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Pructus Posted 19 years ago
Périer may have missed the note of desperation. "God guides you, dear Mother," he answered avuncularly. "You are not so much in the dark as you think ... You have exterior facts enough to see that God blesses your work ... Feelings are not required and often may be misleading." And yet feelings — or rather, their lack — became her life's secret torment. How can you assume the lover's ardor when he no longer grants you his voice, his touch, his very presence? The problem was exacerbated by an inhibition to even describe it. Teresa reported on several occasions inviting a confessor to visit and then being unable to speak. Eventually, one thought to ask her to write the problem down, and she complied. "The more I want him — the less I am wanted," she wrote Périer in 1955. A year later she sounded desolate: "Such deep longing for God — and ... repulsed — empty — no faith — no love — no zeal. — [The saving of] Souls holds no attraction — Heaven means nothing — pray for me please that I keep smiling at Him in spite of everything."
http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1655415,00.html
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The underlined part is difficult to understand.
Does it mean, "Teresa mentioned several occasions that she invited a confessor to visit and that she was unable to speak"?
Vocabulary
Mother Teresa
Périer may have missed the note of desperation. "God guides you, dear Mother," he answered avuncularly. "You are not so much in the dark as you think ... You have exterior facts enough to see that God blesses your work ... Feelings are not required and often may be misleading." And yet feelings — or rather, their lack — became her life's secret torment. How can you assume the lover's ardor when he no longer grants you his voice, his touch, his very presence? The problem was exacerbated by an inhibition to even describe it. Teresa reported on several occasions inviting a confessor to visit and then being unable to speak. Eventually, one thought to ask her to write the problem down, and she complied. "The more I want him — the less I am wanted," she wrote Périer in 1955. A year later she sounded desolate: "Such deep longing for God — and ... repulsed — empty — no faith — no love — no zeal. — [The saving of] Souls holds no attraction — Heaven means nothing — pray for me please that I keep smiling at Him in spite of everything."
http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1655415,00.html
*****************************************************
The underlined part is difficult to understand.
Does it mean, "Teresa mentioned several occasions that she invited a confessor to visit and that she was unable to speak"?
Top answer
Hello Pructus, Essentially, yes. I would paraphrase it as: 1. Teresa mentioned on several occasions that she had asked a confessor to visit her, but that when the confessor arrived, she was unable to say anything.
- Hello Pructus, Essentially, yes.
- I would paraphrase it as: 1.
- Teresa mentioned on several occasions that she had asked a confessor to visit her, but that when the confessor arrived, she was unable to say anything.
- A "confessor" is a priest who hears your "confession" (your account of your recent sins and peccadilloes) and then grants absolution.
- MrP
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3 Answers
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Hello Pructus,
Essentially, yes. I would paraphrase it as:
1. Teresa mentioned on several occasions that she had asked a confessor to visit her, but that when the confessor arrived, she was unable to say anything.
A "confessor" is a priest who hears your "confession" (your account of your recent sins and peccadilloes) and then grants absolution.
MrP
Essentially, yes. I would paraphrase it as:
1. Teresa mentioned on several occasions that she had asked a confessor to visit her, but that when the confessor arrived, she was unable to say anything.
A "confessor" is a priest who hears your "confession" (your account of your recent sins and peccadilloes) and then grants absolution.
MrP
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