Saint Teresa of Calcutta, or Mother Teresa as she is commonly known, is probably one of the most easily identifiable saints of the Catholic Church. Her diminutive form and iconic white and blue habit were photographed and published thousands of times over the course of her life. Yet for all her publicity and visibility, there is much about Mother Teresa’s life that remains unknown to most Catholics.
So, who was this amazing woman and how can we celebrate her upcoming feast day?
Childhood and Early Life
Though she is most associated with India, the country she ministered in for so long, Mother Teresa was actually from Albania. Born Anjezë Gonxhe in August 1910, the girl who would grow up to become a saint was always fascinated by the lives of missionaries.
At age 18, she left home to join the Sisters of Loreto in Ireland. It was there that she learned English with the hope of becoming a missionary in India, which, of course, happened. While in India, she taught at a local school, learned Bengali, and took her first religious vows. She asked to be named Therese after the patroness of missionaries, but there was already another sister in her convent by that name, so she used the Spanish spelling and became Teresa.
Mother Teresa
After taking her final vows, Sr. Teresa became Mother Teresa, which was the custom of the Sisters of Loreto. Though she loved teaching, Mother Teresa found herself increasingly concerned by the poverty and violence that surrounded her in Calcutta.
While on a train ride, Mother Teresa felt the call of Jesus to serve the poor. She would later refer to this as a “call within a call.” She asked for and received permission to leave the Sisters of Loreto, and in 1950 she founded the Missionaries of Charity.
Missionaries of Charity
Clothed in a simple white sari with a blue border, Mother Teresa became an Indian citizen and went through medical training at a local hospital. After that she became a fixture in the slums of Calcutta, ministering to the poor, the sick, and the hungry alongside the women who came to join them. They opened hospices, schools, and hospitals, alongside orphanages and leper houses.
Among many other honors and accolades, Mother Teresa received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979. She refused the traditional banquet for laureates and asked that the money be spent on the poor in India.
After a long and full life of service, Mother Teresa died on September 5, 1997. She was mourned throughout the world by Catholics and non-Catholics alike. Canonized in 2006, she has become a powerful intercessor and patron saint to many, and, was even part of the inspiration for the creation of Brother Francis!
Ways to celebrate Mother Teresa
There are many ways to celebrate this beautiful saint.
- If your family has the time and opportunity to visit one of the convents of the Missionaries of Charity, I highly recommend it. If you can’t visit, take the time to learn more about the order.
- Look at photos or watch a video of one of Mother Teresa’s speeches. I love the chance to make a saint more real to my kids using modern technology.
- Eat Indian food and learn about the country that she poured her heart and soul into.
- Check out this article for more ways to honor Mother Teresa.
Colleen Pressprich is a homeschooling mom of five and the author of Marian Consecration for Families with Young Children, The Women Doctors of the Church, The Jesse Tree For Families, and God the Father’s Love: A Journey Through Scripture for Catholic Families. You can learn more about her, order her books, and read more of her writing at elevatortoheaven.com.
