September 4, 2016Twenty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time

CORPUS CHRISTI CATHOLIC CHURCH6300 McKenna Drive, Mobile, Alabama 36608

Email: Church@CorpusChristiParish.com ! Website: www.CorpusChristiParish.com

TELEPHONE NUMBERS

Parish Office: 342-1852 • Fax 342-6313School Office: 342-5474, ext. 1 • Fax 380-0325Rel. Ed. Office: 342-5474, ext. 7 • Fax 380-0325Full-Day Care: 342-2424 • Fax 343-3119Youth Ministry: 342-1852 • Fax 342-6313

PASTORAL STAFF

Very Reverend James F. Zoghby, V.F.Reverend John S. BoudreauxDeacon Arthur W. Robbins, DeaconSister Donna Cooper, R.S.M., Visitation ChaplainMrs. Kristy F. Martin, School PrincipalMrs. Diane M. Stoyka, Parish Catechetical LeaderMrs. Judi B. Ankiewicz, R.C.I.A. CoordinatorMr. Peter J. Stoyka, Youth Ministry DirectorMr. C. Clinton Doolittle, Music DirectorMr. Thomas C. McKee, Gym Manager

TO REGISTER AS A MEMBER OF THE PARISH

Please fill out a Census Form. Census Forms areavailable in the church vestibule and parish office.

COMMUNITY CENTER RENTALS & SERVICES

For rental information and kitchen services, please callthe parish office at 342-1852 or 342-1420.

SUNDAY MASSES

Vigil: 5:30 p.m. SaturdayMorning: 7:00, 9:00 and 11:00 a.m.

WEEKDAY MASSES

6:30 a.m.: Monday through Friday8:15 a.m.: Monday through Saturday

SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION

Saturday: 5:00 p.m. and by request, particularlyafter the 6:30 & 8:15 a.m. weekday Masses.

BAPTISM, MARRIAGE, ANOINTING OF SICK

Please call the parish office (342-1852) or informationand scheduling baptism, marriage, anointing of sick.

ADULT RELIGIOUS EDUCATION (R.C.I.A.)

Please see published schedule for specific dates andtimes, or call the parish office (342-1852).

SUNDAY SCHOOL (C.C.D.) Grades K–12, Sundaysduring school year, 10:05-10:55 a.m. in school bldgs.

SCHOOL, SACS-accredited for Grades 3K through 8.Special preschool program for 6-week-old infants to 2-year olds, Monday through Friday, 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Please call the school office, 342-5474, ext. 1 for info.

TWENTY-THIRD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

LABOR DAY MASS at 8:15 a.m. only. No 6:30 a.m. Mass.

All offices of the parish (church, school, preschool) will be closed.

We extend a special welcome

to all who wish to join

The Catholic ChurchCall, Email or Come

Call 342-1852 and leave your name & phone number.

Email Church@CorpusChristiParish.com.

Come to our class Wednesday, Sept. 14, 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the

Adult Education Room of the Corpus Christi Community Center.

For Catholics too: These classes provide continuing education forCatholic adults and others interested in learning more about the faith.

ADULT RELIGIOUS

EDUCATION (R.C.I.A.)

Presented by Fr. James F. Zoghby

Continuing education for Catholic and other adults who would like to learn more aboutand/or join the Catholic Church. Meetings are inthe Adult Ed. Room in the Community Center on

Wednesdays from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Starting Wednesday, Sept. 14: Introductory Class:Everything you want to know about the Catholic Church.Bring your questions. Ask or drop them in our Question Box.

Further Information: Call 342-1852 to speak to one of the priestsor email Church@CorpusChristiParish.com.

SUNDAY SCHOOLNo Classes Today: Labor Day holiday. Classes resume Sept. 11.Info: DianeStoyka@yahoo.com or 342-5474, ext. 7.

