Mother Teresa

Biography

Mother Teresa was born Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu in Skopje*, Macedonia, on August 26**, 1910. Her family was of Albanian descent. At the age of twelve, she felt strongly the call of God. She knew she had to be a missionary to spread the love of Christ. At the age of eighteen she left her parental home in Skopje and joined the Sisters of Loreto, an Irish community of nuns with missions in India. After a few months' training in Dublin she was sent to India, where on May 24, 1931, she took her initial vows as a nun. From 1931 to 1948 Mother Teresa taught at St. Mary's High School in Calcutta, but the suffering and poverty she glimpsed outside the convent walls made such a deep impression on her that in 1948 she received permission from her superiors to leave the convent school and devote herself to working among the poorest of the poor in the slums of Calcutta. Although she had no funds, she depended on Divine Providence, and started an open-air school for slum children. Soon she was joined by voluntary helpers, and financial support was also forthcoming. This made it possible for her to extend the scope of her work.

On October 7, 1950, Mother Teresa received permission from the Holy See to start her own order, "The Missionaries of Charity", whose primary task was to love and care for those persons nobody was prepared to look after. In 1965 the Society became an International Religious Family by a decree of Pope Paul VI.

Today the order comprises Active and Contemplative branches of Sisters and Brothers in many countries. In 1963 both the Contemplative branch of the Sisters and the Active branch of the Brothers was founded. In 1979 the Contemplative branch of the Brothers was added, and in 1984 the Priest branch was established.

The Society of Missionaries has spread all over the world, including the former Soviet Union and Eastern European countries. They provide effective help to the poorest of the poor in a number of countries in Asia, Africa, and Latin America, and they undertake relief work in the wake of natural catastrophes such as floods, epidemics, and famine, and for refugees. The order also has houses in North America, Europe and Australia, where they take care of the shut-ins, alcoholics, homeless, and AIDS sufferers.

The Missionaries of Charity throughout the world are aided and assisted by Co-Workers who became an official International Association on March 29, 1969. By the 1990s there were over one million Co-Workers in more than 40 countries. Along with the Co-Workers, the lay Missionaries of Charity try to follow Mother Teresa's spirit and charism in their families.

Mother Teresa's work has been recognised and acclaimed throughout the world and she has received a number of awards and distinctions, including the Pope John XXIII Peace Prize (1971) and the Nehru Prize for her promotion of international peace and understanding (1972). She also received the Balzan Prize (1979) and the Templeton and Magsaysay awards.

Mother Teresa Quotes

 

“I see God in every human being. When I wash the leper’s wounds, I feel I am nursing the Lord himself. Is it not a beautiful experience?” — 1974 interview.

“When I see waste here, I feel angry on the inside. I don’t approve of myself getting angry. But it’s something you can’t help after seeing Ethiopia.” — Washington 1984.

“I choose the poverty of our poor people. But I am grateful to receive (the Nobel) in the name of the hungry, the naked, the homeless, of the crippled, of the blind, of the lepers, of all those people who feel unwanted, unloved, uncared-for throughout society, people that have become a burden to the society and are shunned by everyone.” — Accepting the Nobel Peace Prize, 1979.

“I have never been in a war before, but I have seen famine and death. I was asking (myself), ‘What do they feel when they do this?’ I don’t understand it. They are all children of God. Why do they do it? I don’t understand.” — Beirut 1982, during fighting between the Israeli army and Palestinian guerrillas.

“Please choose the way of peace. … In the short term there may be winners and losers in this war that we all dread. But that never can, nor never will justify the suffering, pain and loss of life your weapons will cause.” — Letter to U.S. President George Bush and Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, January 1991.

“Abortion is murder in the womb … A child is a gift of God. If you do not want him, give him to me.”

“God will find another person, more humble, more devoted, more obedient to him, and the society will go on.” — Calcutta 1989, after announcing her intention to retire.

“I was expecting to be free, but God has his own plans.” — Calcutta 1990, when the sisters of her order persuaded her to withdraw her resignation.

