Mother Teresa of Calcutta (1910-1997), the nun of the poor, known as “the saint of the gutters”, was a Catholic nun, nationalized Indian, who was declared as a saint in 2016.
Mother Teresa was canonized on September 4, 2016 by Pope Francis. Her beatification had been performed by John Paul II on October 19, 2003.
Mother Teresa Biography
Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu is the real name of Mother Teresa who was born on August 27, 1910 in Escopia, capital of Macedonia. Her parents were Albanian.
In 1928, at age 18, Mother Teresa joined the Sisters of Notre Dame of Loreto religious order in Ireland. Her name is a tribute to Santa Teresa de Lisieux, popularly known in Brazil as Santa Teresa do Menino Jesus.
The name Teresa was adopted in 1931, when the mother went to the India, starting his life as a humanitarian mission.
In India, Mother Teresa was a teacher and eleven years after her arrival, she left the convent to found the religious congregation of the Missionaries of Charity. The first to join her in this work were her former students.
The nun explains that she had received what she called a "called within the call". In other words: she had already been called to religious life and now she should redirect her vocation to help the poorest.
So, she went to live in the Indian slums and from the 50s onwards she works in the construction of shelters, hospitals and schools. She dedicated her life to the poor, children and the sick.
As a result of her humanitarian work, she received decorations and titles. On October 17, 1979, she was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for the fight against poverty.
Mother Teresa was a friend of Princess Diana (1961-1997), who was also especially known for her humanitarian work.
Pope John Paul II (1920-2005) also visited one of his shelters and took care of the sick for a day. On that occasion, Mother Teresa said that it had been "the happiest day of her life."
Currently, the Missionaries of Charity are present in over 133 countries and have 4500 members worldwide.
Mother Teresa died on September 5, 1997, victim of a heart attack in Calcutta. She was 87 years old and was buried in India.
Given her importance, her name baptized hospitals, colleges and institutes. The film "Mother Teresa", by Fabrizio Costa, who received the Camie Award in 2007, tells her story.
Canonization of Mother Teresa
Her beatification took place as a result of the recognition of her first miracle. In 2002, through the intercession of Mother Teresa, the Indian Monica Besra was reportedly cured of an abdominal tumor.
The second miracle, which promoted his canonization, took place in Brazil. According to the church, in 2008, again due to the help of Mother Teresa, Brazilian Marcílio Haddad Andrino would have been cured of brain tumors.
Criticism of Mother Teresa
The Mother's canonization is questioned not only as a result of the confirmation of possible miracles that she would have performed, but also because of the behavior that the nun had throughout her life. An example of this is his position on birth control (which he was opposed to).
The way in which the work is carried out in the places she founded is another of the main criticisms made by those who oppose the title given to the Mother.
Mother Teresa's Phrases
- All our words will be useless if they do not come from the depths of the heart. Words that give no light add to the darkness.
- It's easy to love those who are far away. But it is not always easy to love those who live next to us.
- The words of friendship and comfort may be short and succinct, but their echo is endless.
- We have to go looking for people, because they may be hungry for bread or friendship.
- Lack of love is the greatest of all poverties.
- What I do is simple: I put bread on the tables and I share it.
- Those who judge people don't have time to love them.
- A happy heart is the inevitable result of a heart burning with love.
