Saint Teresa of Calcutta
Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu, the future Mother Teresa, was born on August 26, 1910, in Skopje, Albania, and was baptized as Gonxha Agnes. Since her childhood, she was taught by her parents to praise the Lord and help those in need. His journey of compassion and service to God and the underprivileged left a lasting mark on history.
A Call to Mission
At just eighteen years old, Agnes chose to become a missionary, guided by her desire to serve others. In September 1928, she entered the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Dublin, where she took the name Maria Theresa. A year later, her journey took her to India, where she taught at a congregational school for nearly two decades.
The Call Within the Call
On September 10, 1946, Mother Teresa experienced what she called her “call within a call.” On that day, Jesus called her to be a reflection of His Mercy in the face of indifference and contempt for the poor. This transformative experience led her to found the Missionaries of Charity and dedicate herself to the less privileged in Calcutta, wearing the Indian sari and embracing society's discarded people.
A Legacy of Love and Compassion
The Missionaries of Charity, founded by Mother Teresa, grew rapidly and spread throughout the world, offering love and assistance to those in need everywhere. His fraternal relationship with Popes Paul VI and John Paul II reflected his commitment to serving the most vulnerable. She opposed abortion, tirelessly defending the sanctity of unborn life.
Mother Teresa's Easter
Even in the last years of her life, fighting illness and the “dark night of the spirit”, Mother Teresa continued to dedicate herself to the needs of those most in need. She passed away on September 5, 1997 in Calcutta, leaving a legacy of mercy and charity.
Canonization and Lasting Legacy
The canonization of Mother Teresa was marked by a miracle involving a Brazilian diagnosed with hydrocephalus. Beatified in 2003 by Saint John Paul II and canonized in 2016 by Pope Francis, Mother Teresa continues to be an inspiring example of love, compassion and dedication to serving those in need.
Mother Teresa's legacy remains alive in the works of the Missionaries of Charity, present in hundreds of mission houses around the world. Its simple message, “I may not know how to speak your language, but I can smile,” echoes through the generations as an invitation to all of us to extend the hand of compassion to those less fortunate. Her life is a testament that small acts of love and charity can transform the world in profound and meaningful ways.