Saint Teresa of Calcutta, widely known as Mother Teresa, was a Roman Catholic nun who devoted her life to serving the poorest and most vulnerable. Born Anjezë Gonxhe Bojaxhiu in 1910 in Skopje, Ottoman Empire (present-day North Macedonia), she became an international icon of charity, compassion, and selflessness. Mother Teresa founded the Missionaries of Charity, an organization that continues her legacy of aiding the sick, the poor, and the dying.
Throughout her life, Mother Teresa’s work garnered global recognition and numerous accolades, including the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979. Despite facing criticism at times, her unwavering dedication to alleviating the suffering of others remains an inspiration to millions.
From her early life experiencing poverty during World War II to her missionary work spanning several continents, Saint Teresa’s life is a testament to the power of empathy and persistence. As we delve into her story, we gain a deeper understanding of her profound commitment to service, the challenges she faced, and the lives she touched along the way.
Early Life and Spiritual Journey
Saint Teresa of Calcutta was born Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu on August 26, 1910, in Skopje, which is now the capital city of North Macedonia. She belonged to an Albanian family and was the youngest of three children.
Her parents, Nikola and Dranafile Bojaxhiu played significant roles in shaping her values and beliefs. Nikola was a successful merchant, and he instilled a strong work ethic in Agnes. Dranafile, a devout Catholic, taught her the importance of compassion and caring for others.
When Agnes was just eight years old, her father passed away, leaving a lasting impact on her life. Her mother continued to raise the family, emphasizing the significance of faith and helping the less fortunate.
Agnes was deeply religious from a young age and was an active member of their local parish. She joined the religious youth group known as Sodality of Mary, focusing on catechism, religious education, and charitable works. At the age of 12, inspired by the stories of Catholic missionaries during her years as a student, she felt a calling to serve God by helping the poor and the sick.
In 1928, at the age of 18, Agnes decided to become a nun and joined the Loreto Sisters, an Irish order of nuns based in India known for their work in evangelizing and educating young girls. She traveled to Ireland for her novitiate training and then moved to India to continue her religious journey. She was initially sent to the congregation’s novitiate in Darjeeling, India. It was during her time in Darjeeling that she took the name Sister Teresa in honor of Saint Thérèse of Lisieux.
In India, Sister Teresa, as she was now called, taught at St. Mary’s High School in Calcutta. She quickly became well-regarded for her dedication and passion for helping the students achieve their full potential. Despite her successes as a teacher, Sister Teresa felt a deep longing to do more for those suffering from poverty and illness. While teaching, she became increasingly concerned about the poor and the sick.
In 1946, she experienced a series of visions and felt called to leave the convent and work directly with the impoverished. She would later describe this as “the call within the call.” She had received divine guidance to leave her position within the Loreto Sisters and establish a new religious order dedicated to serving the poorest of the poor. The Roman Catholic authorities granted her permission to begin her new mission in 1948.
This marked the beginning of her remarkable journey to help the poor, the sick, and the dying, ultimately leading to her becoming Saint Teresa of Calcutta—a beacon of hope and compassion for the world.
Taking vows of chastity, poverty, obedience, and wholehearted service to the poorest of the poor, Sister Teresa founded the Missionaries of Charity in 1950. The congregation grew rapidly, and with the support of the Catholic Church and generous donors, it was able to establish a wide range of services, including orphanages, schools, medical centers, and hospices.
Throughout her life, Mother Teresa remained steadfast in her faith and dedication to her mission. She became an inspiration to people worldwide, exemplifying a selfless devotion to the service of the less fortunate. Today, the Missionaries of Charity continue to honor her legacy by providing care and support to those in need around the world.
Missionaries of Charity
The Missionaries of Charity is a Roman Catholic religious organization founded by Mother Teresa in 1950 in Calcutta, India. As a nun and missionary, her purpose of establishing this organization was to serve the poorest of the poor and bring them God’s love and comfort.
The main objective of the Missionaries of Charity is to care for people who have no one to care for them. These include the homeless, disabled, sick, and destitute in the slums of India and around the world. The society initially began with just 13 members but has now grown to thousands of nuns and brothers working in over 130 countries.
The organization is divided into four key branches: the Missionaries of Charity Sisters, the Missionaries of Charity Brothers, the Contemplative Branch, and the Lay Missionaries of Charity.
