Mother Teresa of Calcutta: Her Life, Work & Beatification

On Mother Teresa and her missionary work

Facts on Blessed Teresa of Calcutta

Mother Teresa of Calcutta has won the heart of the world by her missionary work among the "poorest of the poor" in Calcutta, India. Written here are some facts about her and her missionary work.

A second vocation

Before Mother Teresa discovered her call to a "second vocation", she was a member of a teaching congregation of sisters - the Sisters of Our Lady of Loreto in Ireland. It was said that while she was teaching at Calcutta to middle-class girls at Saint Mary's High School, she peered out the window of the school and saw the poor of Calcutta. That was one of the turning points of her vocational crisis. Eventually, it was while in a train ride that she felt the call to serve the "poorest of the poor" in Calcutta. On August 16, 1948 A.D., she left her congregation to follow her "second" call. This was a major turning point that soon paved the way for her to receive the honor of the title, "the living saint".

Herewith is a list of important facts and highlights in the life and missionary work of Mother Teresa

1910 A.D.: She was born Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu on August 26 in Skopje, of Albanian parents. Her father, Nikolle, had a construction supply store. When he died, Drana Bernai, her mother supported the family by engaging in dressmaking.

1928 A.D.: She arrives in India to join a convent school in Calcutta, administered by the Sisters of Our Lady of Loreto

1931 A.D.: Agnes makes her religious profession of chastity, poverty and obedience on May 25, taking the name Teresa, after Saint Therese of Lisieux.

1946 A.D.: Mother Teresa is inspired to set up her own home to help the poor and sick of Calcutta

1948 A.D.: She becomes an Indian citizen

1950 A.D.: Mother Teresa sets up the Missionaries of Charity

1960 A.D.: Mother Teresa makes her first trip outside India. Her trip eventually led her to visit London where she was interviewed by Malcolm Muggeridge, who convinced the BBC to make a documentary of her work. The program thus produced, plus a later biography, "Something Beautiful for God", would make her world-famous.

1965 A.D.: On February 1, the Vatican granted the Missionaries of Charity official approval.

1971 A.D.: Awarded the Pope John Peace Prize

1979 A.D.: Awarded the Nobel Peace Prize

1980 A.D.: Mother Teresa is bestowed India's highest civilian honor, the Bharat Ratna.

1989 A.D.: She suffers heart trouble and is fitted with a pacemaker

1990 A.D.: She is asked to stand down as head of the order but is voted back in as superior general.

1991 A.D.: Undergoes heart surgery in the United States.

1993 A.D.: Further surgery in Calcutta is performed to clear a blocked heart vessel.

1994 A.D.: Pope John Paul II persuades Mother Teresa to continue as head of the order.

1996 A.D.: She suffers heart failure on August 22. Her heart stops beating for around two minutes but she is resuscitated. She later has a heart attack and undergoes further surgery to clear her heart arteries.

1997 A.D.: On March 13, Sister Nirmala is elected to succeed Mother Teresa as head of the Missionaries of Charity. On May 16, Mother Teresa sets off on a nine-week tour of Europe and the United States to introduce her successor to the Pope. She then becomes embroiled in a dispute over a television film of her life which she says glamorizes her work. She then dies in Calcutta on September 5, at age 87.

Mother Teresa died having written to her Sisters, "Love for Jesus in prayer, love for Jesus in your brothers and sisters, love for Jesus in the poorest of the poor. Nothing else."

Because of Mother Teresa's commitment to the "poorest of the poor", her Order has expanded throughout the world - running hospices, treatment centers, and hospitals and caring for the abandoned, the aged, and the homeless.

In October 19, 2003 A.D., Pope John Paul II celebrated the solemn eucharistic liturgy for the beatification of Mother Teresa of Calcutta. This is one step before she is declared a saint in the universal Church.

Memorial of Saints (October 23)

St. John of Capistrano had a high education, was appointed Governor of Perugia, and married a rich and beautiful woman. In 1416 A.D., during the war between Perugia and the Malatestas, he was imprisoned. This experience led him to separate from his wife and become a Franciscan. Ordained in 1420 A.D., he became an excellent preacher. In 1456 A.D., he was commissioned by the Pope to preach a Crusade against the Turks. St. John recruited 70,000 Christian men, and led them to a victorious battle against the Turks. Three months later, he caught a deadly infection that caused his death (died ca. 1456 A.D.).

