Mother Teresa never sought to convert those of another faith. Those in her hospices were given the
religious rites appropriate to their faith. However, she had a very firm Catholic faith and took a strict line on
abortion, the death penalty and divorce – even if her position was unpopular. Her whole life was influenced
by her faith and religion, even though at times she confessed she didn’t feel the presence of God.
The Missionaries of Charity now has branches throughout the world including branches in the developed
world where they work with the homeless and people affected by AIDS. In 1965, the organisation became
an International Religious Family by a decree of Pope Paul VI.
In the 1960s, the life of Mother Teresa was brought to a wider public attention by Malcolm Muggeridge
who wrote a book and produced a documentary called “Something Beautiful for God”.
In 1979, she was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize “for work undertaken in the struggle to overcome poverty
and distress, which also constitutes a threat to peace.” She didn’t attend the ceremonial banquet but asked
that the $192,000 fund be given to the poor.
In later years, she was more active in western developed countries. She commented that though the West
was materially prosperous, there was often a spiritual poverty.
“The hunger for love is much more difficult to remove than the hunger for bread.”
-—
Mother Teresa
When she was asked how to promote world peace, she replied, "Go home and love your family”.
Over the last two decades of her life, Mother Teresa suffered various health problems, but nothing could
dissuade her from fulfilling her mission of serving the poor and needy. Until her very last illness she was
active in travelling around the world to the different branches of The Missionaries of Charity. During her
last few years, she met Princess Diana in the Bronx, New York. The two died within a week of each other.
Following Mother Teresa’s death, the Vatican began the process of beatification, which is the second step on
the way to canonization and sainthood.
Mother Teresa was formally beatified in October 2003 by Pope John Paul II. In September 2015, Pope
Francis declared:
“Mother Teresa, in all aspects of her life, was a generous dispenser of divine mercy, making herself
available for everyone through her welcome and defense of human life, those unborn and those abandoned
and discarded,”
“She bowed down before those who were spent, left to die on the side of the road, seeing in them their God-
given dignity. She made her voice heard before the powers of this world, so that they might recognize their
guilt for the crime of poverty they created.”
Mother Teresa was a living saint who offered a great example and inspiration to the world.
Awards given to Mother Teresa
• The first Pope John XXIII Peace Prize. (1971)
• Kennedy Prize (1971)
• The Nehru Prize –“for the promotion of international peace and understanding”(1972)
• Albert Schweitzer International Prize (1975),
• The Nobel Peace Prize (1979)
• States Presidential Medal of Freedom (1985)
• Congressional Gold Medal (1994)
• U Thant Peace Award 1994
• Honorary citizenship of the United States (November 16, 1996),
Citation: Pettinger, Tejvan. “Biography of Mother Teresa”, Oxford,
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Psalm 103:12
“As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us.”