Table of Contents
Introduction
“Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love.”
Have you ever felt an undeniable urge to change the world? A moment in time when something within you just clicks, and your purpose becomes crystal clear? That’s exactly how Anjezë Gonxhe Bojaxhiu, who would later become known as Mother Teresa, experienced her divine calling. But unlike many of us, her call didn’t come in a moment of triumph or success—it came in a moment of loss.
Born on August 26, 1910, in Skopje (modern-day North Macedonia), Anjezë Gonxhe Bojaxhiu was raised in a devout Catholic Albanian family. Her early life, marked by love, faith, and the teachings of her mother, was shaped by a deep sense of charity. Yet it was the death of her father, when Anjezë was just eight years old, that profoundly altered her life’s course. After his passing, she felt a divine calling like no other, a calling that would drive her to dedicate herself completely to the service of the poor and the suffering.
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The Call To Serve: A Journey Of Transformation
The death of Anjezë’s father left a void in her young life, but it also became a turning point. She began to seek a greater purpose beyond the boundaries of her family and community. At the age of 12, she began to feel a spiritual call that was not just a fleeting thought, but a powerful force compelling her to dedicate her life to serving others. As she reflected later, “I felt the call to serve, and I knew that God had a plan for me.”
At 18, Anjezë made the decision to leave her home and join the Sisters of Loreto, an Irish Catholic order, which marked the beginning of her life’s mission. It was here that she took the name Sister Teresa, a name that would become synonymous with compassion and selfless service.
By 1929, Sister Teresa had made her way to Calcutta (now Kolkata), India, where she began teaching at a convent school. However, it was the glaring poverty surrounding her that caused her mission to evolve. She could not ignore the suffering of the poor in the streets just outside the convent walls. But it was not until 1946, during a train journey to Darjeeling, that she experienced what she would later describe as a “call within a call.” During that journey, she heard a divine whisper, one that urged her to leave her comfortable life at the convent and go to the poorest, to serve those in greatest need.
In her own words: “I heard the call to give up all and follow Christ into the slums to serve Him among the poorest of the poor.” This powerful spiritual moment would define her life and lead her to her true calling: not only to serve but to live among those she sought to help.
Founding The Missionaries Of Charity: A Lifelong Mission Of Service
In 1950, Sister Teresa founded the Missionaries of Charity, an order dedicated to serving “the unwanted, unloved, and uncared for.” This decision was not just a response to the immense need she saw around her—it was a divine command. The order’s work was focused on providing free, wholehearted service to the poorest of the poor. Members of the order, including Mother Teresa herself, took vows of poverty, chastity, obedience, and the special vow of serving the most marginalized communities on Earth.
One of the first and most significant initiatives was the establishment of Nirmal Hriday (Pure Heart) in 1952. This hospice, created in an abandoned Hindu temple, provided terminally ill patients a place to die with dignity, surrounded by love. Mother Teresa famously stated, “A beautiful death is for people who lived like animals to die like angels—loved and wanted.” The hospice became a symbol of hope for the dying, and it was just the beginning of her work that would span the globe.
Her charity work did not stop there. Mother Teresa also founded Shanti Nagar (City of Peace), a center for people with leprosy, offering medical treatment and social support. In doing so, she helped to reduce the stigma surrounding this debilitating disease. Her holistic approach to care, addressing not only the physical needs but the emotional and spiritual well-being of the poor, became the hallmark of her mission.
A Legacy Of Humility & Global Recognition
As the Missionaries of Charity expanded, so did the recognition of Mother Teresa’s tireless efforts. She was awarded numerous accolades throughout her life. In 1962, she received India’s Padma Shri, and in 1979, she was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for her work with the poor. When accepting the Nobel Peace Prize, she humbly stated: “I am unworthy. I accept the prize in the name of the poor.” Her humility, even in the face of such international acclaim, reflected her unwavering commitment to her mission.
Mother Teresa’s words at the Nobel Prize ceremony spoke to her core belief: that her work was never about herself but about serving others. Her acceptance speech was not about her own accomplishments but about the millions of people who felt unloved, unwanted, and abandoned. Her philosophy was simple yet profound: “Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love.”
