 50 years she felt nothing. In this godless time that we live in, it was good to know that she went through this herself. For her to have experienced such a closeness to Jesus and then to lose it was very painful for her, yet she continued to live her life for Him. I had no idea that most all the saints went through this darkness and was considered to be for them what Jesus felt when he was abandoned to die on the cross for us. She said
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May 29, 2010
Flavia
rated it:
In the short time that I´ve been reading this - no! jumping from one page to another as though I can´t wait to finish it - this is somewhat strange, yes, if the reader does not really ponder on the true nature of her spirituality. One can easily find her views contradictory.
But the real sense of her life consisted in her mastery of it all: the dark night became the Light that enabled her to adore and worship her Creator and Saviour in the very work she did every moment of her life; More...
But the real sense of her life consisted in her mastery of it all: the dark night became the Light that enabled her to adore and worship her Creator and Saviour in the very work she did every moment of her life; More...
Jun 09, 2010
Vida
rated it: 
I learned how little I know about Mother Teresa and her dedication to the poor, lonely and disenfranchised. I learned how much she suffered with her "call within a call," with her own loneliness and questions about God and faith. I learned how closely she worked with the Jesuits and how they guided her spiritually. I learned that there are good works and then there are good works. I wish I could have met her. I wish I could be more like her.
Oct 01, 2011
Mark
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This was a great book to me on many levels. Described as “a chalet basking in warm sunshine, surrounded by lush vegetation and flowers, yet within all dark and cold, Mother Teresa lived out to the fullest the particular and general ends of the society she founded: Particular End-- To satisfy the thirst of Christ on the cross for love and souls; General End-- To take Christ to the poorest of the poor. Mother Teresa met Christ in His passion (Gal 2:20), identifying with Him by allowing herself to
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Aug 03, 2011
Kevin
rated it:
A well arranged book which runs through Mother Teresa's hidden turmoil. She was quick to experience what spiritual guides call the 'Dark Night of the Soul', described vividly in the book of the same name by S. John of the Cross.
This book highlights the perseverence that is required by members of religious orders in carrying their vocations through. When all seems worthless and the fight for souls futile, souls like Mother Teresa's rise to the occasion, fulfilling their duties to the end and fin More...
This book highlights the perseverence that is required by members of religious orders in carrying their vocations through. When all seems worthless and the fight for souls futile, souls like Mother Teresa's rise to the occasion, fulfilling their duties to the end and fin More...
Sep 27, 2010
Caitlin
rated it:
This is an interesting read from one of the most mysterious women of the 20th century. What drives someone to be selfless and live their entire lives helping indigent people in India? She is a remarkable woman who let some special people know her inner fears, doubts, troubles and joys. The troubling part of the book is that it is not "written" by Mother Teresa. It is a collection of personal letters and comments to people she trusted to destroy the evidence. She was an inspiration to s
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Dec 26, 2010
Andrea
rated it:
Mother Teresa's letters teach that love is not something we do expecting good things in return. True love means doing things for the one you love, even when it's not easy or what we'd prefer to do. Mother Teresa had a very close relationship with Christ the first part of her life, then spent decades not hearing God's voice, and feeling empty and depressed, "like a stone." But the amazing thing is she loved and trusted God, even in these dark times. She even fell deeper in love.
Th More...
Th More...
Nov 27, 2009
Denise
rated it:
Mother Teresa has always been a heroine of mine, from the first time I ever heard about her when I was a child in Catholic school. I am no longer Catholic, but I still look up to her. I was so eager to read this book. As a Christian that suffers with depression and "dark nights of the soul," I did find it inspirational that a saint in our own time suffered through the same things and still remained faithful, ever persevering through her struggles. I was disappointed in the author o
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Apr 12, 2011
Jean
rated it:
I really don't know how to rate this book. It was very Catholic (imagine that)and repetitive. Certainly, this made it difficult at times to "wade" through. However,I knew virtually nothing about Mother Teresa other than the news articles about this book which seemed to put a cynical spin about her dark doubts. When I got the chance to borrow Come Be My Light, I jumped at it to satisfy my curiosity. What I discovered was an amazing woman with great faith--"Lord, I believe, bless
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Sep 30, 2011
Victor
rated it:
Count not my feelings. Count not the cost I would have to pay. I am ready, for I have already given my all to Him.
