St. Theresa's Prayers

Mother Superior stared at the heavy paper she held in her trembling hand.
'It says that they've canonised Theresa,' she said at last. 'She's now St. Theresa.'
'Doesn't she have to be dead first?' asked her adjutant, a young muscular woman with large hands.
'It would seem that they've left that up to us,' said Mother Superior, refusing to look her adjutant in the eye.
'Leave it to me,' said the adjutant cracking her knuckles.

When she'd left Mother Superior stood alone, listening to the muted murmur of the nuns at prayer from the chapel below her office, and wondered which of the voices was Theresa's.
Almost as she wondered it, the vioces grew louder and more distinct, until she could hear Theresa as clearly as if she were in the office with her.
'Heavenly Father, forgive not those who trespass against me and conspire to kill me. Upon my death bring fire upon this nunnery and curse all who dwell here--'

The papal paper slipped from Mother Superior's fingers.