The Letters Page #2

---

It is a call Within a call.

I would like to apply for exclaustration.

This way, I can remain in Loreto order

and continue to live by my vows.

What I'm asking is permission

to work outside the walls.

You know very well that cloistered nuns

cannot go outside the walls.

You are the principal of our school.

The girls depend on you and love you.

They don't even mind when you are strict.

So, What are you saying?

Are you asking for permission

to be released from your duties?

Are you asking for permission

to be released from your vows?

No, no. I Want to remain a nun.

But all I'm asking is to be allowed

to Work with the poor. That is all.

Mother General,

there are people starving

right outside our door.

I see them every day from my window.

It is-

It is terrible sight.

How can we ignore that'?

Where is all this suddenly coming from?

Well, it's not so sudden.

Before I became a nun,

I Wanted to be a missionary.

I Wanted to go out

and give the life of Christ

to people in the missionary countries.

At that time,

when I was a girl in Skopje, Yugoslavia,

I read there were missionaries

who were going to India.

So, you see.

It was always What I Wanted to do-

to serve the poor

purely for the love of God.

And then,

on the train to Darjeeling,

the voice was very clear.

Clear.

I cannot ignore this.

I will speak to Archbishop Prier

about this,

and we'll see What he has to say about it.

If he agrees, then it's up to him

to take your request to the Vatican

when he visits next month.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mother General. Thank you.

MAN:

Your Eminence.

Violence in my quarter of Delhi

has become endemic

due to unjust social

structures and practices.

They need to be identified and abolished

to ensure lasting peace.

That's all I have, Your Eminence.

Thank you.

Your Eminence, there are a number of items

that I'd like to go over with you today,

but first I would like

to discuss the matter

concerning one of our nuns

of our Loreto order-

the principal

of the convent school Saint Mary's.

Her name is Sister Teresa,

and she is seeking permission

to go outside of the convent walls

to give help to the poor,

or as she calls it, serve the poor.

It is a matter that was

brought to my attention

by the convent's mother general.

Sister Teresa says that

she heard the voice of God

telling her to follow

Christ into the slums.

Has she said anything like this before?

No, Your Eminence.

She is one of the most respected

teachers at the school.

She just feels that she has to follow

the command of the voice she heard-

that of God.

She feels it is a second calling.

She would not question

ecclesiastical authority

and has been Waiting

Without complaint for me to speak to you

and get the Church's decision.

And she knows that nuns, once cloistered,

cannot be allowed to leave the convent?

Yes, Your Eminence, which is why

she's seeking exclaustration.

Have her write a letter

to the Holy Father.

Bring that letter to me.

She has already written a letter,

Your Eminence.

I have given my blessing,

and the mother general

gave her permission to write to Rome.

"To the Holy Father,

Pope Pius XII, Rome, Italy.

I have a vocation.

God has called me to give up all

and to surrender myself to him?

In the service

of the poorest of the poor in the slums.

Please allow me to be released from my vows

so that I may pursue my vocation.

Sister Teresa, Loreto, Entally,

Calcutta, India."

On this historic day,

India takes her place

as a free and independent nation.

Freedom-loving people everywhere

will wish to share in your celebration.

In this historic moment,

let us not forget all that India

owes Mahatma Gandhi.

(applauding)

- So, how was New Delhi?

- I got the story, got it to London.

But I have a feeling

this is Where the action's going to be.

I agree, especially with Gandhi here

and against partition.

(children singing in foreign language)

(continues)

(singing ends)

It's Gods will, Mother General.

I cannot ignore. I have to follow his will.

The archbishop took your letter

to the cardinal four months ago,

and there's no word back from Rome.

I believe the only Way for you

to go outside these walls

is to apply for a decree of secularization.

You mean

leave the order?

Well, if you are so keen to go

beyond these walls, then yes.

Yes, I do think it is the only Way.

I have lived here as a nun for 16 years.

Mother General, I-

Loreto order is my family.

I cannot just leave.

I cannot give up my life as a nun.

Then stop this foolishness.

You are a cloistered nun.

They are not going to

make an exception for you

and let you break your vows.

It's Gods will, Mother General,

not mine.

I will trust in God.

I will Wait to hear from Vatican,

and I will pray.

India and Pakistan have officially

joined the family of nations.

It's amazing.

I mean, India has finally been given

its independence from the Brits.

With that, its going

to bring about problems.

So you think India's going to suffer

under the burden of its birth

as a modern nation?

Absolutely.

You've already seen the consequences

of World War ll

and the aftermath of the '43 famine.

You can thank

the All India Congress Party for that one.

I guess What I'm trying to say, Graham,

you're gonna be in Calcutta for a While.

Hope you like India.

Sister.

- May I talk to you for a moment, please?

- Of course.

Laxmi told me that you're

going to be leaving us.

Where did she hear that?

Laxmi.

Tell her.

Are you really leaving, Sister?

If it's Gods will, child, yes.

But why would you Want to leave us?

(sighs)

When I was young girl,

I Went to Catholic school.

And we had very good priests

who were helping us children

to find our vocation.

And it was then that I realized

that I had the vocation to serve the poor.

This was 1922. I was 12 years old.

And I Wanted to become missionary

and go out and spread the word of Christ.

But, instead, I became nun.

I became teacher.

And now I'm here with you girls,

who I love.

- Now time for bed. Hmm?

- Hmm.

Go to sleep then.

Don't worry.

I doubt I will be leaving

for very long time.

(chuckles)

(claps twice)

(chuckles)

(men shouting in distance)

(shouting grows louder)

(crying)

Hmm.

- Take a letter, please.

- Yes, Your Eminence.

To Sister M. Teresa

of the Loreto order, Calcutta.

The Holy Father, Pope Pius XII,

through the Sacred Congregation

for the Religious,

has granted you permission-

"...to leave Loreto

and begin your new mission.

You have been granted

the indult of exclaustration

authorizing you to stay outside

the Loreto convent

for one year or less,

if a shorter period is sufficient.

You may keep your religious vows

as a Loreto nun

under the authority of Archbishop Prier."

Congratulations, Sister Teresa.

Thank you.

(kisses)

It's Gods will, not mine.

MAN:
Our main focus here

at the Medical Mission Sisters

is to administer medical services

to the poor.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes