Mother Teresa, also known as Saint Teresa of Calcutta, is widely recognized for her selfless dedication to helping the poor and sick.
Born as Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu in Skopje, part of the Ottoman Empire (now North Macedonia), she devoted her life to serving others.
In 1929, at 18, she joined the Sisters of Loreto, and later in 1946, she moved to India, where she spent most of her life.
Mother Teresa’s Early Life
Mother Teresa, originally named Anjezë Gonxhe Bojaxhiu, was born on August 26, 1910, in Skopje, part of the Ottoman Empire at the time, now in North Macedonia.
She was the youngest child of Nikollë and Dranafile Bojaxhiu.
Her father passed away when she was eight years old.
Anjezë grew up in Skopje and later moved to Tirana with her family.
From a young age, Anjezë was drawn to stories of missionaries and their work in Bengal.
At the age of 12, she felt a strong calling to dedicate her life to religious service.
This calling became even stronger when she visited the shrine of the Black Madonna of Vitina-Letnice at the age of 15.
At 18, Anjezë left home to join the Sisters of Loreto in Ireland.
She went there to learn English because it was the language used by the Sisters of Loreto in India, where she wished to become a missionary.
She never saw her family again after leaving for Ireland.
In 1929, Anjezë arrived in India and began her training as a nun in Darjeeling.
She took her first vows in 1931 and chose the name Teresa, after Thérèse de Lisieux, the patron saint of missionaries.
Later, she took her solemn vows in 1937 while serving as a teacher at the Loreto convent school in Calcutta.
Throughout her early life, Mother Teresa felt a deep sense of compassion for the poor and disadvantaged, which ultimately led her to establish the Missionaries of Charity in 1950.
Call to India and the Missionaries of Charity
Mother Teresa felt a strong calling from God to serve in India when she was only 12 years old.
She followed this calling when she turned 18, leaving her home in Skopje to become a nun.
She joined the Sisters of Loreto and was sent to India to teach.
However, the poverty and suffering she witnessed in Calcutta deeply affected her.
In 1948, Mother Teresa received permission to leave her teaching position and work directly with the poor.
She began by starting an open-air school for children in the slums of Calcutta.
She also founded a home for the dying, a leper colony, and an orphanage.
These initiatives aimed to provide care and support to those who were most neglected by society.
Work with the Poor and Sick
In 1950, Mother Teresa officially founded the Missionaries of Charity, a religious congregation dedicated to helping the poorest and sickest people.
The Missionaries of Charity took vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience, and their main mission was to provide love and care to those who were suffering.
Throughout her life, Mother Teresa focused on providing comfort and care to the most impoverished and sick individuals.
She believed that everyone deserved dignity and compassion, regardless of their circumstances.
Her work with the Missionaries of Charity spread worldwide, touching the lives of countless people in need.
Awards and Recognition
Mother Teresa received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979 for her humanitarian work, which brought help to suffering humanity.
She also received various other honours and awards, such as the Jewel of India and the Gold Medal of the Soviet Peace Committee.
In 2016, Pope John Paul II canonized Mother Teresa, recognizing her exceptional contributions to humanity and her saintly life dedicated to serving others.
This act elevated her to the status of a saint within the Catholic Church.
Legacy
Mother Teresa’s work inspired countless individuals around the world to engage in charitable activities.
Through her dedication to serving the poorest of the poor, she left a lasting impact on society, promoting compassion and selfless service.
Conclusion
Mother Teresa, born Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu in 1910, devoted her life to serving the poorest of the poor.
From a young age, she felt called to help others, and at 18, she became a nun and moved to India.
There, she founded the Missionaries of Charity in 1950, a group dedicated to aiding those in need.
Throughout her life, Mother Teresa established schools, hospitals, and homes for the sick and dying, earning numerous awards for her humanitarian work.
She faced criticism for her views on abortion and contraception.
However, her unwavering commitment to serving the marginalized and vulnerable remains a source of inspiration worldwide.
Mother Teresa passed away in 1997, leaving behind a legacy of compassion and selflessness that continues to impact countless lives.
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