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Ali at Boars Hill, Oxford, March 1991 |
Nine days before she was received into the Church at Easter 1991, Ali made her her first confession - while on an 8-day retreat at the Carmelite Priory in Boars Hill, Oxford.
On the way to Oxford, on 17 March 1991, Ali developed a tummy ache, which persisted during the week, at times causing acute pain. It was a pain that she then had for the rest of her life, the cause of which was never properly established even after various tests and surgical explorations. The assumption was that it was referred pain from her spine, and it became more severe and debilitating as the years passed.
On that evening of 22 March 1991 Ali wrote:
"This has been such a joyful day. Probably the most joyful of my whole life - because I have been set free from my sins...
As the priest said the words of absolution I felt myself being literally "filled with grace." My body has had pain this last week, but now my soul has been set free I find myself quite happy to accept it and whatever consequence may come from it. I feel it is my gift to [Ali mentioned three people for whom she was particularly offering up her suffering]. It is good to be able to give when I have received so much that I really understood today the meaning of 'my cup runneth over'.
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| Ali at Boars Hill, Oxford, March 1991 |
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| 22 March 2021 |
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| 22 March 2021 |
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