CORPUS CHRISTI SCHOOLNo Classes: Monday, Sept. 5. Labor Day holiday.School Pictures in Uniform: Friday, Sept. 9.Fall Sports Pep Rally: Friday, Sept. 16.Change for a Cure for Cystic Fibrosis: Mon.-Fri., Sept. 19-23.Grandparents Day: Tuesday, Sept. 27, 8:15 Mass & Reception.

Children’s Liturgy of the Word

Looking for volunteers for who will teach for one month, Sept. to May. Sign-up sheet is in the vestibule.

Always feel free to take extra bulletinsand pass them on to others.

Our Church Bulletins are also Online:Visit DiscoverMass.com or CorpusChristiParish.com/Church

Next Sunday! September 11th

Jazz Brunch

in the Banquet HallWith Jazz Musicians Performing Live!

2nd Sunday of the Month(Every month except June, July, August)

Buffet Served from 12 Noon to 1:30 p.m.$10.25 for Adults ! $4.25 for Children (Age 12 & under)

Guide Book & DirectoryAdvertising Opportunity

Corpus Christi’s annual Guide Book & Directory is being updated andwill be mailed to all parishioners at no cost to the parish. It issubsidized by local businesses that advertise in it. If you would liketo find out about advertising in this book, please contact the parishoffice at 342-1852 or at Church@CorpusChristiParish.com.

Please support the advertiserson the back of the bulletin

Their ads enable us to have our bulletins printed at no cost to the parish. Ads are purchased through Diocesan Publications. For info contact them at 1-800-292-9111 or www.diocesan.com.

Wednesday Night Dinner5:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the Banquet Hall

$9.25 for Adults ! $4.25 for Children (Age 12 & under)

Sept. 7: Fried Pork Chops, Grilled Tomato Mozzarella Chicken,Yukon Garlic Smashed Potatoes, Honey Glazed Carrots, SummerSquash Casserole, Garden Salad, Dinner Rolls, Banana Pudding.Iced Tea, Lemonade, Coffee. Kids Meal on request: Chicken Tenders & Fries.

Must RSVP no later than TUESDAY EVENINGReturn an RSVP Card, or call 342-1852 or email

WedNightDinner@CorpusChristiParish.com

In the Banquet Hall

� BreakfastMonday through Friday, 7:00 to 9:30 a.m.

Fresh Hot Beignets on Tuesdays!

@ LunchMonday through Friday, 11:15 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The Annual Red, White and Blue MassesCelebrated at the Cathedral

For God’s blessing on those who serve in these professions:

The Blue Mass (Friday, Sept. 9, at 12:10 p.m.) for police officers, fire fighters, first responders and other safety personnel.

The Red Mass (Friday, Sept. 23, at Noon) for our Judicial System, judges, attorneys and elected officials.

The White Mass (Saturday, Oct. 29, at 4:30 p.m.) for physicians, nurses and all health care professionals.

CORPUS CHRISTI CHURCH, MOBILE, ALABAMA SEPTEMBER 4, 2016

The Women’s ClubThe Corpus Christi Women's Club will meet on Monday Sept.12 at theOlive Garden restaurant at 6:30 p.m. All ladies are welcome!Contact: Lois Gafford 251-209-2163.

KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUSNewly-Installed Officers for 2016-2017

(Pictured left to right ) District Deputy Scott Hetrick, Warden SidneyNicholas, Grand Knight Cosmo Comiskey, Chaplain Deacon ArthurRobbins, Deputy Grand Knight Doug Jones, Chancellor Mike Doran,Treasurer Richard March, Inside Guard Mike Dederichs, Trustee BobWheat and Financial Secretary Chad Pugh

Next K of C Meeting: 2nd Tues.,Sept. 13, 7 p.m., the Parish HouseContact: Grand Knight, Cosmo Comiskey, 508-0547.

Corpus Christi ChoirChoir Practice Start Date: Sept. 14, at 7:00 p.m. in Room 4, on the2nd floor of the community center. If you can commit to mostrehearsals and Sundays now through Christmas, please come alongand join us. There is space for you in the choir.