Missionaries of Charity Sisters primarily consist of nuns who work closely with the poor and needy, running hospices, orphanages, and shelters. They are known for their dedication and compassion in helping the suffering and the dying.
Missionaries of Charity Brothers, similarly to the Sisters, this branch is dedicated to serving the poor and the marginalized. The Brothers work directly with the needy, offering support, care, and educational programs.
The contemplative Branch is a group that focuses on providing spiritual support to the Missionaries of Charity through prayer and contemplation. They spend much of their time in silence and meditation, praying for the mission and those it serves.
Lay Missionaries of Charity is for laypeople who feel called to serve with the Missionaries of Charity organization. They assist in various ways, such as volunteering at care facilities or supporting the mission financially.
The Missionaries of Charity has become a respected and significant organization in addressing the needs of the vulnerable and less fortunate around the world. Driven by Mother Teresa’s example and principles, they continue to embody love, compassion, and dedication in their service to others.
Expanding the Community
In the early years of the Missionaries of Charity, the organization founded by Saint Teresa of Calcutta, their presence was predominantly focused in West Bengal, India. However, through Mother Teresa’s tireless work and unwavering commitment to the cause, this small community of devoted sisters gradually expanded both nationally and internationally.
In 1965, the Vatican granted the Missionaries of Charity permission to become an international religious congregation, paving the way for the order to establish itself outside of India. This milestone was crucial in allowing Mother Teresa and her sisters to touch the lives of countless more people in need around the world.
One of the first countries to establish a presence outside India was Venezuela in 1965. The sisters founded their first house in Cocorote, where they served the destitute and the sick. As the order continued to grow, new houses were established in other countries, such as Tanzania, in 1968. The founding of additional houses in different locations allowed the Missionaries of Charity to reach diverse populations in need of assistance.
Over the years, the influence of Saint Teresa of Calcutta and the Missionaries of Charity expanded beyond the physical limitedness of the Mother House in West Bengal. Today, the organization boasts more than 700 establishments across the globe, dedicated to providing aid and comfort to the poorest of the poor.
The expansion of the community has allowed the Missionaries of Charity to extend their reach, providing compassionate care and support to disadvantaged individuals in numerous corners of the world. Ultimately, the legacy of Mother Teresa endures as her lifework continues to make a significant impact on countless lives.
Spiritual Life and Challenges
Saint Teresa of Calcutta, also known as Mother Teresa, led a remarkable spiritual life that was filled with challenges and triumphs. Her unwavering dedication to helping the poorest of the poor was rooted in her deep faith and commitment to Jesus and prayer.
Prayer played a central role in Mother Teresa’s life. She woke up before dawn every day to spend hours in prayer and contemplation, seeking union with God and guidance in her work. Through these daily spiritual exercises, she nurtured her interior life and drew strength for her ministry.
While Mother Teresa’s faith and dedication garnered her international acclaim, her spiritual life was not without challenges. For nearly 50 years, she experienced “darkness” – a sense of isolation and abandonment by God. Despite this, her perseverance and strength led her to continue serving the poor and marginalized.
Mother Teresa’s pursuit of union with God was a cornerstone of her spiritual life. This single-minded devotion to Jesus and her convictions helped her withstand the numerous challenges and tribulations she faced throughout her life. In the face of adversity, Mother Teresa’s unwavering faith and trust in God propelled her to transform the lives of countless individuals around the world.
Saint Teresa of Calcutta’s spiritual life and challenges serve as a testament to her resilience, selflessness, and deep connection with God. Her dedication to service, prayer, and developing her interior life ultimately led to her canonization by the Catholic Church in 2016.
Service to the Poor
Mother Teresa devoted her life to serving the Poorest of the Poor. Her mission was founded on her belief that loving and caring for the less fortunate was a way to serve God. She demonstrated her commitment to this cause by creating institutions and foundations to improve the lives of the poor, spreading love and charity throughout her work.
To further support the impoverished, Saint Teresa opened centers like the Kalighat, the Home of the Pure Heart (Nirmal Hriday), which provided solace, care, and dignity to terminally ill patients. The home was established with a primary focus on tending to the spiritual and emotional needs of the dying, ensuring they experienced comfort and kindness in their final moments.
Saint Teresa believed that God is present in everyone, particularly the poor, sick, and suffering. For her, serving the impoverished was equivalent to serving God. This belief fueled her unwavering dedication to helping those in need, putting their well-being at the forefront of her actions.
