Mother Teresa

Mother Teresa, born Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu on August 26, 1910, in Skopje, now the capital of North Macedonia, would become one of the most iconic and beloved figures in the history of humanity. Growing up in a devout Catholic family, she discovered her calling to serve others at a young age. At the age of 18, she left home to join the Sisters of Loreto, an Irish community of nuns with missions in India, where she took the name Sister Mary Teresa after Saint Thérèse of Lisieux.

Arriving in India in 1929, Mother Teresa began her novitiate in Darjeeling and soon moved to Calcutta, where she took her formal vows as a nun in 1931. For almost 20 years, she taught geography and catechism at St. Mary's High School in Calcutta, becoming the school's principal in 1944. However, her experiences teaching and witnessing the poverty and suffering of the people outside the convent walls led her to seek a more direct and impactful way to help those in need.

In 1948, Mother Teresa received what she described as a "call within a call" during a train journey to Darjeeling. She felt a deep spiritual urge to serve the poorest of the poor, the sick, and the dying. Leaving the Loreto convent, she walked out into the slums of Calcutta with no resources but a heart full of love and compassion. In 1950, she established the Missionaries of Charity, a congregation dedicated to caring for "the hungry, the naked, the homeless, the crippled, the blind, the lepers, all those people who feel unwanted, unloved, uncared for throughout society, people that have become a burden to the society and are shunned by everyone."

One of Mother Teresa's most remarkable achievements was the establishment of Nirmal Hriday (Pure Heart), a home for the sick and the dying, in 1952. It was here that the first sisters of Missionaries of Charity began their work among the poorest of the poor in Calcutta. The mission's primary aim was to provide physical, emotional, and spiritual care for those who had been abandoned or rejected by society. The Sisters would clean and dress the wounds of the sick, feed and comfort the dying, and offer them a dignified and peaceful end to their lives.

As Mother Teresa's reputation for selfless service grew, so did the Missionaries of Charity's reach. The congregation expanded its activities beyond the borders of India, establishing homes, orphanages, schools, and medical clinics in countries around the world. Mother Teresa's tireless dedication to the destitute and suffering earned her international recognition and numerous awards, including the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979.

Despite her fame and the accolades she received, Mother Teresa remained humble and committed to her mission until her passing on September 5, 1997. Her legacy lives on through the continued work of the Missionaries of Charity, who serve the poorest of the poor in more than 130 countries. Mother Teresa's unwavering devotion to the most vulnerable members of society continues to inspire people of all faiths and backgrounds to this day.