Mother Teresa – Albanian-Indian nun: Age, Early Life, and Calling, Journey to Religious Life, Building a Legacy of Compassion, Recognitions, and Honors, Wiki
Mother Teresa: A Life of Compassion and Dedication
Early Life and Calling
Mother Teresa, born on August 27, 1910, in Skopje, Macedonia (then part of the Ottoman Empire, now in North Macedonia), was a Roman Catholic nun and missionary. She passed away on September 5, 1997, in Calcutta (now Kolkata), India, and was canonized on September 4, 2016. Her feast day is celebrated on September 5. She founded the Order of the Missionaries of Charity, a congregation of women dedicated to serving the poorest of the poor, particularly in India. Her work earned her numerous accolades, including the 1979 Nobel Prize for Peace.
Journey to Religious Life
The daughter of an ethnic Albanian grocer, Mother Teresa felt the call to religious life early on. In 1928, she traveled to Ireland to join the Sisters of Loreto at the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Six weeks later, she sailed to India, where she would teach for 17 years at a school in Calcutta (Kolkata) run by the order.
A “Call Within a Call”
In 1946, Sister Teresa experienced a “call within a call,” a divine inspiration that led her to dedicate herself to caring for the sick and poor. She moved into the slums she had observed while teaching, petitioning the municipal authorities for a pilgrim hostel near the sacred temple of Kali. 1948 she founded her order, and sympathetic companions soon joined her mission. They organized dispensaries and outdoor schools. Mother Teresa adopted Indian citizenship, and her nuns wore the traditional sari as their habit. In 1950, her order received canonical sanction from Pope Pius XII, and in 1965, it became a pontifical congregation, subject only to the pope.
Building a Legacy of Compassion
Mother Teresa’s work expanded rapidly. In 1952, she established Nirmal Hriday (“Place for the Pure of Heart”), a hospice for the terminally ill to die with dignity. Her order also opened numerous centers for the blind, aged, and disabled. Under her guidance, the Missionaries of Charity built a leper colony called Shanti Nagar (“Town of Peace”) near Asansol, India.
Recognitions and Honors
Mother Teresa’s humanitarian efforts did not go unnoticed. In 1962, she was awarded the Padma Shri, one of India’s highest civilian honors. In 1964, Pope Paul VI gifted her his ceremonial limousine, which she raffled to fund her leper colony. She was called to Rome in 1968 to establish a home staffed primarily by Indian nuns. Her work was further recognized on January 6, 1971, when Pope Paul VI awarded her the first Pope John XXIII Peace Prize. The following year, she received the Nobel Peace Prize for her humanitarian efforts, and in 1980, she was honored with India’s highest civilian award, the Bharat Ratna.
Advocacy and Later Years
In her later years, Mother Teresa became an outspoken critic of divorce, contraception, and abortion. She suffered from ill health, including a heart attack in 1989. In 1990, she resigned as head of her order, but was re-elected by a nearly unanimous vote—her vote being the sole dissent. As her heart condition worsened, she retired in 1997, with Sister Nirmala, an Indian-born nun, succeeding her. By the time of her death, the Missionaries of Charity had grown to include hundreds of centers in over 90 countries, with 4,000 nuns and hundreds of thousands of lay workers.
Canonization and Spiritual Struggles
Mother Teresa’s canonization process began within two years of her death, expedited by a special dispensation from Pope John Paul II. She was beatified on October 19, 2003, in one of the shortest processes in church history, and canonized by Pope Francis I on September 4, 2016.
Despite her outward cheerfulness and commitment to God, Mother Teresa’s letters, published in 2007, revealed a deep spiritual struggle. For the last 50 years of her life, she did not feel God’s presence, enduring a sense of abandonment that she believed was a share in Christ’s Passion. Nonetheless, she integrated this feeling into her daily religious life, remaining steadfast in her faith and dedication to serving Christ.
Conclusion
Mother Teresa’s life was marked by an unwavering commitment to serving the poorest of the poor. Her legacy continues through the Missionaries of Charity, whose work spans the globe, reflecting her enduring spirit of compassion and love for humanity.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About Mother Teresa
1. Who was Mother Teresa?
Mother Teresa, born Anjezë Gonxhe Bojaxhiu on August 27, 1910, in Skopje, Macedonia, was a Roman Catholic nun and missionary. She dedicated her life to serving the poor and founded the Missionaries of Charity, a religious congregation focused on helping those in need. She was canonized as a saint by the Catholic Church in 2016.
2. What inspired Mother Teresa to serve the poor?
In 1946, while traveling to a retreat, Mother Teresa experienced what she called a “call within a call.” She felt a deep conviction to leave her teaching position and serve the poorest of the poor in the slums of Kolkata, India. This spiritual experience led her to found the Missionaries of Charity.
3. What were some of Mother Teresa’s most significant achievements?
Mother Teresa’s most notable achievements include founding the Missionaries of Charity, establishing Nirmal Hriday (a hospice for the dying), and opening centers for the blind, aged, and disabled. She also received numerous awards, including the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979 and the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian award, in 1980.
4. How did Mother Teresa become a saint?
The process of Mother Teresa’s canonization began shortly after her death in 1997. Pope John Paul II beatified her in 2003, and she was canonized by Pope Francis on September 4, 2016, following the recognition of miracles attributed to her intercession.
5. What challenges did Mother Teresa face in her spiritual life?
Despite her outward cheerfulness and dedication, Mother Teresa experienced deep spiritual struggles for much of her life. She felt a sense of abandonment by God and endured a prolonged period of spiritual darkness. However, she continued to serve the poor, believing that her suffering allowed her to share in Christ’s Passion.
6. What is the legacy of Mother Teresa?
Mother Teresa’s legacy is one of compassion, humility, and selfless service. She left behind a global network of charities that continue to care for the poorest and most vulnerable people. Her life and work have inspired millions, and she remains a symbol of love and service to humanity.
7. Where can I learn more about Mother Teresa’s life and work?
To learn more about Mother Teresa, you can read biographies, visit the official Missionaries of Charity website, or explore documentaries and books about her life. Visiting the Mother House in Kolkata, where she lived and worked, also provides a profound insight into her mission.
