Blessed Teresa of Calcutta

Biography of Blessed Teresa of Calcutta

Blessed Teresa of Calcutta, also known as Mother Teresa, was a Catholic nun and missionary who devoted her life to serving the poor and sick in the slums of Calcutta, India. She was born Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu on August 26, 1910 in Skopje, Macedonia and she felt a call to religious life from an early age.

In 1928, at the age of 18, she joined the Sisters of Loreto and was sent to Calcutta, India, where she began her novitiate. She took her first religious vows in 1931 and was given the name Teresa after Saint Thérèse of Lisieux. After completing her training, she taught at St. Mary’s High School for Girls in Calcutta, where she stayed for almost 20 years.

In 1946, while on a train trip, she received what she called a “call within a call” to serve the poorest of the poor. She decided to leave the Loreto Sisters and start a new religious community dedicated to serving the poorest of the poor. With permission from the Catholic Church, she started the Missionaries of Charity, an order of nuns who pledged to give “wholehearted free service to the poorest of the poor.”

Mother Teresa, as she was known, opened a hospice for the dying, an orphanage for children, and a home for lepers in Calcutta, as well as homes in many other countries. She devoted her life to serving the poor, the sick, and the dying, and her work quickly gained international attention.

Mother Teresa received numerous honors throughout her life, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Congressional Gold Medal, both from the United States, and the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979. She died on September 5, 1997 at the age of 87, and her funeral was attended by leaders from around the world.

In 2003, Pope John Paul II beatified Mother Teresa, the first step toward canonization as a saint. The Vatican recognized a miracle attributed to her intercession, and on September 4, 2016, Pope Francis canonized her as a saint.

Mother Teresa was known for her compassion, humility, and selfless service to the poor and suffering. Through her work with the Missionaries of Charity, she helped thousands of people in India and around the world, and her legacy continues to inspire others to serve the less fortunate.

As a Saint, Mother Teresa continues to be an inspiration and a model of charity, humility and compassion for people around the world. Her devotion to the poor and her unwavering faith in God serve as a reminder to all of us of the importance of compassion and selfless service to others.

Prayers to Blessed Teresa of Calcutta

O Blessed Teresa of Calcutta, you dedicated your life to serving the poor, the sick, and the dying. You showed us the face of Christ in the most marginalized of our society. Through your example, you taught us the true meaning of compassion and selflessness.
We ask for your intercession as we strive to follow your example and live out the Gospel in our own lives. Help us to see the Christ in those around us, especially those who are suffering and in need. Give us the strength and courage to serve others as you did, with love, humility and generosity.

We ask that through your powerful intercession, we may come closer to Jesus and grow in holiness, to be able to better serve our brothers and sisters with love. Amen

Dear Blessed Teresa of Calcutta, through your dedication and work, you helped countless people in the most dire circumstances, and showed us all the beauty and dignity of every human life. You taught us to look beyond our own needs, to love and serve our neighbour as ourselves.
We ask that you intercede for us as we try to live a life of charity and selflessness. We pray for the strength to be of service to the poor and suffering, and for the courage to stand up for the rights of the marginalized, as you did.

We ask that your example may help us to love unconditionally, to give freely and to serve wholeheartedly, just as you have done. Please continue to guide us and bless us as we strive to follow your example of love and service. Amen

Popular Blessed Teresa of Calcutta Medal and Blessed Teresa of Calcutta Rosary

Blessed Teresa of Calcutta: Patron Saint of the Poor and Dying

Mother Teresa, also known as Blessed Teresa of Calcutta, is the patron saint of the poor and dying. This is because of her tireless work and dedication to serving the poor and sick in the slums of Calcutta, India. She spent over 45 years of her life caring for the poor and sick, and her selflessness and compassion towards those in need is an inspiration to many.

Throughout her life, Mother Teresa was known for her deep devotion to Jesus and her love for the poor. She would often say that serving the poor was her way of serving Jesus himself. Her work with the poor and dying was not just about providing them with food and shelter, but also about showing them love and compassion. She would often say that “the poor are Jesus in disguise,” and she treated them with the same love and reverence that she would have shown Jesus himself.

Mother Teresa’s work with the poor and dying has had a profound impact on the world, and she is still remembered and celebrated as a saint today. Her legacy continues to inspire people to serve the poor and to live lives of compassion and selflessness. It is for these reasons that she is the patron saint of the poor and dying, and her example continues to inspire many people to serve others in need.

Papal Writings about Mother Teresa

Pope John Paul II, who canonized Mother Teresa as a saint in 2016, has spoken and written extensively about her throughout his papacy.

In his homily at her beatification in 2003, Pope John Paul II praised Mother Teresa for her “heroic virtues” and her “unfailing witness to the Gospel.” He said that her “generosity in the service of the poor, her freedom in the face of the powers of this world, her boundless love, and her complete self-abandonment to God” were an inspiration to all. He also highlighted her dedication to the poorest of the poor, saying that “she went out to the most abandoned, to the most forgotten, to the most discarded by society, to the poorest of the poor.”

