(One of the sisters talks about Mother Teresa.)

Mother always told us: "God loves a cheerful giver. If you don't go to the people with a cheerful face, you only increase their darkness and their miseries and their sorrows." So Mother had the spiritual joy.... It is overwhelming for us to think how Mother could continue with a pleasant countenance and with such single-mindedness to cling to Jesus her one and only love, without her letting us ever know what what was going through.

(Come Be My Light, p 289)

Suffering, pain--failure--is but a kiss of Jesus, a sign that you have come so close to Jesus on the Cross that He can kiss you.--So my child be happy.... Do not be discouraged...so smile back... For you it is a most beautiful chance of becoming fully and totally all for Jesus.

---

Your parents must have kissed you as a real sign of love. If I am the spouse of Jesus crucified, He has to kiss me. Naturally, the nails will hurt me. If I come close to the crown of thorns it will hurt me.

(Blessed Mother Teresa, Come Be My Light, p 282)

Dear Co-worker of Christ,

You had said "Yes" to Jesus--and He has taken you at your word.--The Word of God became Man--Poor.--Your word to God--became Jesus--poor and so this terrible emptiness you experience. God cannot fill what is full.--He can fill only emptiness--deep poverty--and your "Yes" is the beginning of being or becoming empty. It is not how much we really "have" to give--but how empty we are--so that we can receive fully in our life and let Him live His life in us.

In you today--He wants to relive His complete submission to His Father--allow Him to do so. Does not matter what you feel--as long as He feels alright in you. Take away your eyes from your self and rejoice that you have nothing--that you are nothing--that you can do nothing. Give Jesus a big smile--each time your nothingness frightens you.

This is the poverty of Jesus. You and I must let Him live in us and through us in the world.

Cling to Our Lady--for she too--before she could become full of grace--full of Jesus--had to go through that darkness. "How could this be done?--" But the moment she said "Yes," she had need to go in haste and give Jesus to John and his family..

Keep giving Jesus to your people not by words but by your example--by your being in love with Jesus--by radiating His holiness and spreading His fragrance of love everywhere you go.

Just keep the joy of Jesus as your strength.--Be happy and at peace.--Accept whatever He gives--and give whatever He takes with a big smile.--You belong to Him--tell Him I am Yours and if you cut me to pieces every single piece will be only all Yours.

Let Jesus be the victim and the priest in you.

I have started going round our houses in India--so I have beautiful time alone with Jesus in the train.

Pray for me as I do for you.

Yours in Jesus,

M. Teresa, MC

(Blessed Mother Teresa, Letter to a priest, Come Be My Light, pp 275-276)

(Letter of Mother Teresa to a sister who was sick.)

My dearest Child,

Thanks for the lovely consoling letter of the 14th. Keep looking at the Sacred Heart.--Why worry if it be TB or not?--You are His and it is His gift to you, His spouse. Was it not Mother who taught you to say for the profession "I desire to become the Spouse of Jesus Crucified?"--It is not Jesus glorified or in the crib, but on the Cross--alone--naked--bleeding--suffering--dying on the Cross. So if you are the first one in the Society whom He chooses to be alone on the bed of the Cross, why my child, we must thank God for all--for this His special love for you, for me and the Society. You are but a child still, and life is beautiful--but the way He has chosen for you is the true way.--So smile--smile at the Hand that strikes you--kiss the Hand that is nailing you to the Cross.--I don't believe just as you that you have TB--but let them do all that they want with you.--Be like a little lamb--smile at everyone. Don't worry, I shall beg the money and will come to see you as soon as I hear more definite news from Sister.

"Let them look up and see only Jesus." I have promised our Lady 25,000 Memorares for your cure and we shall say it within these 9 days. Please thank M. Rose for her kindness to you. I am very happy with whatever God does with you all--you are all His.

Love Jesus and keep a smiling heart for Him.--All these disturbing thoughts come from the devil--ignore them all. God bless you my child.

Mother

(Blessed Mother Teresa, Come Be My Light, pp 156-157)