Be the one to satiate the thirst. Instead of saying "I Thirst".
It was Sep5, 1997 9:30 p.m., while Calcutta was in darkness, the earthly life of the one who had brought so much light to this city and to the whole world was extinguished. Even so, her mission continues : from heaven she still responds to Jesus's call, "Come be my light."
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Be the one to satiate the thirst. Instead of saying "I Thirst".
It was Sep5, 1997 9:30 p.m., while Calcutta was in darkness, the earthly life of the one who had brought so much light to this city and to the whole world was extinguished. Even so, her mission continues : from heaven she still responds to Jesus's call, "Come be my light."
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Jul 04, 2011
Suzyberry
rated it:
A riveting, eye-opening personal profile by Mother Teresa, herself...revelations made through correspondences with various clergy of how unworthy she felt, how ordinary and humble and human she knew she was...and yet the world called her a saint. She healed and helped the lowest of the low and yet no one really saw her suffering...but she cried out for help often only to be rather rebuffed. This book made me love her even more...how much like every person she really was, yet how much more she ac
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Jun 20, 2009
Barb
rated it:
Fascinating view of a woman who I have admired all my life... and still do. This book was written by the person who is charged in looking into her case for sainthood and it entirely based on her letters to spiritual directors. It was eye-opening and really had me thinking about trust, darkness in our lives, and why God allows this. After reading it, I really needed to discuss the book with interested parties to come to some sort of peace. In the end, it has strengthened my faith and apprecia
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Aug 02, 2011
Rebeccameder
rated it:
What impressed me was her dedication and genuine commitment to face all her sufferings cheerfully, and to keep showing that face to everyone else. Personally, I find it difficult enough to face hardships and suffering without having a pity party or feeling angry about the circumstances, never mind going way beyond that and actually being truly cheerful despite it all. God must really have been giving her grace to enable her to love others so deeply and consistently, while not feeling loved herse
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Mar 31, 2011
Louis
rated it:
Before reading "Mother Teresa: Come Be My Light", I heard that it was somewhat controversial. It shares a side of Mother Teresa that some felt should not be told. While it is likely to be troubling to some, it is destined to be a great comfort to many. Kolodiejchuk draws heavily on Mother Teresa's personal writing and the accounts of her spiritual directors and close friends to tell a story of Mother Teresa that includes her deep spiritual struggles. For many years, Mother Teresa strug
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Sep 12, 2009
Julie
rated it:
It was weird to read - and I didn't get all the way to the end. It's a collection of letters Mother Teresa wrote during her life, with commentary and background added. Some of it is very interesting background, but there are letters in there where Mother Teresa begs people to destroy and not share the letters she had already written. If I understand correctly, many of the Catholic faith think that now she is a saint in heaven, she would understand why her writing is being shared and be okay w
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Aug 28, 2010
Edie
rated it: 
I still haven't come to terms with this book. I have always admired Mother Teresa so much, but the book was a major disappointment. Yes, I understand the saint's depression, a very human condition, but the author made no attempt to analzye anything about her choices. The style of the book was tedious; it could have benefited from considerable editing and deletion of the heavy repetition. It was as if the author were so in awe of her that he could not question some of her human failings. Who
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Jan 08, 2009
Ginda
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I read this book with mixed feelings, mostly because her most intimate writings meant to be shared only with her spiritual confessors were made public in this book, even though Mother Teresa had repeatedly asked during her lifetime that these letters be destroyed. On the other hand, I feel privileged to have read her words, gaining insight into her passionate love for Jesus and her burning desire to serve the abandoned and unloved of the world, in spite of years of intense spiritual suffering a
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Apr 15, 2008
Beth
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This book was fascinating. I know there is a lot of recent criticism of Mother Teresa but reading her own personal correspondence gave an insight into this woman who has become more than a person, but has been turned into a myth, a legend, and a symbol.
The only criticism I have of the book is that it does become repetitious toward the end.
However, I could not help but be awed by the depth of this woman's faith even if the midst of, yes, deep doubts. Some people say that More...
The only criticism I have of the book is that it does become repetitious toward the end.
However, I could not help but be awed by the depth of this woman's faith even if the midst of, yes, deep doubts. Some people say that More...