Child Protection PolicyFor volunteers who have substantial contact with children

Archdiocesan policy requires: 1. Attendance at an initial training. 2. Annual online recertification each following year.

An Initial Training will be here at Corpus Christi Tuesday,Sept.13, 6:30 p.m. in the Adult Ed Room of the Community Center.The annual online recertification is fulfilled by following the

instructions at www.mobilearchdiocese.org/childprotection.

Tuesday Women’s Bible Study10:00-1130 a.m., Room 3 (2nd Floor, Community Center), studyingGenesis: Creation (Adam) and the Patriarchs (Abraham to Jacob).No previous Bible study required. Info: Judi Ankiewicz, 533-7882.

Tuesday Night Bible Study7:00-8:30 p.m. in Parish House (except 2nd Tues, school library)

Info: Dave Burchette, 367-6660

Thursday Women’s Bible Study

9:15 a.m. in the Community Center Conference Rm, studying David:90 Days With a Heart Like His by Beth Moore. Info: Penny Claiborneat claiborneps@gmail.com or 776-5850. Nursery available: ContactCynthia Wentworth at 767-0532 or cynwen@yahoo.com.

Widowed Persons’ Support GroupFor information call parishioner Glen Porter at 666-8977.

Called toLOVE

Catholic Women's ConferenceSaturday, October 1, 2016

at Corpus Christi Parish in Mobile Doors open at 7:30 a.m., and the day concludes with the Divine Mercy Chaplet at 3:15 p.m. Event includes Mass with Archbishop Thomas J. Rodi ! Confessions ! Vendors ! Door Prizes. The speakers include Michelle Benzinger, Mother Olga of the Sacred Heart, Danielle Rose and Emcee Heather Renshaw.

$40 Registration Fee

Coffee & Doughnuts and Lunch Provided

Seating is limited, so register now!

Register at www.CalledToLoveMobile.com.

Society of St. Vincent de PaulPoor Box, Food, Clothing donations and “In-Need” Drop Box at theSVDP table in the vestibule. Join the Society of St. Vincent de Paulby attending a meeting on the 1st & 3rd Wed., 6:30 p.m., Community

Ctr.. Conf. Rm. To seek help, call 432-5173; leave name & phone no.

Backpack Ministry — Restock the PantryAs we begin the new school year our St. Vincent de Paul pantry is inspecial need of items for the Backpack Ministry. These items includebut are not limited to: fruit cups or applesauce cups, canned meats,oatmeal and grits in individual packets, Spaghetti O's, Ravioli, smallplastic containers of peanut butter and jelly, granola bars, snackcrackers, canned soups. Thank you for your support of this ministry.

Women of MaryWednesdays, 7 to 8 p.m. Room 3 (2nd Floor, Community Center)All women are welcome to meet for prayer, reading the Gospel, and discussion.

Info: Sr. Deborah Kennedy, R.S.M., 753-4872.

Men of St. JosephTuesdays, 7 to 8 a.m. in the Family Room

Also Wednesdays, 7-8 p.m. in the Parish HouseAll men are welcome to meet for prayer, reading the Gospel, and discussion.

Info: Damian Bell, 639-2522 or 367-4486 or Damian@rockbwm.com.Wed Evening Info: Walter Bracewell, 599-1650 or walter.bracewell@gmail.com

Be Prepared Apologetics SeriesPresented by Patrick J. Arensberg

Director or the Archdiocesan Office of Religious Education

Wed., Sept. 14, 7 to 8 p.m. : “Confession and Infant Baptism”Corpus Christi Community Center, Conference Room (2nd Floor)

Info: http://mobilefaithformation.org/be-prepared-dates.

Corpus Christi Booster ClubRegistrations only online at www.ccsboosterclub.com.Superstar Soccer: Corpus Christi School & Sunday SchoolKindergartners & 1st Graders. Practices are Sept. 11, 18, 25. Games areOct. 2, 9, 16. Superstar Soccer Info: superstars@ccsboosterclub.com.

