Mother Teresa, Woman of the Century

Mother Teresa was born in Albania as Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu. When just eighteen years old, she attended the religious Order called 'Our Lady of Loreto' in Ireland. She received her spiritual training in Ireland and Darjeeling, India. It was in 1931, that the Mother took the name of Teresa from the French nun Th??e Martin, who was canonized in 1927 with the title St. Th??e of Lisieux. In 1937, Mother Teresa took her vows. She taught for 20 years in Saint Mary's High School in Calcutta, India.

The mother was utterly moved by the poverty, suffering and misery of a large number of people in India. She decided to dedicate her whole life for the welfare of the poor and took Indian citizenship in 1948. The same year, Pope Pious XII granted her permission to leave her duties. Mother Teresa became an independent nun. She began to share her life with the poor, the sick and the hungry of Calcutta. She started to teach the children of the streets how to read and write. She established a congregation called the Missionaries of Charity - a charitable organization which was to be the centre of all her activities with its branches spread in many parts of the country.

In 1950, Mother also began to care for lepers. She set up a care centre for the patients of leprosy. In 1965, Pope Paul VI put the Missionaries of Charity under his protection and gave Mother the permission to expand her Order to other countries. Branches of the organization opened almost everywhere around the world to assist lepers, the elderly, the blind, and people living with AIDS. Mother also opened schools and homes for the poor and abandoned children. Her vocation was a message of love. Her work demonstrates that a true conviction is always accompanied by action and that love in action is service.
Mother Teresa's efforts and her dedication were recognized all over the world. The Nobel Peace Prize that was conferred to her in 1979 put a seal of recognition on her sacrifice and achievements. Despite having reservations, the Mother accepted it on behalf of the "poorest of the poor".

In August, 1997 she ended her services and set out on her journey towards heaven. The cruel hands of destiny snatched the angel of love from us. The people of Calcutta and the world over bid her a teary farewell. The Government of India payed adequate respects to her with a solemn funeral march complete with a guard of honour.

Although Mother Teresa is not amongst us, her sacrifice and dedication has set a great example for others to follow. The great job that she did will always be remembered by all of us.