In his canonization homily in 2016, Pope Francis emphasized Mother Teresa’s “radical commitment to the poor” and her “radical conformity to Jesus.” He said that she “made her own the suffering of Jesus on the cross” and “became a mother to the poor, to the sick, to the abandoned, to the dying.” He also praised her for her humility and her “simple and strong faith.”

Pope Francis also wrote a letter to the Missionaries of Charity, the congregation founded by Mother Teresa, in which he said, “Mother Teresa, in all aspects of her life, was a generous dispenser of divine mercy, making herself available for everyone through her welcome and defense of human life, those unborn and those abandoned and discarded.” He also praised her for her “unconditional love for the poorest of the poor” and her “firm conviction that, in them, she met Jesus Christ.”

Overall, both Pope John Paul II and Pope Francis have spoken highly of Mother Teresa’s selfless service to the poor and her deep devotion to Jesus. They have both highlighted her work with the poor and dying and praised her for her humility, compassion, and dedication to serving others. They both recognize her as an exceptional example of a person who lived her life in the service of others, and as a model of holiness.

Homily reflection on the feast of Mother Teresa

The feast day of Mother Teresa of Calcutta is September 5th.

Today, we celebrate the feast of Teresa of Calcutta, also known as Mother Teresa. She is a shining example of selflessness and dedication to serving others, especially the poor and marginalized.

Mother Teresa dedicated her entire life to helping the poor and sick, and her work continues to inspire people all over the world to this day. She was known for her deep compassion and love for all people, regardless of their background or circumstances.

In her homilies and speeches, Mother Teresa often spoke about the importance of serving others and the joy that comes from helping those in need. She said, “I am a little pencil in the hand of a writing God who is sending a love letter to the world.” This is a powerful reminder that we are all called to be instruments of God’s love and compassion in the world.

As we reflect on the life of Mother Teresa, let us remember her words and her example. Let us strive to be like her, a pencil in the hand of a writing God, and to serve others with love and compassion. Let us be instruments of peace and love in our families, in our communities, and in the world.

May God bless us as we follow in the footsteps of Mother Teresa and may her example inspire us to love and serve others with all our hearts. Amen.

 

Miracles attributed to Mother Teresa

1. The healing of a woman with a tumor in her abdomen in 1998.
2. The healing of a man with a brain abscess in 2008.
3. The healing of a woman with a tumor in her stomach in 2008.
4. The healing of a man with a brain tumor in 2008.
5. The healing of a woman with chronic anemia in 2008.
6. The healing of a man with a spinal cord injury in 2008.
7. The healing of a woman with a lung infection in 2008.
8. The healing of a man with a heart condition in 2008.
9. The healing of a woman with a kidney ailment in 2008.
10. The miraculous cure of a man suffering from stomach cancer in 2008.

It’s worth noting that these miracles have been attributed to Mother Teresa by the Catholic Church, and have undergone a process of investigation and validation to be considered as such.

 

Lessons learned from the life of Mother Teresa

Mother Teresa, also known as Saint Teresa of Calcutta, was a Catholic nun who dedicated her life to serving the poor and sick. She is widely considered one of the most selfless and compassionate individuals of the 20th century. Here are a few lessons that can be learned from her life:

1. The power of empathy: Mother Teresa was known for her ability to connect with those who were suffering. She would often spend hours listening to the stories of the people she was helping, and through this, she was able to understand and alleviate their suffering.

2. The importance of selfless service: Mother Teresa devoted her entire life to serving others, often at great personal sacrifice. She taught us that true fulfillment comes from giving of ourselves to others, rather than seeking personal gain.

3. The value of perseverance: Mother Teresa faced many challenges throughout her life, including poverty, illness, and criticism. However, she never wavered in her commitment to her mission. She taught us the importance of persevering through difficult times in order to achieve our goals.

4. The beauty of simplicity: Mother Teresa lived a simple life, free from material possessions and unnecessary luxuries. She showed us that true happiness and fulfillment can be found in the simple things in life.

5. The power of love and compassion: Mother Teresa’s love and compassion for others was truly remarkable. She taught us that even small acts of kindness can have a profound impact on the lives of others.

Overall, Mother Teresa’s life serves as an inspiration for us to be more compassionate and selfless in our own lives. She reminded us that the greatest way to be happy is to make others happy.

Saints Similar to Blessed Teresa of Calcutta

You may also be interested in reading the Biography of St. Vincent de Paul and the Biography of Blessed Teresa of Calcutta. Both Blessed Teresa of Calcutta and St. Vincent de Paul had a deep commitment to serving the poor and the marginalized. They founded religious orders dedicated to charitable work, with St. Vincent de Paul founding the Vincentians and Blessed Teresa founding the Missionaries of Charity. St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta, also known as Mother Teresa, continued the mission of caring for the poorest of the poor in Calcutta, India. Next up: Biography of John the Baptist

 

Also check out our handmade Blessed Teresa of Calcutta Medal and Blessed Teresa of Calcutta Rosary Bracelet and Blessed Teresa of Calcutta Medal.