The Letters Page #6

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to retain her vows as a Loreto nun

should she not succeed at What she's doing.

Secularization would rule that out.

She would not be allowed to return.

She's aware of that, Your Grace,

but she's confident that

this safeguard is not necessary.

Her inspiration, shes convinced,

is coming directly from God,

so, to her, there could be

no question of failure.

Leaving the door open at Loreto

is not necessary.

What's this?

It's her application

for recognition as a congregation.

All the documents are there,

including the rights of constitutions.

All right, I'll go through it.

If I find that everything is in order,

you can tell Sister Teresa

I'll pass it on to the Vatican.

- (murmuring prayer)

(knocking on door)

As it was-

(sighs)

What is it, Deepa?

Do you have a minute, Sister?

Yes, of course.

Come.

Sister, that letter that you gave me?

Hmm.

It was from my parents.

I thought so.

And they Want me to go home.

They think What I'm doing here

is throwing my life away.

And they're ashamed

that I'm working amongst those

who are shunned by the society.

Deepa,

your family is from higher caste.

You must have known this was possibility.

Yes, Sister, but it's so unfair.

This is Where I Want to be.

What do I do, Sister?

We pray.

We trust in God.

God will give us answer.

Hmm? Come.

Get some sleep. Try not to worry.

Hmm?

All will be well.

(sniffles)

Good night, Sister.

Good night.

(chattering)

Excuse me.

- Are you Sister Teresa?

- Yes.

My name is Graham Widdecombe.

I'm a reporter from London.

I'm in town doing a follow-up story

on post-partition India,

and I've been hearing a lot about you.

You're a newspaper reporter,

Mr. Widdecombe?

No, radio.

I'm not very interesting, but if you Want

to write a story, talk to the poor.

Yes, but it's your work that's being

talked about all over the city.

It's not my work, Mr. Widdecombe.

It's Gods work.

I'm just a pencil in Gods hand.

But, Sister, if you could

give me just a minute-

No time for talk, Mr. Widdecombe.

Lots to do.

"A pencil in Gods hand."

TERESA, CHILDREN:

Arabian Sea.

Good. And to east is Bay of Bengal.

ALL:

Bay of Bengal.

Very good. Now, who can tell me

Where on map is Calcutta?

Yes.

Very good!

Yes!

Make path. Make path.

What is it, Father? Something wrong?

No, Sister, there is nothing wrong.

We shall now erect their group

into a religious congregation.

We have with great care scrutinized

their Way of living and of working

and given diligent consideration

to the purpose they have in view.

This earnest examination

led us to the conclusion

that there is no other congregation

currently in existence

which answers the promise

which this new institute intends

and that, consequently, in erecting it

into a religious congregation

for the relief of so many

and in such dire need,

shall redound to the greater glory of God.

In consequence, we do,

by the present decree,

to the greater glory of God

and/or the promotion

in these parts of the kingdom

of truth, justice, peace

and charity of Christ the Savior,

erect and institute

a new religious congregation

which shall have for its name

the Congregation

of the Missionaries of Charity.

We Welcome your new order

to the Catholic dioceses of Calcutta,

Mother Teresa.

ALL:

We vow to care for the hungry,

the naked and the homeless,

the crippled, the blind, the lepers,

all those people who

feel unwanted, unloved,

uncared for throughout society,

people who have become a burden

to society and are shunned.

Giving Christ's love

in our spiritual work of mercy.

The night is dark

And I am far from home

- The body of Christ.

- Amen.

Lead thou me on

- The body of Christ.

- Amen.

Keep thou my feet

- The body of Christ.

- Amen.

I do not ask to see

The distant scene

One step enough for me

VAN EXEM:
Mother's belief in prayer

was the foundation of her faith.

She believed prayer was food for the soul

and, if you prayed deeply,

your prayer would be answered.

So, the call that she got on the train

in 1946

was now officially recognized

and confirmed by the church.

Yes.

And she was humbled,

seeing all that God had done.

Mother had been walking through

an impoverished neighborhood in Calcutta,

and she came upon a poor soul

who was dying in the street.

A poor Woman

who had been just left to die.

It was this incident that motivated her

to think of creating an official hospice.

- (chattering)

- (phone ringing)

Excuse me.

The health officer will see you now.

This way, please.

- (Speaks Bengali)

- (Bengali)

- Sit clown.

- Thank you.

So, Mother Teresa,

you've made quite an impression

on the authorities in the city

and I've been asked

to accommodate you in any way I can.

Thank you. Very kind.

We have a need for a facility

so we can bring the abandoned

who are dying on our streets in

so they can be allowed to die with dignity.

Do you know of such a place,

and can it be made available?

You mean a hospital?

No. No.

A place Where the destitute

who are left to die on our streets

can be brought in

and given a bed and food and cared for

and allowed to die

surrounded by loving people.

There are many on the streets.

The need is straightaway.

Yes, I see.

I see them myself every day.

If not a hospital,

What would it be then?

A home for the dying.

There is a place not very far from here

that might work for you.

Ifs a building in the precincts

of Kalighat Temple.

This is the building.

Is this something that would suit you?

I would like to see inside.

It's an abandoned Kali temple.

If you like it, perhaps I can arrange

for the city to let you use it.

I would be very grateful, thank you.

There is a dharmsala inside,

a place Where Hindus used to rest

after their worship of the Kali goddess.

I think it would give you the space

you need for many people.

This is perfect.

When will we know?

I'll bring it up in a meeting tomorrow

at the municipality.

I like that it was

a center of worship for Hindus.

Would you like to see the dharmsala?

Yes, please.

This Way.

This is the place Where people would rest

after they worshipped.

Is this something that would suit you?

Yes.

WOMAN:

Just think of Jesus.

Put your hand in his hand

and Walk along with him.

Walk ahead.

If you look back, you'll go back.

I'll miss you.

And I you.

I'm already homesick.

(knocking)

DEEPA:

Mother? ls everything all right?

- (knocking continues)

- Your light is on, and it's quite late.

Is everything all right, Mother?

Sister Gertrude, come.

I was going clown the hall,

and I saw there was light

coming out from your room.

I know you always

retire late, but its later than usual.

What happened?

Is everything all right?

My mother and my sister-

I was hoping they would

be able to come for a visit.

It's been 28 years since I've seen them.

But Albanian government

has refused permission

for them to leave the country.

I'm terribly sorry.

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