February 21, 1995: A Letter from Mother Teresa of Calcutta to Father Richard Kunst– The Inspiration for a New Stain Glass Window

The Papal Artifacts’ Collection is primarily dedicated to artifacts connected to the papacy.  Individual popes, their biographies and multiple items belonging to them, including first and second class relics, make up the majority of this Collection.  But that isn’t all it is.

Father Kunst has a deep devotion to the saints as can be readily seen in viewing the Saints & Blesseds section of this site.  Among his favorites is Mother Teresa of Calcutta.

St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta & Fr. Kunst’s Devotion to Her

 Several items connected to her are included in the Collection.  One of them is this heartfelt letter, written to a young Richard Kunst who was in the process of discerning his vocation.  (The Collection has another letter also written to him.) We invite you to access the Saints & Blesseds pages to learn more about some of the most inspiring men and women who have offered their lives to God and to our Church  in such generous and holy ways.

The following letter is from Mother Teresa of Calcutta to Father Richard Kunst, dated February 21, 1995. Father Kunst requested prayers from Mother Teresa during a time of discernment regarding his vocation. This is a typed letter with a hand-written note from her at the bottom of the letter.

Dear Brother Rich, Thank you for your letter of the 21st of January 1995. Be sure that I will remember you, especially in my prayers during this difficult time in your life. As you do not describe to me just what is happening in your mind and heart I cannot give you any special advice. But you did say that you were very disturbed and one thing I know is that disturbance of this sort is the work of the devil. The call and the action of the Holy Spirit bring peace and joy though not without pain, but a deep interior peace that remains through everything. Anxiety, disturbance, restlessness, and such like are from the evil spirit. You have been studying for a holy vocation, the priesthood, and most probably you have determined to be a holy priest. This is enough to get the devil very busy with you for he knows the tremendous spiritual good that a holy priest can do. Therefore, you need to pray. Pray much and fervently for the light and strength of Jesus to know and to do the will of God. And you also must be very open, completely open, to your spiritual director or whoever it is that is there to help you discern God’s will. We are not very good judges of our own cases. Expose your doubts and difficulties to someone of holiness and good judgement and you will find that half of them disappear just by being aired. But above all be convinced of Jesus’ tender love for you in and through this present situation and no matter what its outcome is, listen to Jesus speak in your heart, and say, “Come to me all you who labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me for I am meek and humble of heart and you will find rest for your souls for my yoke is easy and my burden light.” Repeat in your heart often during the day this little prayer which I have taught my sisters: ‘Jesus, in my heart, I believe in your tender love for me. I love you.’ Once again, know that I will be praying for you. Please also pray for our poor, our sisters and for me and remember us all when you come to the altar of God. God bless you, Mother Teresa, MC

In her own handwriting it says, Let us pray, often pray, to our Lady, “Mary, Mother of Jesus, be Mother to me now.”

Pope John Paul II beatified Mother Teresa on October 19, 2003. She was canonized on September 4, 2016, by Pope Francis.  Her feast is celebrated on September 5th. She was the founder of the Missionary Sisters of Charity.

Papal Artifacts has four items connected to Mother Teresa, which may be found on Papal History/Saints & Blesseds/Mother Teresa.

Saint  Mother Teresa, pray for us.

Here is the story of the restoration of St. James Parish where Fr. Kunst is the pastor and the inspiration for its transformation.

Beautiful Churches Draw People to God: A Commentary from Fr. Richard Kunst