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Pictorial Presentation. “Mother Teresa, an icon of the Good Samaritan , went everywhere to serve Christ in the poorest of the poor. Not even conflict and war could stand in her way.” (Pope John Paul II in his homily at her Beatification, 19 October 2003). Family.
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Pictorial Presentation “Mother Teresa, an icon of the Good Samaritan, went everywhere to serve Christ in the poorest of the poor. Not even conflict and war could stand in her way.” (Pope John Paul II in his homily at her Beatification, 19 October 2003)
Family Mother Teresa – Gonxha Agnes Bojaxhiu – was born on 26 August 1910. Her father Nikola, a well-respected local businessman, died when she was about eight years old. Her sister Age, her brother Lazar, and Gonxha. “We were a beautiful, united family.” (Blessed Teresa of Calcutta)
Family At age 18, Gonxha left home to enter the Sisters of Loreto in Ireland. Her mother’s parting message was, “Put your hand in His (Jesus’) hand, walk alone with Him and never look back.” She never saw her mother again. Her mother Drana. Gonxha at 18.
Loreto Gonxha arrived in Calcutta on 6 January 1929. After two years of formation in the novitiate in Darjeeling, Sr. Teresa made her first vows in May 1931. She was assigned to the Loreto Entally community in Calcutta and taught at St. Mary's Bengali Medium School for girls. Among other responsibilities, the zealous young religious took charge of another Loreto school, St. Teresa's Primary Bengali Medium School. In May 1937, Sr. Teresa made her final profession as a Loreto nun and reassumed her duties at St. Mary's. She taught catechism and geography and in 1944 became the principal of the school.
“Call Within a Call” On 10 September 1946, on the way to Darjeeling for her annual retreat, Sr. Teresa received what she termed a “call within a call.” Over the course of the next months, by means of interior locutions and several interior visions, Jesus asked her to establish a religious community that would be dedicated to the service of the poorest of the poor and so satiate His thirst for love and for souls.
“Call Within a Call” Jesus: “I want...Missionaries of Charity, who would be my fire of love amongst the poor, the sick, the dying and the little children. The poor I want you to bring to me.” Mother Teresa: “In 1946 I was going to Darjeeling, to make my retreat. It was in that train, I heard the call to give up all and follow Him into the slums to serve Him among the poorest of the poor. “I knew it was His will, and that I had to follow Him. There was no doubt that it was going to be His work. But I waited for the decision of the Church.”
“Call Within a Call” In December 1948, alone, Mother Teresa started her work in the slums, visiting the sick, gathering and instructing street children, and gradually opening her first slum school and dispensary in the Motijhil slums. In her diary she wrote: “Today I learned a good lesson -- the poverty of the poor must be often so hard for them. “When rounding looking for a home -- I walked till my legs & my arms ached -- I thought how they must also ache in body and soul looking for home -- food -- help.... "Of my free choice, my God, and out of love for You -- I desire to remain... “My God give me courage now -- this moment.”
Kalighat In 1952, Mother Teresa opened the first house for the dying in Kalighat and called it Nirmal Hriday (“Pure Heart”). Nirmal Hriday is commonly referred to as Mother Teresa’s “first love” and it may also be considered her “last love”, as there she saw the vision of her inspiration realized. For her, each sick and dying patient was “Jesus in distressing disguise” and there she could put her love for Him into action. “The home is meant only for the street cases and cases that no hospital wants or for people who have absolutely no one to take care of them.” (Blessed Teresa of Calcutta)
Shishu Bhavan In 1953, the first Shishu Bhavan opened, a home for abandoned children. “Each child is created in the special image and likeness of God for greater things -- to love and to be loved.” (Blessed Teresa of Calcutta)
Blessed Teresa of Calcutta “For me Mother Teresa embodies Christian love in action. Her face shines with the love of Christ on which her whole life is centered, and her words carry that message to a world which never needed it so much.” (Malcolm Muggeridge, “Something Beautiful for God”)
Blessed Teresa of Calcutta At his homily for her Beatification, Pope John Paul II said: “In her we honor one of the most important figures of our time. “Let us praise the Lord for this diminutive woman in love with God, a humble Gospel messenger and tireless benefactor of humanity. “Let us welcome her message and follow her example.” (Pope John Paul II, 19 October 2003)