Her work also extended to the education of impoverished children. She established schools where underprivileged kids could receive free education, ensuring that the cycle of poverty could be broken. In addition, Saint Teresa created homes for abandoned infants, safe shelters for battered women, and soup kitchens to feed the hungry.
Through her life of service, Saint Teresa elevated the importance of love and charity in caring for the poor and showcased how small acts of kindness can make a significant difference in the lives of those struggling with poverty. By incorporating these principles, the Missionaries of Charity and other organizations inspired by her continue to serve the less fortunate across the globe.
Later Years and Health
In her later years, Saint Teresa of Calcutta experienced a decline in her overall health, which was largely attributed to aging. Despite her frail and weakened physical state, she continued to work tirelessly for the needs of the poor and destitute, even as her own body began to falter.
Throughout the 1990s, a series of health problems emerged that progressively restricted Saint Teresa’s ability to travel and actively participate in her ministry. She suffered from heart issues, including two heart attacks, which eventually led to the insertion of a pacemaker in 1989. In addition to her heart problems, she battled pneumonia, broken bones, and malaria. Despite these setbacks, she remained focused on her mission and continued to lead the Missionaries of Charity, albeit from a diminished capacity.
In 1996, Saint Teresa reluctantly retired as the head of the Missionaries of Charity, acknowledging the need for a stronger and healthier leader to guide the organization. Nonetheless, she continued to reside in one of the convents in Calcutta, providing guidance and support to the nuns and the people she served until her death in September 1997.
Throughout her later years and decline in health, Saint Teresa demonstrated remarkable resilience. Her unwavering dedication to her work and the poor, even in the face of significant physical suffering, is a testament to her strength of character and commitment to her mission.
Miracles and Canonization
Saint Teresa of Calcutta was beatified by Pope John Paul II on October 19, 2003, after the Vatican recognized a miracle attributed to her intercession. The miracle involved the healing of an Indian woman named Monica Besra, who, according to her testimony, was cured of an abdominal tumor after praying to Mother Teresa. Upon beatification, she was given the title “Blessed.”
On September 4, 2016, Saint Teresa was canonized by Pope Francis in a ceremony held at the Vatican. To be canonized, a second miracle needed to be attributed to her intercession. This miracle involved the healing of a Brazilian man suffering from multiple brain tumors. After praying to Mother Teresa, he was inexplicably cured, and the Vatican confirmed this as a miracle in 2016.
Mother Teresa’s path to canonization began in 1999, two years after her death when Pope John Paul II waived the customary five-year waiting period for the process to begin. Her cause for sainthood moved quickly, with the Sacred Congregation for the Causes of Saints examining her life, virtues, and legacy. Pope Francis recognized the necessary miracles for her canonization, making her officially recognized as a saint by the Catholic Church.
Saint Teresa’s canonization and recognition of miraculous healings represent iconic moments in her legacy. Despite facing criticism throughout her life and work, she is venerated as a symbol of self-sacrifice and compassionate care for the sick and the poor.
Legacy and Influence
Saint Teresa of Calcutta, better known as Mother Teresa, left a profound impact on the world through her selfless dedication to serving the poorest of the poor. She devoted her entire life to helping those in need, and as a result, her work has become a symbol of compassion and humanitarianism.
In recognition of her unparalleled service, Saint Teresa of Calcutta received numerous prestigious awards and honors. Among them, the Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to her in 1979. This esteemed accolade acknowledged not only her unwavering commitment to helping the disadvantaged but also spotlighted her efforts in promoting peace through acts of charity.
Another significant acknowledgment of her work was the Indian Padmashri Award, which she received in 1962. This award highlighted Saint Teresa’s noteworthy contribution to Indian society, as she spent many years working in slums and hospitals throughout the country.
The Catholic Church recognized Saint Teresa’s profound impact on faith and spirituality. After her death in 1997, she was put on a fast track toward sainthood. This culminated in her canonization in 2016 by Pope Francis, who declared her a saint in a ceremony at the Vatican, solidifying her status as a beloved, spiritual figure.
Saint Teresa’s influence continues to resonate in various sectors, including nonprofit organizations, political discourses, and educational institutions. Her teachings and values have inspired countless individuals to pursue careers and vocations in service to others.
Saint Teresa of Calcutta, pray for us.
