Article Tools
- Text Size

- Add a comment (4)
- Print this article
- Email this article
Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta was widely regarded as a saint in her own lifetime. A symbol of goodness for people everywhere, she was also the recipient of countless awards, including the 1979 Nobel Prize for Peace.
When she died on September 5, 1997, her congregation, the Missionaries of Charity, encompassed 594 homes in 123 countries. She left behind her more than 3,800 sisters, nearly 380 brothers, 13 priests, and countless co-workers, all committed to living in her spirit throughout the world. She herself was fast-tracked to beatification in 2003 and will likely be canonized within the next few years.
Hers is quite a success story, even though she insisted that she was called to be faithful, not successful. But for all her popularity and success, not many know about the way in which God formed her and prepared her for her calling.
Discerning Her Call. She was born Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu on August 26, 1910, the youngest of three children of Albanian parents. She grew up in the multi-ethnic, multi-faith town of Skopje, where her father…
The full article is available to subscribers only
Access all articles, daily meditations and readings, as well as special resources, by becoming a subscriber. View subscription options.
Special Offer: 2 week free web-only trial subscription. Sign up now.
Existing Print & Web-Only Subscribers: Login for full access.

What the world needs now is more Mother Teresa’s to solve so many problems. Our own government should take a good look and stop the greed and the attitude that some people are dispensable like the elderly and the unborn. We all are God’s children the richest and the poorest are all loved by God. No one on this earth is worthless and people need to realize that. May God give us more Mother Teresas. Suffering can be so valuable when united to the suffering of Christ.
Mother Teresa pray for us.
I think we can all of us be Mother Teresa’s. Her charism was to love no matter what. As Christians, we are all called to love. We each have our vocation in which to express this love either as a single person, married, widowed, religious or priest. Love, she said, is what is so needed in the world. We can start with our family, our neighbors, coworkers, friends and parishioners. In each of these areas we can bring God’s love and be instruments of His healing and peace. St. Francis supposedly said “Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me.” In the same vein we can say let there be love on earth and let it begin with me.
The Missionaries of Charity have always been close to my heart. Being in their presence one can tangibly feel the joy and peace of Christ. I love this woman…she has changed my life forever, challenging the way I live my faith.
Father God, help us to love others as you have loved us. Raise up more christains to be good ambassadors of Christ Jesus as Mother Teresa in Jesus Name, Amen!!!