Mother Teresa: Come Be My Light

From Publishers Weekly: "Mother Teresa was one of the most revered people of the 20th century, so it is no surprise that 10 years after her death people still want to know what impelled this poor, humble Albanian woman to give her life to God so completely. Kolodiejchuk, a Catholic priest and friend of Mother Teresa’s who is actively promoting her cause for sainthood, assembles a startling and impressive collection of her writings, most of which have never been seen by the public. Two themes especially shine through in Mother Teresa’s letters, namely, her absolute conviction that she was doing God’s will, and a deep and surprising chasm of darkness within her that some would call the dark night of the soul. It is also apparent that this saintly woman was no pushover. In her quest to found the Missionaries of Charity, she aggressively pursued approval from her bishop, fully confident that God desired this work to be done. Kolodiejchuk is at times a bit presumptive in his interpretations of Teresa’s letters, as no one can say for certain what was in her mind and heart at all times. What we do know, in part thanks to this volume, is that Mother Teresa’s vocation to care for the poorest of the poor will continue to inspire people for generations."

I loved this book. Mother Teresa had the kind of absolute, die-hard faith that I've dreamed of having. But for years, I assumed that she was somehow "holier" than I could ever hope of being. Reading of her internal struggles and her doubts, and her continued devotion to what she was sure was God's will for her, has made her more human to me and even more of an inspiration. I'm beginning to see that faith doesn't mean never questioning and never doubting, but doing what you believe God is calling you to do anyway. I'm also starting to accept that part of that means accepting that there may be a bigger picture than the one I see, and that I have to trust God to know what's best for me, which may often contradict what I think or want. I highly recommend this book for anyone, whether Catholic or otherwise, who wants an example of true faith, trust, and love of God.