Things got worse for Angelina after the Holy Water incident (see phlog of 12/31/06). Mother Superior, influenced by Father Jorge and Sister Benificence, doubted the strength of her calling; at first she prayed for Angelina, and then she prayed with her.

The other nuns, seeing this odd couple on their knees with their votive candles, felt jealousy and snubbed her most cruelly. Angelina grew unhappy and began too to doubt the strength of her calling. Mother Superior explained that doubt had always been God’s way of testing faith; and only Angelina herself and by herself could pass or fail that test.

 “Life is doubt, and faith without doubt is nothing but death.” Miguel De Unamuno y Jugo 

A cheerless cold depression came to grip the convent. The Bishop was called; he came, he declared the answer to be simple; “Angelina must be transferred to Our Lady of Mercy where she will be trained to become a teacher.”

The transfer was quickly accomplished. The Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy knew of neither the Holy Water incident or of Angelina’s struggle with doubt. Angelina was cheerfully accepted, began her classes and pushed doubt into a secret corner of her heart, where it nestled like a sleeping kitty on the hearth.