“The other day I dreamed that I was at the gates of heaven. And St. Peter said, ‘Go back to Earth. There are no slums up here.’” — Quoted as telling Prince Michael of Greece in 1996.

“I once picked up a woman from a garbage dump and she was burning with fever; she was in her last days and her only lament was: ‘My son did this to me.’ I begged her: You must forgive your son. In a moment of madness, when he was not himself, he did a thing he regrets. Be a mother to him, forgive him. It took me a long time to make her say: ‘I forgive my son.’ Just before she died in my arms, she was able to say that with a real forgiveness. She was not concerned that she was dying. The breaking of the heart was that her son did not want her. This is something you and I can understand.”

Mother Teresa Poem : Do It Anyway

Mother Teresa wrote this poem – Do It Anyway
People are often unreasonable,
illogical and self-centered;
Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind,
people may accuse you of selfish ulterior motives;
Be kind anyway.
If you are successful,
you will win some false friends and true enemies;
Succeed anyway.
If you are honest and frank,
people may cheat you;
Be honest anyway.
What you spend years building,
someone could destroy overnight;
Build anyway.
If you find serenity and happiness,
they may be jealous;
Be happy anyway.
The good you do today,
people will often forget tomorrow;
Do good anyway.
Give the world the best you have,
and it may never be enough;
Give the world the best you’ve got anyway.
You see, in the final analysis,
it is between you and God;
It was never between you and them anyway.

  

In 1952 the first Home for the Dying was opened in space made available by the City of Calcutta. Over the years, Mother Teresa’s Missionaries of Charity grew from 12 to thousands serving the "poorest of the poor" in 450 centers around the world. Mother Teresa created many homes for the dying and the unwanted from Calcutta to New York to Albania. She was one of the pioneers of establishing homes for AIDS victims. For more than 45 years, Mother Teresa comforted the poor, the dying, and the unwanted around the world. 

In 1966, the Missionaries of Charity Brothers was founded. Homes began to open in Rome, Tanzania, and Australia. In 1971, the first home in the United States was established in the South Bronx, New York.  

Mother Teresa gained worldwide acclaim with her tireless efforts on behalf of world peace. Her work brought her numerous humanitarian awards, including : the Pope John XXIII Peace Prize and the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979. In receiving this award, Mother Teresa revolutionized the award ceremony. She insisted on a departure from the ceremonial banquet and asked that the funds, $6,000 be donated to the poor in Calcutta. This money would permit her to feed hundreds for a year.  

She is stated to have said that earthly rewards were important only if they helped her help the world’s needy.  

Beginning in 1980, homes began to spring-up for drug addicts, prostitutes, battered women, and more orphanages and schools for poor children around the world. In 1985, Mother Teresa established the first hospice for AIDS victims in New York. Later homes were added in San Francisco and Atlanta. Mother Teresa was awarded Medal of Freedom, the highest U.S. civilian award.  

In 1991, Mother Teresa returned for the first time to her native Albania and opened a home in Tirana. By this year, there were 168 homes established in India.  

On February 3, 1994 at a National Prayer Breakfast, sponsored by the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, in Washington, DC, Mother Teresa challenged the audience on such topics as family life and abortion. She said, "Please don’t kill the child. I want the child. Give the child to me."  

Mother Teresa traveled to help the hungry in Ethiopia, radiation victims at Chernobyl, and earthquake victims in Armenia. Her zeal and works of mercy knew no boundaries.
In November of 1996, Mother Teresa received the honorary U.S. citizenship. 

"But if one walks  in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him."

