Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta (1910-1997)
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On August 26, 1910, Mother Teresa was born Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu in Skopje, Macedonia. As a young girl she was drawn to charitable work—especially with the poor and needy. In 1928, at age 18, she joined the Order of the Sisters of Our Lady of Loretto in Dublin, Ireland. She chose the name Sister Agnes.
As a young sister, in 1929 she traveled to Calcutta, India to teach at a school for girls. She continued to teach at various schools in India for the next 20 years. During that time she was deeply moved by the extent of sickness and dying on the streets of Calcutta.
On September 10, 1946, while on a train ride to Darjeeling for a retreat, Sister Agnes had a “call within a call.” She felt called to be God’s love in action—to serve the sick and dying, the hungry and homeless. Receiving permission to leave the Loretto convent, she sought medical training and determined to serve the poorest of the poor. Eventually, she was joined by other women, some of whom were her former students. With this group of women, in 1950 she established the Missionaries of Charity. Her new name was Mother Teresa.
Over time the Missionaries of Charity built centers throughout the world. They attracted growing numbers of vocations—even while other religious communities were experiencing a decline in vocations. In 1979 Mother Teresa received the Nobel Peace Prize. She captivated the world as few other people have. Her simple message was: “We are put on earth to do something beautiful for God.”
Pope John Paul II chose October 19, 2003, as the date for the beatification of Mother Teresa. The ceremony was a celebration for the entire world. Mother Teresa’s life of holiness is respected on a global scale. Her example of humble and loving service is admired by millions of people.
The process that led to Mother’s Teresa’s beatification was the shortest in modern history. Ordinarily, the cause for beatification cannot begin until five year’s after the candidate’s death. However, Pope John Paul II advanced the cause of Mother Teresa soon after her death on September 5, 1997. The Pope explained that he was making an exception because of widespread admiration for Mother Teresa.
For Mother Teresa there was no gap between faith and action. She believed that the biggest disease in the modern world was the feeling of not being wanted. She saw her vocation as an opportunity to respond to the needs of the “poorest of the poor.” She initiated programs for the sick, hungry, and homeless. She also established recovery programs for alcoholics and drug addicts. This small, stooped woman became known throughout the world as the “Saint of the Gutters.”
Mother Teresa’s spiritual vitality can be described with these reassuring words. “Don’t search for God in far away lands. He is not there. He is close to you. He is with you. Just keep that lamp burning and you will always see him.”
Connecting to Faith First® Legacy Edition
Grade 1, chapter 26
Grade 3, chapter 4
Grade 5, chapter 14
Junior High, Morality, chapter 3
Junior High, Mystery of God, chapter 7
Connecting to Faith First®
Grade 3, chapter 4
Junior High, Creed and Prayer, chapter 6