Faith, hope, and doubt

Today nuns at the Missionaries of Charity in Calcutta commemorate the 10th anniversary of the death of Mother Teresa.

Dubbed a 'Living Saint' by Time, Mother Teresa was beatified by John Paul II only six years after her passing, and is one miracle away from official sainthood.

Her own doubts, published recently in previously unseen letters, have raised questions about whether she will complete her entry into the hall of saints. But wouldn't the Vatican do well to remember the words of Tennyson "There lives more faith in honest doubt, Believe me, than in half the creeds" ?

Christopher Hitchens was called as a witness during the beatification process - replacing the traditional 'devil's advocate'. He wrote a book accusing the Nobel Prize winner of lying to donors and working not to alleviate poverty but to expand the number of Catholics. The Vatican found no reason to agree with him however.

The Washington Post postulates well on the issue.

But this is what the lady herself had to say on the matter "If I ever become a Saint - I will surely be one of 'darkness.' I will continually be absent from Heaven—to light the light of those in darkness on earth .”

Joanna Sugden