-John 11: 10 

"[The Missionaries of Charity's Calcutta] Home for the Dying is dimly lit by small windows high up in the walls, and Ken was adamant that filming was quite impossible in there. We had only one small light with us, and to get the place adequately lighted in the time at our disposal was quite impossible. It was decided that, nonetheless, [their well-respected camera man, Ken Macmillan] should have a go, but by way of insurance, he took, as well, some film in an outside courtyard where some of the inmates were sitting in the sun. In the processed film, the part taken inside was bathed in a particularly beautiful soft light, whereas the part taken outside was rather dim and confused.... I myself am absolutely convinced that the technically unaccountable light is, in fact, the Kindly Light [Cardinal] Newman refers to in his well-known exquisite hymn. ...[The love in the home is] luminous, like the halos artists have seen and made visible around the heads of saints. I find it not at all surprising that the luminosity should register on a photographic film. ...I am personally persuaded that Ken recorded the first authentic photographic miracle." 

- Malcolm Muggeridge, Something Beautiful for God about Mother Teresa

It was one of those Sundays where I am eager to listen to the priest's homily of the 9:00 A.M. Mass at the National Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes.  Fr. Sanji, is a priest whom I find very amicable and sincere. 

I love it every time he tells his homily. His homilies are very relevant and one could relate to them.  All of his homilies are well-prepared and full of rich information. 

It's not just the story that makes me enthusiastic to hear his sermon every Sunday, but also it is how he  tells it . He connects with us, the Mass goers, and little by little I know I am slowly getting the lessons and morals of his homilies ingrained in my life and consciousness.

"Heaven has gained another Star!"

Beloved Mother Teresa left her physical body on September 5, 1997. Beloved Mary, the Mother of Jesus, announced on September 7, 1997 that this precious Daughter of God has Ascended and become One with Her Beloved Mighty I AM Presence. Mother Mary said:

" . . . I would likewise speak of another sadness, but of the greatest Joy. For in the loss of the beloved Mother Teresa, Heaven has gained another Star. In this day, beloved Teresa has gained Her Ascension in the Light, and will walk in the Octaves of Light to Radiate Her Greater Help and Guidance for those who would follow in a selfless Path of Service and Surrender. Beloved Teresa, with the Guidance of the Ascended Masters in Council, chose this very time and hour for Her Transition in the Light in the wake of the passing of a Princess. For it was Her desire that She not be a great focus of attention. She wished only for the Good which She had accomplished to continue on. For those Activities of Light that she had supported, had put Her Whole Momentum behind, to keep up the work, to not be swayed at Her passing, but to keep putting one foot in front of the other, in selfless Service and true Charity of the Heart.

"She was not interested in being ever a center of attention - for Her focus was upon God. She wished the priorities of Life for each individual to be turned to their own God Reality and Opportunity in the Light. In all of Her Service to mankind, She continually turned toward God. She was not concerned with the comforts of the world, for She had chosen a Path of Complete Selfless Service.

"The world will mourn, but the Heavens will rejoice. And those who are connected with their own God Presence will know the great rejoicing in the heart. For She has accomplished Her Mission on Earth. There was not one aspect of Her Dharma unfulfilled.

"How many of the devotees of My Heart can say that they have fulfilled every aspect of the Law that they came into embodiment to do? How many can say that they have truly emptied their cup and given their all. How many can say 'I have loved even in the face of those who have tried to persecute me.'

"For those who have forgotten the walk of the saints, review them, study them. Learn to appreciate the fact that it is not always easy, but it is a great reward. Do you think that the walk that Mother Teresa walked was easy? Oh, We have heard the grumblings of those in embodiment who have said 'Well, this is too hard. I'm not cut out for this type of life.'

"You must realize, beloved ones, that there are many ministries, many ways of serving the Light. And if you are to know your calling, you must first enter the heart - the Secret Chamber. Bow before the Altar. Look into the Eyes of your own God Presence. Confirm 'I AM THAT I AM'.

"When you have left the Altar, resumed your place in outer activities, there must be an Overshadowing of your Lifestream by the God Presencethrough the dictates of your Holy Christ Self into all of your outer activities.

"If this is not present, then you are not serving God, but serving the world. You may serve God in the world, but not the world absent God. I stand as a Mother of One Who Served God in all, who left a Record of Footsteps that each of you can follow. . . . "