September 5

St. Teresa of Calcutta

St. Teresa of Calcutta

When they lived:

St. Teresa of Calcutta, also known as Mother Teresa, lived from August 26, 1910, to September 5, 1997. Her lifetime spanned almost the entire 20th century, allowing her to witness and impact numerous significant historical events.

Where they lived:

St. Teresa of Calcutta was primarily associated with the city of Kolkata (formerly Calcutta), India. She spent the majority of her life and career in this bustling and diverse city, where she founded the Missionaries of Charity, an order dedicated to serving the poorest of the poor.

Notable world events during the time of their life:

  • The Great Depression (1929-1939): Mother Teresa’s early adulthood coincided with one of the most devastating economic crises in modern history.
  • World War II (1939-1945): Mother Teresa lived through World War II, a global conflict that brought about immense suffering.
  • Indian Independence and Partition (1947): In 1947, India gained independence from British rule, and this period marked significant political and social upheaval on the subcontinent.
  • Space Race (late 1950s to 1970s): The space race between the United States and the Soviet Union unfolded during Mother Teresa’s lifetime.
  • Civil Rights Movement (1950s-1960s): In the United States, the Civil Rights Movement was gaining momentum.
  • Vatican II (1962-1965): The Second Vatican Council, convened by the Roman Catholic Church, occurred during Mother Teresa’s lifetime.
  • Fall of the Berlin Wall (1989): In her later years, Mother Teresa witnessed the end of the Cold War and the fall of the Berlin Wall, symbolizing the reunification of East and West Germany.

Their patronage:

St. Teresa of Calcutta is the patron saint of a wide range of causes and groups. Her life and work have made her an inspiration for people around the world. Some of her patronages include:

  • Calcutta/Kolkata: As her adopted home and the epicenter of her charitable work, Kolkata holds a special place in her patronage.
  • Missionaries and Humanitarian Workers: She is a guiding light for those who dedicate their lives to helping the less fortunate.
  • The Poor and Suffering: Mother Teresa’s primary mission was to serve the poorest of the poor, and her patronage reflects this dedication.
  • Lost Souls: Her emphasis on compassion and love for the marginalized makes her a patron for those who feel lost or forgotten.
  • World Peace: Her tireless efforts to bridge gaps and heal wounds in a divided world have made her an icon of peace and reconciliation.

St. Teresa of Calcutta’s life was a testament to selfless service, and her legacy continues to inspire people of all backgrounds to make the world a better place through acts of kindness and compassion.

Called at a Young Age

Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu was born on August 26, 1910, in Skopje, to Nikola and Drane Bojaxhiu. At the age of five, she received her First communion and was confirmed in November 1916. Her father, Nikola, died when she was only eight years old. Agnes’ religious formation flourished in the Sacred Heart Parish run by the Jesuits. She was very active as a youth in the parish. At age 12, she held the conviction that she was called to be a missionary. At age 18, she joined the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Sisters of Loreto) in Ireland in September 1928. She received the name “Sister Mary Teresa” after St. Therese of Lisieux.

In December 1929, she departed for her first trip to Calcutta, India, and made her first profession of vows in May 1931. On May 24, 1937, she made her final profession of vows. From that time on, she was called “Mother Teresa.”. She was appointed to teach at St. Mary’s Bengali Medium School for girls. She served there for more than fifteen years and became the school’s principal in 1944.

Her “Call Within a Call”

Mother Teresa’s stay at St. Mary’s was filled with happiness. She was a joyful, generous, and hard-working sister, noted for her charity, generosity, and holiness. But it was on September 10, 1946, while on a train ride to her annual retreat in Darjeeling, that she received her inspiration, her “call within a call,” as she described it. Jesus’ words, I thirst,” were Mother Teresa’s whole concern. In a way she would never explain, Jesus’ thirst for love and for souls took hold of her. The desire to quench His thirst became the driving principle of her life.

By means of visions and interior locutions, Jesus revealed to her the desire of His Heart for the poor and the unloved, those who are ignorant of Him and His longing for their love. Jesus asked Mother Teresa to establish a religious community that is dedicated to the service of the poor. It was only after about two years of discernment that Mother Teresa received permission to begin Jesus’ request. Finally, on August 17, 1948, she dressed for the first time in a white, blue-bordered sari and passed through the gates of her beloved Loreto convent to enter the world of the poor.

She went to the slums, visited families, washed the sores of children, cared for an old man lying sick on the road, and nursed a woman dying of hunger and tuberculosis. She started each day with the Mass, then, with the Rosary in her hand, went out to find and serve Jesus among the unwanted, the poor, and the unloved. After some months, she was joined by her former students.

The Birth of Missionaries of Charity

It was on October 7, 1950, that the new congregation of the Missionaries of Charity was officially established in the Archdiocese of Calcutta. After some years, Mother Teresa began to send her sisters to other parts of India. Mother Teresa and her charism have drawn so much attention and recognition from people all over the world. Her congregation, Missionaries of Charity, spread to other countries and has been active in the service of the poor and the sick to this day.

Towards the end of her life, Mother Teresa continued to guide the congregation. She was still very vigorous and eager to respond to the needs of the poor. She gave her blessing to her successor as Superior of the congregation in the year 1997, met with the then Pope John Paul II for the last time, and returned to Calcutta. She spent her final days giving instructions to the sisters in the congregation and receiving visitors, asking for her prayers. On September 5, Mother Teresa’s earthly life came to an end. She was given the honor of a state funeral by the Government of India, and her body was buried in the Mother House of the Missionaries of Charity. Her tomb quickly became a place of pilgrimage and prayer for people of all faiths, rich and poor alike.

As a testament to her most remarkable life, Pope John Paul II permitted the opening of her Cause of Canonization. On December 20, 2002, he approved the decrees of her heroic virtues and miracles. Mother Teresa was beatified by Pope John Paul II on October 19, 2003. Following her beatification, a long wait for a second miracle followed. On December 17, 2015, Pope Francis announced a second miracle had been attributed to the intercession of Mother Teresa. This cleared the way for Mother Teresa’s canonization. Blessed Mother Teresa was canonized on September 4, 2016, by Pope Francis.

Five Interesting Facts About St. Teresa of Calcutta

  1. St. Teresa of Calcutta was given prestigious awards, one of which
    was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979 because of her humanitarian and holy
    acts.
  2. St. Teresa of Calcutta is the patron saint of World Youth Day and of
    the Missionaries of Charity. She is also co-patron of the Archdiocese of
    Calcutta, alongside St. Francis Xavier.
  3. St. Teresa of Calcutta was fluent in five languages: English, Hindi,
    Bengali, Albanian, and Serbian
  4. St. Teresa of Calcutta authorized Navin Chawla to write her
    biography, and it was published in 1992.
  5. St. Teresa of Calcutta was praised by pro-life organizations because
    of her anti-abortion stance, as well as criticisms from
    “abortion-rights” groups.

Prayer to St. Rosalia

God, who called the virgin Saint Teresa to respond to the love of your Son thirsting on the Cross with outstanding charity to the poor, grant us, we beseech you, by her intercession, to minister to Christ in our suffering brothers and sisters. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.