|
|
|
|
Archives |
|
|
Mother Therese dies at 53
Ad Sum, Latin for here I am Lord, were the last words The journal entry was made by the 53-year-old nun a few months ago, after she had begun to feel the effects of her illness. Mother Therese, the former Mary Therese Lane from St. Louis, lost her five-month battle with cancer on June 7, the Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. During the homily of the June 10 Funeral Mass Bishop Daniel N. DiNardo said, "The Carmelites had prayed that she would be taken on the feast day." The bishop said that while it was a sad day, it was also Referring to her journal entry, Bishop DiNardo said that Mother Therese said yes to doing God's will when she entered the Carmelite Monastery and did so everyday of her life including right up to the end. She entered the monastery in 1967 at 18. At the Mass, one of three of Mother Therese's sisters, Joanne Callahan, presented a Lane family portrait as a Christian symbol. She told the people that each person had their own picture of Mother Therese relating to what she meant to them. "I remember when my sister was born prematurely and many now believe she left prematurely." Callahan added, "Through the Eucharist we give thanks for her life and live in the spirit of love." The Carmelite sisters of Sioux City pointed out that Mother Therese's complete name - of the spirit of love - was also fitting because the prioress of the Carmelite Monastery in Sioux City was all love - completely Christ-centered and always giving of herself. Carol Spellman, a close friend of the Carmelites and sister to Sister Agnes of Divine Love, OCD, described Mother Therese as a prayerful, caring, loving and hospitable nun. "As a young nun she took care of Mother Magdelaine, Sister Gabriel and Sister Raphael - the older nuns that came with the foundation to Sioux City," she recalled. "Then recently she lovingly supported Sister Joan, Sister Michael and Sister Monica through their terminal illnesses and grieved over the sudden death of Sister Mary Helen." The Carmelites noted that while she had no formal nurse training, she was the best nurse in the community. They said that Mother Therese's understanding and compassion enabled her to know just what the sick person needed. In his homily, the bishop noted that it most likely was difficult for Mother Therese to accept the complete help of others because she wanted to be the servant. Mary Stevens, past president of the Guild board, remembers Mother Therese's smile, gentleness and loving concern. "She had a strong desire to do whatever the Lord wanted her to. She was truly in-sync with the Lord," she recalled. "She was so attentive to every request. I believe that we have a great intercessor in heaven now. We lost a very special person." Stevens and Mother Therese worked together to start Eucharistic adoration in the Carmel chapel. It continues to be held on the second Wednesday of the month to pray for priests and future vocations. The Carmelites described their former prioress as a Carmelite through and through who loved her vocation. They remember her great love and compassion, her simplicity and humility. "She was so transparent, it was refreshing," one of the sister's said. "I think this is one of the qualities people loved so much in her - there were no airs about her. She was just herself. And that kind of simplicity, I believe is very indicative of a person living in truth as well as with an intimate relationship with God." They also remember her unyielding faith. At times when the sisters felt they needed more time to prepare - such as the 1999 visit of the relics of St. Therese - mother reminded them that God would provide. She always placed her trust and confidence in God. Jim Duffy, the architect who designed the monastery and chapel, worked closely with Mother Therese on several projects. "One of my fondest memories of Mother Therese was when they decided to expand the living quarters of their monastery, I was able to take her and two other nuns outside the monastery walls. We visited dormitory rooms at Briar Cliff College and looked at new materials to be used in the construction," he noted. "The sisters were able to stop at our own home for lunch, which meant a great deal to my wife and myself." Duffy said that she was a "sweet lady," who when authorized to be in charge certainly knew how to handle things. "The death of Mother Therese is a great sadness for the Carmelites and for all of us in the Diocese of Sioux City. The life of a contemplative sister is a hidden one, but Mother Therese's work as prioress made her well known in Sioux City among all people of good will for the depth of her prayer life towards all and her astounding capacity to give such superb advice and counsel to a whole range of people," said Bishop DiNardo. The Carmelite nuns said they believe that like her namesake, St. Therese, she will be spending her heaven doing good and interceding for her sisters, family and friends on earth. The nuns are praying for a "double portion" of her spirit. |
written by Mother
Therese of the Spirit of Love in her personal notebook. Those who knew her say
the words are truly fitting, as the Carmelite nun was known for her commitment
to doing God's will.