Mother Teresa

The Saint of the Gutters

Anjezë grew up in a devout Catholic family and felt a calling to a religious life from a very young age. At 18, she left her home to join the Sisters of Loreto in Rathfarnham, Ireland. A year later, she was sent to Darjeeling, India, to begin her novitiate. She took her first vows as a nun in 1931, choosing the name Teresa after St. Thérèse of Lisieux, the patron saint of missionaries.

In 1937, she took her final vows and became a teacher at St. Mary's High School in Calcutta (now Kolkata). For nearly 20 years, she taught history and geography, eventually becoming the school's principal. While she loved her work, the immense poverty she witnessed just outside the convent walls deeply troubled her. The sight of sickness, destitution, and death on the streets of Calcutta became a profound source of distress.

"The Call Within a Call"

On September 10, 1946, while on a train journey to Darjeeling for a retreat, Mother Teresa experienced what she later described as a "call within a call." She felt a divine calling to leave her teaching position and dedicate herself to serving the sick and poor. This experience was not a simple decision; it was a profound spiritual directive to live among the impoverished and to minister to them directly.

This "call" led her to leave the convent and, after two years of training, she began her new mission. In 1948, she started a new life, dressed in a simple, inexpensive white sari with a blue border, the same attire she would wear for the rest of her life. She began by opening a small, informal school for poor children in a Calcutta slum.

Mother Teresa: The Saint of the Gutters

The Missionaries of Charity

Inspired by her mission, a few of her former students joined her, and together they laid the foundation for the Missionaries of Charity. The organization was officially established in 1950, with the goal of caring for those "who nobody else is prepared to look after." The work was difficult and often heartbreaking, but the sisters tirelessly worked to provide a sense of dignity to those who were dying on the streets.

The Missionaries of Charity's work expanded rapidly. Their first hospice, the Nirmal Hriday (Place for the Immaculate Heart), was a former Hindu temple where they took in the sick and dying from the streets. The sisters and volunteers provided them with medical care, food, and comfort in their final hours. The organization also established orphanages, schools, and homes for lepers and those with HIV/AIDS.

Global Recognition and Legacy

Mother Teresa's work brought her international fame. In 1979, she was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for her humanitarian efforts. In her acceptance speech, she emphasized the importance of love and compassion, saying, "The poor are our brothers and sisters, and they are crying out for love."

Her legacy is immense. The Missionaries of Charity now operates in over 130 countries, running hospices, soup kitchens, and orphanages. Mother Teresa was beatified by Pope John Paul II in 2003 and canonized as a saint by Pope Francis in 2016. While some critics have questioned her views on poverty and her management of donations, her profound impact on the lives of millions cannot be denied. She remains a symbol of selfless service and love for the forgotten and the downtrodden. 🕊️