by Mother Teresa, also known as Saint Teresa of Calcutta, was born on 26 August 1910. She made great contributions to the people of India and helped raise their quality of life. Mother Teresa dedicated her whole life to the relief of human suffering caused by poverty, disease, and injustice.
About Mother Teresa
Mother Teresa was born in Skopje, now the capital of Macedonia but at that time part of the Ottoman Empire. Her father, who was a merchant, died when she was 8 years old.
Mother Teresa taught for a few years at St. Mary’s High School in Calcutta, which was run by Irish nuns. In 1944 her parish priest told her about the poor living and dying on the streets of Calcutta. She heard their cries for help and decided to start an order whose mission would be to care for them: the Missionaries of Charity.
Life of Teresa
Her Birth
Mother Teresa is one of the greatest humanitarians in history. She was born on 26 August 1910 in the city of Skopje, Macedonia to a family of Albanian descent; she later became an Indian citizen and lived most of her life in Calcutta (now called Kolkata).
Mother Teresa’s Family
Mother Teresa had 2 brothers and 2 sisters. She was one among the five children. Her father, who died when she was eight years old, was a merchant and her mother was a homemaker.
Mother Teresa’s Education
Mother Teresa had no formal education at all. She could not even write her name until she had been taught by the nuns at St. Mary’s High School. Mother Teresa graduated from High School and one year later she started to work at St. Mary’s High School teaching.
Personal Life
Mother Teresa was a very simple and pious woman. She wore all her life the same dress that she had as a teacher at St. Mary’s High School. She was compassionate and loving to everyone. She used to say that she never found anything in the Bible or any other holy book which could object to loving one’s neighbor as oneself and that “You must not be finding fault with others if you have nothing better to give.”
Missionaries of Charity
Mother Teresa began the Missionaries of Charity in Calcutta with only 13 members. Today it has more than 4,000 nuns running 400 centers around the world. These nuns have a vow to love and care for anyone who presents themselves to them.
Mother Teresa was able to provide a home and medical care for thousands of people living on the streets. In 1971, she opened a hospice in Kolkata to care for people with HIV and AIDS; at a time when India banned homosexuality and when those with HIV/AIDS were discriminated against due to fear and ignorance. Mother Teresa’s Awards and Honors
In 1962 she was awarded the Ramon Magsaysay Award for International Understanding. In 1971, she was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for her humanitarian efforts in Kolkata (formerly known as Calcutta). She was beatified by Pope John Paul II on 19 October 2003.
International charity
Mother Teresa supported the work of the International Red Cross. She also supported the work of over 100 other international charities. Mother Teresa was on one occasion refused permission to enter America because of her humanitarian work there. But she still managed to be a very great contributor to the economic and social growth in India and the United States.
After Mother Teresa’s death, in 1990, Pope John Paul II beatified her as a saint in St Peter’s Square. Since then, 22 million people have visited Calvary House where Mother Teresa is buried (the place of pilgrimage) in Kolkata (formerly known as Calcutta). She spent most of her time caring for the dying and destitute. Her work continues today through her Missionaries of Charity order which has over 4,500 nuns and associates operating 610 missions in 123 countries.
Tributes from around the World
Mother Teresa was a spiritual woman who dedicated her life to helping people who had little or nothing. Even though she was a very simple person she did a lot for Humanity.
Mother Teresa is called ‘The Saint of the Gutters’ because she spent most of her time in slums and poor areas. She was very famous for helping people who were neglected by other government departments. People used to call her ‘Saint Teresa’, ‘Mother’, and even ‘Amma’ which means mother in the Hindi language. She was well known as a woman who was never tired of working for others.
Declining health and death
Mother Teresa was an excellent and efficient nurse. She used to say “It is a cold night, it will be hot in the morning!” because she felt that God had given her the gift of caring for others. She suffered from a serious illness and in January 1998 she was diagnosed with advanced diabetes. In September 1998 she had an operation to remove one of her legs. However, on 27 September 1998, while Mother Teresa slept, she suffered a heart attack and was rushed to an intensive care unit, where she later died on 4 October 1998.
Mother Teresa’s funeral
Mother Teresa’s body was placed in the Sanctuary of Loreto Convent in Calcutta, where people from all over the world came to pay their respects.
Awards and Honors
In 1962 she was awarded the Ramon Magsaysay Award for International Understanding. In 1971, she was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for her humanitarian efforts in Kolkata (formerly known as Calcutta). She was beatified by Pope John Paul II on 19 October 2003.
Mother Teresa’s Afterlife
Mother Teresa is now in Heaven where she will live forever with God and her Missionaries of Charity. She continues to inspire people all over the world to help those in need.
Because of her work, Mother Teresa is a candidate for sainthood by the Catholic Church and is considered a saint by many Catholics worldwide. We can all learn from Mother Teresa’s example and continue her work of helping others in need.
