Mother Theodore’s long letters have a common theme, loving one another. She advises Mary Xavier to “bear with the defects of others. Endeavor not to cause others to suffer, and you yourself try to endure the little annoyances which are unavoidable in the necessary relations with others.”
I love her balanced approach and the fact that she is not threatened by the presence or success of others.
She is inviting Sister Maria to deal with the reality of her situation. To stay in the present moment (teaching music lessons) rather than fantasizing about what she might do.
Mother Theodore invites them to consider, “might you be the cause of another’s fault? Are you wanting in foresight or wisdom, gentleness or charity?” And so often, isn’t it true, that we ourselves can be our own worst enemy?
May love rise in us.
May peace rise in us.
Your response of more than 175 messages certainly went far beyond our expectations and indeed brightened many a day!
Just when we thought things were going well for Mother Theodore “Back Home in Indiana,” things turn sour again with the bishop. I cannot imagine living with that tense and volatile relationship day after day. It must have been disheartening to say the least!
I usually don’t mind the Lenten season; it’s just that I feel as if we’ve been “doing Lent” for the past year! Sigh!
Our present benefactors mirror these early supporters of our mission — a caring woman, a priest, two prominent businessmen — all in their own way enabling the mission and moving it forward by their talents and contributions.