St. Severinus Boethius was orphaned as a child, but since his family was renowned, he received an excellent education and made a good marriage. Severinus was an excellent scholar, knowledgeable in many subjects. He wrote the theological treatise, "De sancta Trinitate". He was however caught up in the fight between the Ostrogoth rulers and Eastern Emperor Justin. Imprisoned, he took the opportunity to write "The Consolation of Philosophy". After his imprisonment, he was tortured and executed. St. Severinus Boethius is considered the first of the scholastics and had great influence in the Middle Ages (died ca. 524 A.D.).

St. Theodoret was a priest at Antioch who refused to surrender the sacred church vessels to Prefect Julian of the East. He was arrested, and also charged with destroying the statues of pagan gods. In retaliation, St. Theodoret denounced the Prefect for his apostasy. The Prefect then condemned Theodoret to death and had him beheaded. Before his martyrdom, Theodoret predicted that Julian would die painfully. The prophecy came true, and Prefect Julian died in agony (died ca. 362 A.D.).

St. Severinus, also known as Seurin, became bishop of Trier in Gaul. In about 405 A.D., he was named to the see of Bordeaux. It was here in Bordeaux that he became known for his zealous opposition to Arianism - the heresy that believed Christ is only man and not God. Severinus spent his last years in Bordeaux (died ca. 420 A.D.).

St. Romanus of Rouen was from a Frankish family and raised in the court of Clotaire II. In ca. 630 A.D., he was named bishop of Rouen. He did many things as bishop of Rouen: he worked to convert his people from idolatry; he ministered to criminals condemned to death; and he was known to have performed many miracles (died ca. 640 A.D.)

St. Ignatius of Constantinople and his brother were exiled to a monastery when their father, a Byzantine Emperor, was deposed by Leo the Armenian in 813 A.D. Ignatius grew up in the monastery and eventually became one of its abbots. Because of the political conflicts of that time, Ignatius was involved in an extended factional struggle in both the Church and the Empire. With all these political involvements, St. Igantius of Constantinople still pursued a road to sanctity and was very much recognized for his holiness (died ca. 877 A.D.)

St. Allucio was a shepherd in his native Pescia, Tuscany in Italy. He then became director of the almshouse in Valdi Nievole and built shelters at river crossings and mountain passes. These structures were eventually managed by young men who became known as the Brothers of St. Allucio. Allucio was also noted to have created an accord between the warring states of Ravenna and Faenza (died ca. 1134 A.D.)

29th Sunday of the Year (A)

(Edited) Sunday reflections: (From) liturgical years 2014 (A), 2015 (B), and 2016 (C)

October 19, 2014
Liturgical readings
Isaiah 45:1, 4-6
Psalm 96
1 Thessalonians 1:1-5b
Matthew 22:15-21

"Lord, we know you teach God's way sincerely."

The Lord teaches God's way with a hierarchy of values different from the Pharisees. The Pharisees teach that what matters is their Hebraic Law, which they see as above all; but, for Christ, the Father's love and His mercy is what is really greater than the Law. This Hebraic Law (all laws given by God through Moses and Jewish tradition) emphasizes the importance of rituals and liturgical legalities. So as the Pharisees tell Jesus that He does not follow the Law, Jesus defends Himself by saying that He came to fulfill the Law: to make His Spirit the law that frees man from sin and evil. It is a law not only based on Jewish legalities but a Law that is engraved in the heart of man. It is a Law based on faith in Christ.

When Jesus teaches from this perspective, the Pharisees and the Herodians of His time became increasingly hostile to His leadership. So these Jewish leaders try all means and ways to trap Him. One way they have done this is what the gospel presents this Sunday. The gospel shows how Jesus eludes the trap set by the Pharisees with the answer that obeying God need not conflict with the demands of the State (i.e., with Caesar and his taxation laws). His pronouncement of "give to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's", makes one realize that following God's will need not necessarily conflict with the laws of a State. All that is necessary is to know what ought to be the focus of one's life and do what is required by the State.

The laws of any State are meant to bring order, peace and harmony to all individuals, families and institutions. This order brings basic services to the people, with respect to specific cultural differences. The laws of the Church has a mission to do the same, and much more: she teaches something universally true for all cultures. The Church follows Christ and acts as His light for the world - illuminating and guiding all the faithful with universal norms and truths. She provides the knowledge and wisdom to discern how each of the faithful should "give to Caesar what is Caesar's, [and] to give to God what is God's" (through her social encyclicals). It takes discipline to follow the counsel of Jesus, and to keep to a moral balance in one's relationship with both the Church and the State. Once the discipline is learned, one can live in a right relationship to God and the laws of the State.

Scripture quote:
"Give to Caesar what is Caesar's, but give to God what is God's." (Matthew 22)