Retired Calcutta archbishop recalls Mother Teresa's example, recounts her exorcism

September 05, 2011

“Mother Teresa was the face of compassion to the world,” remarked the retired Archbishop Henry D’Souza of Calcutta on the 15th anniversary of the renowned nun’s death. “Compassion is what the world needs today.”

Archbishop D’Souza, who worked closely with Mother Teresa and was the postulator of the cause for her beatification, spoke to the AsiaNews service about the exorcism performed for Mother Teresa in 1997.

After undergoing heart surgery, the archbishop recalled, Mother Teresa began to recover well, but then became agitated at night, interfering with her sleep and endangering her recovery. When doctors notified him of the problem, the archbishop—who had coincidentally been under treatment in the same hospital ward—called in a priest to say prayers of exorcism. Mother Teresa quickly became calmer, and her recovery resumed.

Archbishop D’Souza expressed little doubt that Mother Teresa was being troubled by the devil. He observed that other saints have had similar experiences. The archbishop concluded: “The devil is real and has his own tricks to disturb the holy ones particularly in moments of bodily weakness.”

 

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Further information:

• Mother Teresa is already a saint, says Mgr Henry D’Souza (AsiaNews)