"Come be my light"

i'm currently reading this book - the private writings of the saint of calcutta. it's a collection of mother teresa's reflections, correspondence and writings. she is known for her selfless service to the poorest of the poor, to the sick and dying. this book however reveals a darker side to her life, her doubts, fears and feelings of utter desolation during moments of her spiritual journey. it's an interesting side of her that i haven't really read about.

i've been to the mother house of the missionaries of charity in calcutta. it's a modest, nondescript building with a small sign hanging outside like this:

Inside, there's a prevading sense of peace (perhaps partly due to the fact that cellphones have to be turned off!) okay jokes aside, it really is a place of refuge amongst the craziness and poverty of calcutta city. personally, i feel that it is calcutta's one saving grace. during my month-long stay in calcutta, i went back to the mother house several times. at times it was for mass, other times it was just to sit and wait out the craziness of the day.