In addition to the Nobel Prize, she was awarded India’s Bharat Ratna in 1980, one of the highest civilian honors in the country. Yet, even with the recognition, Mother Teresa remained focused on her mission, never seeking personal glory but always aiming to serve the poor and suffering.
However, the most unique tribute came years after her passing. In 2010, the Reserve Bank of India issued a 5-rupee commemorative coin in honor of Mother Teresa’s contributions to humanity. The coin was designed to symbolize her life’s mission—humble yet profound, rooted in love, service, and humility. This coin serves not only as a tangible tribute to her legacy but as a reminder of the small yet powerful acts of kindness she embodied throughout her life. The coin’s release was a global acknowledgment of her transformative impact, as it symbolized the values she upheld—compassion, sacrifice, and a relentless commitment to the poor.
Spiritual Struggles & The Power Of Faith
Despite her outward success, Mother Teresa’s spiritual journey was not without its struggles. In fact, after years of dedicated service, letters revealed that she experienced what she described as a “dark night of the soul.” In her personal writings, she admitted to feeling disconnected from God for much of her life. She often questioned whether God was present in her work and her suffering.
Yet, she did not falter. Her belief in her calling remained steadfast. In her darkest moments, she embraced the suffering as a way of sharing in the pain of Christ. She once said, “I want to do the will of God, not my own will.” Mother Teresa’s unwavering commitment to serving the poor, despite her own doubts and struggles, became one of the most powerful examples of faith and perseverance in the modern world.
Challenges & Controversies: The Other Side Of The Story
Mother Teresa’s work, while celebrated globally, was not without its critics. Some questioned the quality of care provided in her facilities, especially given her firm belief in the power of love and dignity over medical intervention. Others criticized her strong anti-abortion stance, which she described as “the greatest destroyer of peace.”
For Mother Teresa, however, the focus was always on the human soul. She believed that no matter the condition of the body, every person deserved dignity and love. As she once stated, “The hunger for love is much more difficult to remove than the hunger for bread.” While some may have disagreed with her approach, for Mother Teresa, the act of showing love was far more important than any other form of intervention.
The Enduring Legacy Of A Saint
When Mother Teresa passed away on September 5, 1997, she left behind a monumental legacy. In 2016, she was canonized as Saint Teresa of Calcutta by Pope Francis, ensuring her place as an icon of both Catholicism and humanitarian work. Her life continues to inspire millions of people around the world, transcending religion, culture, and background.
Mother Teresa’s legacy is a reminder that small acts of love, performed with great dedication, can change the world. Whether it’s a smile, a helping hand, or offering a meal to a stranger, these small gestures can have a profound impact on the lives of others.
Conclusion
As we reflect on the life of Mother Teresa, we are reminded that true greatness does not come from wealth or fame, but from selfless service. Her life teaches us that the most powerful force in the world is love, and even the smallest acts of kindness can have a ripple effect that changes the world.
So, here’s the question: What is your divine calling? Just as Mother Teresa felt the call to serve, perhaps there is a cause, a person, or a community that is waiting for your love and support. What small thing can you do today to make a difference?
References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mother_Teresa
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Mother-Teresa
https://www.francisxavier.ac.in/blog/mother-teresa-a-life-time-of-compassion-and-service-to-humanity
FAQs
Q How did Mother Teresa’s compassion impact the lives of the impoverished?
Mother Teresa’s compassion led to the establishment of the Missionaries of Charity, providing essential support and care for the poorest of the poor, significantly improving their quality of life and offering them hope.
Q What motivated Mother Teresa’s relentless commitment to humanitarian work?
Mother Teresa was motivated by her deep faith and belief in the inherent dignity of every human being, which drove her to serve the needy with unwavering compassion and dedication throughout her life.
Q In what ways did Mother Teresa’s actions inspire global humanitarian efforts?
Mother Teresa’s actions highlighted the importance of compassion and service, inspiring countless individuals and organisations worldwide to engage in humanitarian efforts and advocate for social justice, thereby changing the global perception of charity work.