General info: info@ccsboosterclub.com. Go Cougars!

CORPUS CHRISTI CHURCH, MOBILE, ALABAMA SEPTEMBER 4, 2016

Corpus ChristiHigh School Youth Ministry

Corpus Christi High School Youth MinistrySunday, Sept. 18: 5:30 p.m. Mass

6:30-8:00 p.m. Gathering

All high school students are invited to join us for our kick-off Mass and gatheringof the new school year. We will start with 5:30 p.m. Mass, followed by dinnerupstairs in the community center, and hear about some of our activities plannedfor this year, have a few activities, and welcome all to a new year of CCHSYM.

The Corpus Christi High School Youth Ministry (CCHYSM) welcomes studentsof our parish from all high schools and their friends to all of our events. It givesus an opportunity to get together as members of our great parish, and also tomeet up with friends that may not go to the same high school as you! Throughsocial activities, service opportunities, faith-building and prayer/retreat events,we offer something for everyone. There are no “memberships,” and you cancome whenever you can! Our motto is “Bring $1 and a friend."

Music for Mass: We need people to help with the Music Ministry (play aninstrument or sing) at our monthly 5:30 p.m. Mass. All talent levels are welcome,and practice is held just prior to Mass: Meet at 4:15 p.m. in the church. A lot ofour choir teens graduated last May, so please consider joining us!Instrumentalists, please let us know what instrument you are playing so we canget the music to you ahead of time in the correct key.

More information regarding our meetings and events can be found on theCorpus Christi High School Youth Ministry Facebook page (please "Like" thepage). We also have an Instagram page "ccyouthministry" where we postpictures from gatherings and events.

Important RemindersEmail: Our email has changed! it is now "cchighschoolyouth@gmail.com“ If youhave not received an email from us and wish to be added to the email list, pleaseemail your name (or, parents, email your child's name, and your child's grade).Adult Volunteers Meeting: Are you interested in helping with the Youth Ministryprogram this year? There will be an informal meeting on Sunday, Sept. 11 atnoon upstairs in the community center. This is when we will further discuss newideas for this year's Youth Ministry program so we can continue to make it grow!March for Life: Deposit of $130 is due by September 30.

Corpus Christi Jr. High Youth GroupFor all 6th, 7th & 8th Grader students to give them a way to grow in theirfaith, serve God, and have fun! There will be plenty of serviceopportunities, retreats and events to help keep you connected withyour parish, friends and community.

Kick off Mass: Sunday, Sept. 18, at 5:30 pm. The Jr. High YouthGroup and High School Youth Ministry will alternate singing in thechoir and participating in the Mass. Invite your friends and family!

NEW GATHERING TIME! The Jr. High Youth group will meet on the1st Sundays of the Month starting in October from 6pm - 8pm upstairsin the community center. Our First Gathering will be October 2. Email List: To be added to the email list to keep up to date with thisyear's events, email Peter Stoyka at ccjryouthgroup@gmail.com. Also, we're on Instagram! “Like” us at "ccyouthministry" to see all ofour pictures from gatherings and events.

Around the Archdiocese: Fundraisers at Providence

Hospital: Masquerade $5 Jewelry Sale, Sept. 19 & 20, 7:30 am- 4:30pm, DePaul Center. Books R Fun, Sept. 29 & 30, 7:30 am - 4:30 pm,Hospital Lobby. Melon Hattie Glass etching, personalized gifts & decor,Oct. 13 & 14, 8 am - 4 pm, Hospital Lobby. Silver Connection, Oct. 17& 18, 7:30 am - 4:30 pm, Hospital Lobby. Info: Karen Dixon, 633-1335.

