motherteresaofcalcutta

[motherteresaofcalcutta]

More on Mother Teresa

Mother Teresa is remembered in many touching ways on the internet, and below I will attach the links to three tributes. First, her speech that she gave after receiving the Nobel Peace Prize. The second is a cartoon made by Christian Kids TV which depicts her life- it is easy to follow and can be educational for both adults and children. The third is a link to a video of the Holy Mass and Canonization of Mother Teresa. 

1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I36Nistc9wE

2. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=teQb8eubFzg

3. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gt2wDI_IAfA

[motherteresaofcalcutta]

Remembering Mother Teresa

In 2003, following much research into the life and miracles of Mother Teresa, she was beatified at the Vatican, and thousands of individuals showed up to listen to the address of John Paul II. His speech was a lovely remembrance of her work and charity, and if you are interested in reading it, I have attached the link just below.

http://www.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/speeches/2003/october/documents/hf_jp-ii_spe_20031020_pilgrims-mother-teresa.html

Then, on the fourth of September in 2016, Mother Teresa was canonized. This was another lovely ceremony in celebration of her life, and I will also attach The Homily of His Holiness Pope Francis.

https://w2.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/homilies/2016/documents/papa-francesco_20160904_omelia-canonizzazione-madre-teresa.html

[motherteresaofcalcutta]

I lived a long and fulfilling life and grew the Missionaries of Charity from single digits to thousands, with locations in many countries. Although at the end of my life, my health began to quickly decline, I was never scared of death. I lived in devotion to God and helped everyone that I could have. I welcomed death as a new opportunity to help others, and looked forward to meeting my Saviour. 

[motherteresaofcalcutta]

"By blood, I am Albanian. By citizenship, an Indian. By faith, I am a Catholic nun. As to my calling, I belong to the world. As to my heart, I belong entirely to the Heart of Jesus."

[motherteresaofcalcutta]

The Missions of Charity and I opened a hospice in Calcutta where we were able to allow individuals of all faiths to die in accordance with their religion. "A beautiful death is for people who lived like animals to die like angels—loved and wanted." The Missionaries of Charity went on to found more hospices, leper hospitals, and orphanages among other outreach efforts to help the impoverished community. 

[motherteresaofcalcutta]

After leaving the convent, I received some medical education so I could most effectively help those living in poverty, and I founded Missionaries of Charity, which was later joined by a group of young women with similar values to my own. The first year of living in poverty was the most difficult of my entire life, but I found strength in the knowledge that this was God’s intention for my life. “Of free choice, my God, and out of love for you, I desire to remain and do whatever be your Holy will in my regard. I did not let a single tear come.”

[motherteresaofcalcutta]

At the age of 18, I left my home and family to move to India in order to achieve my true purpose in life. I took my first set of religious vows there, and chose my new name after Thérèse de Lisieux, the Patron Saint of Missionaries. While teaching at a school, I took the second set of my religious vows, my Solemn Vows. However, I was becoming increasingly concerned about the poverty I was witnessing in Calcutta, and after experiencing what I understand to have been “the call within the call”, I knew that I was destined to both help the poor, and live with the poor.

[motherteresaofcalcutta]

Growing up I found myself taking an interest in the missionary work in foreign countries of many religious leaders. I was committed to religion, and always believed that my purpose in life was to serve the Lord. In my teenage years, my beliefs were confirmed as I prayed at the Shrine of the Black Madonna of Vitina-Letnice, of which I have attached a picture. 

[motherteresaofcalcutta]

Although contemporarily I am widely known as Mother Teresa, I was born in 1910 as Anjezë Gonxhe Bojaxhiu of the Ottoman Empire. While my official date of birth was the 6th of August, I consider the first real day of my life, and my true birthday, to be August 7th, as this is the day I was baptized, and this was the first day of a long life of devotion to Christ.