October 20: Nothing Other Than God

Welcome to the American Catholic Daily Reader podcast. Today is October 20th, and our story is Nothing Other Than God. In 1960, Hollywood starlet Dolores Hart flew to Italy to film St. Francis of Assisi. While there, she met Pope John XXIII. I am Dolores Hart, the actress playing Claire, she said to him. No, you are Claire, he replied.

Thinking he misunderstood her, Hart repeated, No, I am Dolores Hart, an actress portraying Claire. The Pope looked at her intently, and again said, No, you are Claire. Hart eventually understood. At the time, the 22-year-old actress was wrestling with her own vocation and wondered if she, like St. Francis' friend, could give up everything for Christ. The Pope's words, in some sense, answered that question.

Hart was an unlikely candidate for religious life. Born on October 20th, 1938, neither Hart's parents nor grandparents were Catholic. Nevertheless, they sent her to a Catholic school, and at the age of nine, Hart asked her family if she could become Catholic like her classmates. They agreed. As the years passed, Hart's faith grew, but her vision for the future never included a religious habit.

After Hollywood producers discovered the 19-year-old Hart and cast her alongside Elvis Presley in Loving You, religious life seemed even more improbable. But in 1959, while acting on Broadway, the starlet visited the Benedictine nuns at the Abbey of Regina Lottis in Bethlehem, Connecticut.

After a few more visits, her vision for the future began to change. When she raised the possibility of a religious vocation, however, the prioress responded with a strong no. To the world, that answer made sense. With the talent and looks of Grace Kelly, Hart had her choice of roles. She also had a loving fiancé. If she wanted, she could have a successful career and a happy Catholic family. But Hart only wanted God. By 1963, both Hart and the Abbey's Prioress were convinced of that, and Hart left Hollywood for Bethlehem.

There she has remained. Serving as Prioress since 2001, Hart wrote a book about her experience, The Ear of the Heart, in 2013. Hart's life encourages reflection on personal priorities and invites us to consider whether our talents, ambitions, and resources are fully aligned with what truly matters in eternity.

Reflect on one area where worldly success tempts you more than God's will. Take one concrete step today to prioritize faith over self-interest. Thank you for listening to the American Catholic Daily Reader podcast. Join us tomorrow, October 21st, for another story of faith and courage in America.