Confirmation SchedulesFor students to be confirmed in their Junior year of High School

Senior Class of 2018Sept. 18, 2016: 3-7 p.m. Spirit Day with Sponsor. Lesson 8.Sept. 25, 2016: 4-6 p.m. Confirmation interviews.Oct. 2, 2016: 2-3 p.m. Confirmation practice.NOT Nov. 8 (Election Day). New Date TBA! 6 p.m. Confirmation

Senior Class of 2019Nov. 20, 2016: 3-7 p.m. Spirit Day. Lesson 6.Jan. 28, 2017: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Confirmation Retreat at VisitationMonastery. Lessons 2, 3 & 4.

Senior Cass of 2020Oct. 16, 2016: 3-7 p.m. Welcome Mass. Sprit Day. Lesson 1.Feb. 19, 2017: 3-7 p.m. Spirit Day. Lessons 5 & 7.

AA — Alanon — OA — CODAAA: Sun., 7 p.m., and Wed., 7 p.m., Cougar Den.

Alanon: Sun., 7 p.m., and Wed., 7 p.m., Arts & Sciences Bldg.OA: Sat., 9 a.m., Arts & Sciences Bldg.

CODA: Tues., 6:45 p.m., Arts & Sciences Bldg.

Welcome New ParishionersMichael & Jolanta Kawohl and their daughter, Nina

BAPTIZED IN CHRISTBentley Kane Breeland

(son of Kerry & Kendra Breeland)

Kinsley Marie Stewart(daughter of Joseph Kyle Stewart & Kristin Marie Snell Stewart)

REST IN PEACEMarie Celine Powers Kahalley

(aunt of Bill & Beth Kahalley and John & Melanie Kahalley Joseph)

Priests Burse Club Weekend: Sept. 10-11: Ladies will be at the doorsafter each Mass to sign up new members or renew memberships.

FIRST COLLECTION TODAY: Tithing offerings.

SECOND COLLECTION TODAY: Corpus Christi Building Fund.

LOUISIANA FLOOD VICTIMS: $9,652.05HOME MISSIONS COLLECTION: $1,383.00AUG. 28TH BUILDING FUND ONLINE & COLLECTION: $1,072.50AUG. 28TH TITHING ONLINE & COLLECTION: $19,886.20

Thank You and God Bless YouTo make a donation of stock, ask your financial manager, or callSelena Hemphill at Morgan Stanley at 470-1084 or 800-624-7814.

Receive a detail listing of your contributionsby mail, email or fax at any time:

Call 342-1852 or email Church@CorpusChristiParish.com

To receive Offering Envelopes: Please contact theparish office at 342-1852 or at Church@CorpusChristiParish.com.

To set up Online Giving: Please go to

www.CorpusChristiParish.com; click “Church”; then click the greenOnline Giving icon on the left side of the church’s homepage. Followthe instructions to contribute to tithing or building fund or schoolannual fund or other special collections. For assistance, call 1-800-348-2886, ext 4, or the parish office, 342-1852.

St. Teresa of Calcutta

Mother Teresa of Calcutta, was a small womanrecognized throughout the world for her work among thepoorest of the poor. Born in 1910, to Albanian parents, Gonxha (Agnes)Bojaxhiu was the youngest of three children whosurvived. For a time, the family lived comfortably, andher father’s construction business thrived. But lifechanged overnight following his unexpected death. During her years at school Agnes participated in aCatholic sodality and showed a strong interest in theforeign missions. At 18 she entered the Loreto Sisters ofDublin. It was in 1928 when she said goodbye to hermother for the final time and made her way to a new landand a new life. The following year she was sent to theLoreto novitiate in Darjeeling, India. There she chose thename Teresa and prepared for a life of service. She wasassigned to a high school for girls in Calcutta, where shetaught history and geography to the daughters of thewealthy. But she could not escape the realities aroundher, the poverty, the suffering, the overwhelming numbersof destitute people. In 1946, while riding a train to Darjeeling to make aretreat, Sister Teresa heard what she later explained as “acall from within a call. The message was clear. I was toleave the convent and help the poor while living amongthem.” She also heard a call to give up her life with theSisters of Loreto and, instead, to “follow Christ into theslums to serve him among the poorest of the poor.” After receiving permission to leave Loreto andestablish a new religious community, the Missionaries ofCharity, she took a nursing course for several months. She returned to Calcutta, where she lived in the slums and

