Mother Teresa's new book set for release ahead of her canonization

Chiqui Guyjoco Thursday, May 26, 2016

Catholic nuns from the order of the Missionaries of Charity gather under a picture of Mother Teresa during the tenth anniversary of her death in Kolkata, India, in this September 5, 2007 file photo. | Reuters/Jayanta Shaw

Another set of writings by the soon-to-be saint, Mother Teresa of Calcutta, is scheduled for release ahead of her canonization this September.

The Associated Press reported on Tuesday, May 24 that Mother Teresa's collection of writings centered on the theme of mercy and compassion will be published by the Crown Publishing Group on Aug. 16, just a few weeks before she's officially recognized as a saint on Sept. 4.

The book, "A Call to Mercy: Hearts to Love, Hands to Serve," is compiled by Rev. Brian Kolodiejchuk, the same person who led the case for Mother Teresa's sainthood.

This would not be the first time that a book by Mother Teresa will be released posthumously. In 2007, "Mother Teresa: Come Be My Light," a collection of her personal letters to her spiritual advisers, was released to the public. Kolodiejchuk was again behind the scenes as he was the one who edited the book.

"I think that this is a real treasure for not only believers, but even doubters and skeptics," Jesuit priest and author Rev. James Martin told Religion News Service at that time as he predicted that the book would challenge the perceptions many had of Mother Teresa.

"I think it also makes her much more accessible to the everyday believer," said Martin. "It shows that even the saints struggle in their spiritual lives and that they don't have it easier than we do. They sometimes have it harder than we do."

However, Mother Teresa had previously asked most of the private letters that were included in the 2007 book to be destroyed, according to the Religion News Service as reported by Christianity Today.

"It's atrocious to think that whatever you tell these people in confidence becomes popular," said Gezim Alpion, author of "Mother Teresa: Saint or Celebrity?"

Alpion had wondered then whether the Catholic Church was using the nun's popularity by releasing her personal writings.

"Nothing is private in a canonization procedure," concluded Rev. Richard McBrien, author of "Lives of the Saints" and professor of theology at the University of Notre Dame.