Mother Teresa ( 1910 – 1997 ) was a Roman Catholic nun who devoted her life to serving the poor and destitute around the world . She spent many years in Calcutta , India where she founded the Missionaries of Charity , a religious congregation devoted to helping those in great need . In 1979 , Mother Teresa was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize and became a symbol of charitable , selfless work . In 2016 , Mother Teresa was canonised by the Roman Catholic Church as Saint Teresa .
“ It is not how much we do , but how much love we put in the doing . It is not how much we give , but how much love we put in the giving .” – Mother Teresa
Mother Teresa was born in 1910 in Skopje , the capital of the Republic of Macedonia . Little is known about her early life , but at a young age , she felt a calling to be a nun and serve through helping the poor . At the age of 18 , she was given permission to join a group of nuns in Ireland . After a few months of training , with the Sisters of Loreto , she was then given permission to travel to India . She took her formal religious vows in 1931 and chose to be named after St Therese of Lisieux – the patron saint of missionaries . On her arrival in India , she began by working as a teacher ; however , the widespread poverty of Calcutta made a deep impression on her , and this led to her starting a new order called “ The Missionaries of Charity ”. The primary objective of this mission was to look after people , who nobody else was prepared to look after . Mother Teresa felt that serving others was a fundamental principle of the teachings of Jesus Christ . She often mentioned the saying of Jesus ,
“ Whatever you do to the least of my brethren , you do it to me .” As Mother Teresa said herself : “ Love cannot remain by itself – it has no meaning . Love has to be put into action , and that action is service .” – Mother Teresa
She experienced two particularly traumatic periods in Calcutta . The first was the Bengal famine of 1943 and the second was the Hindu / Muslim violence in 1946 , before the partition of India . In 1948 , she left the convent to live full-time among the poorest of Calcutta . She chose to wear a white Indian sari , with a blue border , out of respect for the traditional Indian dress . For many years , Mother Teresa and a small band of fellow nuns survived on minimal income and food , often having to beg for funds . But , slowly her efforts with the poorest were noted and appreciated by the local community and Indian politicians .
In 1952 , she opened her first home for the dying , which allowed people to die with dignity . Mother Teresa often spent time with those who were dying . Some have criticised the lack of proper medical attention , and their refusal to give painkillers . Others say that it afforded many neglected people the opportunity to die knowing that someone cared .
Her work spread around the world . By 2013 , there were 700 missions operating in over 130 countries . The scope of their work also expanded to include orphanages and hospices for those with terminal illnesses .
“ Not all of us can do great things . But we can do small things with great love .” - Mother Teresa
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Team Talk
Tribute - Mother Teresa
Mother Teresa ( 1910 – 1997 ) was a Roman Catholic nun who devoted her life to serving the poor and destitute around the world . She spent many years in Calcutta , India where she founded the Missionaries of Charity , a religious congregation devoted to helping those in great need . In 1979 , Mother Teresa was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize and became a symbol of charitable , selfless work . In 2016 , Mother Teresa was canonised by the Roman Catholic Church as Saint Teresa .
“ It is not how much we do , but how much love we put in the doing . It is not how much we give , but how much love we put in the giving .” – Mother Teresa
Mother Teresa was born in 1910 in Skopje , the capital of the Republic of Macedonia . Little is known about her early life , but at a young age , she felt a calling to be a nun and serve through helping the poor . At the age of 18 , she was given permission to join a group of nuns in Ireland . After a few months of training , with the Sisters of Loreto , she was then given permission to travel to India . She took her formal religious vows in 1931 and chose to be named after St Therese of Lisieux – the patron saint of missionaries . On her arrival in India , she began by working as a teacher ; however , the widespread poverty of Calcutta made a deep impression on her , and this led to her starting a new order called “ The Missionaries of Charity ”. The primary objective of this mission was to look after people , who nobody else was prepared to look after . Mother Teresa felt that serving others was a fundamental principle of the teachings of Jesus Christ . She often mentioned the saying of Jesus ,
“ Whatever you do to the least of my brethren , you do it to me .” As Mother Teresa said herself : “ Love cannot remain by itself – it has no meaning . Love has to be put into action , and that action is service .” – Mother Teresa
She experienced two particularly traumatic periods in Calcutta . The first was the Bengal famine of 1943 and the second was the Hindu / Muslim violence in 1946 , before the partition of India . In 1948 , she left the convent to live full-time among the poorest of Calcutta . She chose to wear a white Indian sari , with a blue border , out of respect for the traditional Indian dress . For many years , Mother Teresa and a small band of fellow nuns survived on minimal income and food , often having to beg for funds . But , slowly her efforts with the poorest were noted and appreciated by the local community and Indian politicians .
In 1952 , she opened her first home for the dying , which allowed people to die with dignity . Mother Teresa often spent time with those who were dying . Some have criticised the lack of proper medical attention , and their refusal to give painkillers . Others say that it afforded many neglected people the opportunity to die knowing that someone cared .
Her work spread around the world . By 2013 , there were 700 missions operating in over 130 countries . The scope of their work also expanded to include orphanages and hospices for those with terminal illnesses .
“ Not all of us can do great things . But we can do small things with great love .” - Mother Teresa