Sister Theresa Aletheia Noble is a Daughter of Saint Paul who truly embodies the charism of her community—she is an outstanding author and communicator, an intelligent young woman in love with Christ Jesus and his Church.
She has something to say and a direct yet winning way of putting her thoughts across.
If you doubt that, you should give her a listen as Sister chats with Relevant Radio’s Drew Mariani about a recent piece published here, wherein she asked a good question: Is My Online Behavior Inviting Others to the Church?
We are being watched. And some of these people are trying to find Christ in our behavior. Even atheists understand that we believe our conduct is a visible sign that Jesus is present in the Church. Unfortunately, when we are not acting like Jesus, we are not playing our part in the salvation of souls.
Given her concerns, Sister offered a useful list of ten questions we can ask ourselves as we interact on social media and in comboxes, and she followed that article up this week with a seriously wise and prayerful look at the ways we all of us (herself included) sometimes bring out our Inner Pharisee.
There is rarely a comment on the Internet that is not basically, “Yes, but …” We love to plow right through all the good things and narrow right in on the one part that didn’t seem quite right. We become Pharisees when we are always focused outward with an eye toward criticism. Nothing is ever good enough for a Pharisee. And nothing merits rejoicing, unless it is the downfall of others. Jesus, help me to focus on you, not like the Pharisees but like a child who wants nothing more than to imitate his or her Father. Help me see the dignity of others as you see them, and to treat others with respect and great love.
Whether she is finding commonality with a gang-banger, decrying the weaponizing of the Pope, recalling a signal moment that had an impact on her conversion, or is just flat-out telling us what not to say to a nun Sister Theresa Aletheia is hands-down, the sort of plain-speaking woman of faith our times really need; that she’s also a gifted writer is a bonus.
Between her word skills, her clarity and her charity, and the fact that her name-in-religion is “Aletheia,” it seems only logical that she should have a special berth here at Aleteia, a place where readers can enjoy her on a regular basis, where they know they can pop in at any time during the week and easily find her latest column on the front page (linked right below Deacon Greg’s spot), because we are happy to announce that, effective immediately, Sister Theresa Aletheia Noble is our first “official” regularly featured columnist. Others will join her eventually, but for now, please make her welcome and make plans to look for her in “The Areopagus” every Tuesday!
Elizabeth Scalia is Editor-in-Chief of the English edition of Aleteia
And today we celebrate...