opened a school for poor children. She dressed in a whitesara and sandals, the ordinary dress of a an Indianwoman. She soon began getting to know her neighbors –especially the poor and sick – and find out what she coulddo to help them. The work was exhausting, but she was not alone forlong. Volunteers who came to join her in the work, someof them former students, became the core of theMissionaries of Charity. Others helped by donating food,clothing, supplies, the use of buildings. In 1952 the cityof Calcutta gave Mother Teresa a former hostel, whichbecame a home for the dying and the destitute. As theOrder expanded, services were also offered to orphans,abandoned children, alcoholics, the aging and streetpeople. For the next four decades Mother Teresa workedtirelessly on behalf of the poor. Her love knew nobounds. Nor did her energy, as she crisscrossed the globepleading for support and inviting others to see the face ofJesus in the poorest of the poor. In 1979 she was awardedthe Nobel Peace Prize. On September 5, 1997, Godcalled her home. Mother Teresa of Calcutta was beatified on October19, 2003, just six years after he death. Among the300,000 present were hundreds of Missionaries ofCharity. Today the congregation also includescontemplative sisters and brothers and an order of priests. In his homily at the beatification Mass, Pope John PaulII called Mother Teresa “one of the most relevantpersonalities of our age” and “an icon of the GoodSamaritan.” Her life, he said, was “a bold proclamationof the gospel.” Pope Francis canonizes Mother Teresa of Calcuttatoday, September 4, 2016.

Mother Teresa of Calcutta:

“Find your own Calcutta!”

Stay where you are. Find the sick, the suffering,and the lonely right there where you are – in your

homes and in your own families, in your workplaces and in your schools. You can find Calcutta

all over the world, if you have the eyes to see. Everywhere, wherever you go, you find people

who are unwanted, unloved, un-cared for, rejected by society, completely forgotten,

completely left alone.

Love begins at home. If we do not love one another who we see 24

hours, how can we love those we see only once?We show love by thoughtfulness, by kindness, by

sharing a joy, by sharing a smile... through the little things.

Maybe our children, our husband, our wife arenot hungry, are not naked, are not homeless.

But are you sure there is no one there who feelsunwanted, unloved?

Let us look straight into our own families.For love begins at home.

We don’t have to think of numbers. We can loveone person at a time, serve one person at a time.

I’ve discovered that besides being hungry andnaked and homeless, the people of today aresuffering from a much greater poverty – thepoverty of the spirit that comes from being

unwanted, unloved, un-cared for... from having no one in the world.

I never look at the masses as my responsibility.I look at the individual. I can love only oneperson at a time. I can feed only one person

at a time. Just one, just one.I picked up one person – maybe if I didn’t pick upthat one person I wouldn’t have picked up 42,000.

The whole work is only a drop in the ocean. But if I didn’t put the drop in,

the ocean would be one drop less.Same for you, same thing in your family, samething in the church where you go – just begin...

one, one, one.

This is the true reason for our existence – to be the sunshine of God’s love – to be the hope of eternal happiness.

That’s all.

We all long for heaven where God is, but wehave it in our power to be in heaven with himright now – to be happy with him at this very

moment. But being happy with him now means:loving as he loves, helping as he helps,

giving as he gives, serving as he serves...

Be kind and merciful. Let no one ever come toyou without coming away better and happier. Bethe living expression of God’s kindness: kindness

in your face, kindness in your eyes, kindness inyour smile, kindness in your warm greeting. In

the slums we are the light of God’s kindness to thepoor. To children, to the poor, to all who suffer,are lonely, give always a happy smile. Give them

not only your care, but also your heart.

Dear Jesus,Shine through us and in us so that everyone

we come in contact with may feel yourpresence in our soul. Stay with us and thenwe shall begin to shine as you shine, so as to

be the light to others.The light, O Jesus, will be all from you. It

will be you shining on others through us. Letus thus praise you in the way you love best,

by shining on those around us. Amen.

Words of Love....

Mother TeresaYou have to read that beautiful passage in Isaiah whereGod speaks and says: “I have called you by name. You are mine.”We are precious to him. That man dying in the street – precious to him,that millionaire – precious to him, that sinner – preciousto him. Because he loves us.

At the end of life we will not be judge by how manydiplomas we have received, how much money we havemade, how many great things we have done.We will be judged by “I was hungry and you gave meto eat. I was naked and you clothed me. I was homelessand you took me in.”Hungry not only for bread – but hungry for love.Naked not only for clothing – but naked of humandignity and respect.Homeless not only for want of a room of bricks –buthomeless because of rejection.

I never look at the masses as my responsibility.I look at the individual. I can love only one person at atime. I can feed only one person at a time. Just one.I picked up one person. Maybe if I didn’t pick up thatone person I wouldn’t have picked up 42,000. Thewhole work is only a drop in the ocean. But if I didn’tput the drop in, the ocean would be one drop less.Same for you, same thing in your family, same thing inthe church where you go – just begin... one, one, one.

We are supposed to preach without preaching.Not by words, but by our example, by our actions.All works of love are works of peace.

The same loving hand that has created you has createdme. If he is your Father, he must be my Father also.We all belong to the same family. Hindus, Muslimsand all people are our brothers and sisters. They too arethe children of God.Our work among the Hindus proclaims that God lovesthem. God has created them. They are my brothers andsisters. Naturally I would like to give them the joy ofwhat I believe, but that I cannot do; only God can. Faith is a gift of God, but God does not force himself.Christians, Muslims, Hindus, believers & nonbelievers,have the same opportunity with us to do works of love,have the same opportunity to share the joy of lovingand come to realize God’s presence.Hindus become better Hindus. Catholics become betterCatholics. Muslims become better Muslims.

The Dark Night of the Soul

When the world looked at the face of Blessed Teresa ofCalcutta, it saw pure, simple joy. Then, in 2007, 10 yearsafter Blessed Teresa’s death, a collection of her privateletters was published. The letters revealed that shesuffered very real doubts and endured unceasing feelingsof desolation and abandonment by God for nearly 50years.

Of that time, she wrote: “Where is my faith? Even deepdown... there is nothing, but emptiness and darkness... Ifthere be God - please forgive me... when I try to raise mythoughts to Heaven - there is such convicting emptinessthat those very thoughts return like sharp knives and hurtmy very soul.”

The feeling of God’s absence is not uncommon in thelives of the saints or in the lives of average believers. The Spanish mystic St. John of the Cross called it the“dark night of the soul”. St. Ignatius of Loyola termed itspiritual desolation in his manual for prayer, The SpiritualExercises. One is completely listless, tepid and unhappy,he wrote, and feels separated from our Creator and Lord. During her final illness, St. Therese of Lisieux, theFrench Carmelite nun, experienced a desolation thatseemed to reflect doubt over whether or not anythingwould await her after her death. “If you only knew whatdarkness I am plunged into!” she once said to the sistersin her convent.

The discovery that even a great saint like Mother Teresacould and did experience difficulties, but prevailed infaith and love anyway, is a great encouragement for allChristians who experience the “dark night of the soul.”

“Who among us has not experienced insecurity, loss andeven doubts on their journey of faith? Everyone! Everybody! We’ve all experienced this - me too. Everyone. It is part of the journey of faith, it is part ofour lives. This should not surprise us, because we arehuman beings, marked by fragility and limitations. Weare all weak, we all have limits: do not panic! We allhave them.” Pope Francis