Mother Theresa was baptized and named as Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu. Born on August 26, 1910, in Skopje, Today the current capital of the Republic of Macedonia. She received her First Communion at the age of five, she did her sacrament of confirmation in November 1916. She took after St. Theresa of Lisieux by the name Sister Theresa.
She took her First Profession of Vows in May 1931, in Calcutta. She made her Final Profession of Vows, On May 24, 1937, becoming, as she said, the “spouse of Jesus” for “all eternity.” From that time on she was called Mother Teresa.
In order to respond more effectively to both the physical and spiritual needs of the poor, Mother Teresa founded the Missionaries of Charity Brothers in 1963. Missionaries of Charity brothers is actually a Roman Catholic religious congregation which had above Four Thousand Five Hundred (4,500) nuns and which was active in 133 countries in 2012.
The congregation manages homes for people dying of HIV/AIDS, leprosy, tuberculosis, Orphanages and schools. She is a controversial figure during her life and after her death, Teresa was admired by many for her charitable work. She was praised and criticized for her opposition to abortion and criticized for poor conditions in her houses for the dying.
On the 6th of September, 2017, Mother Theresa was known as co-patron of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Calcutta, alongside St.Francis Xavier.
Mother Theresa’s inspiration wasn’t restricted to those with non secular vocations.
She created the Co-Workers of Mother Theresa and also the Sick and Suffering Co-Workers, and nationalities with whom she shared her spirit of prayer, simplicity, sacrifice and her apostate of humble works of love.
This spirit later impressed the Lay Missionaries of Charity.
In answer to the requests of the many clergymen, in 1981 Mother Teresa also began the Corpus Christi Movement for Priests as a “little way of holiness” for those who desire to share in her charisma and spirit.
In spite of increasingly severe Health problems which she had towards the end of her life, Mother Teresa continued to govern her Society and respond to the needs of the poor and the Church.
By 1997, Mother Teresa’s Sisters numbered nearly four thousand (4,000) members and were established in 610 foundations in 123 countries of the world.
In March 1997 she blessed her newly-elected successor as head of the Missionaries of Charity.
After her last meeting with Pope John Paul II , she went back to Calcutta and spent her final weeks receiving visitors and directing her Sisters.
On the 5th of September, 1997, Mother Teresa’s life on earth came to an end at the age of 87.
She was given the honour of a state burial by the government of India and her body was buried within the Mother House of the Missionaries of Charity.
Her vault (tomb) quickly became a pilgrims area and prayer for people of all faiths, rich and poor alike.
Mother Teresa left a testament of unshakable belief, invincible hope, and extraordinary charity.
Her reply to Jesus’ plea, “Come be My light,” made her a Missionary of Charity, a “mother to the poor,” a symbol of compassion to the world, and a living witness to the thirsting love of God.
Mother Teresa was beatified by Pope John Paul II on the 19th of October, 2003. As a testament to her most remarkable life, Pope John Paul II permitted the opening of her Cause of Canonization meanwhile, the process of canonization requires the documentation of a miracle ensuing from the intercession of the potential saint.
On the 20th of December, 2002, he approved the decrees of her heroic.
December 2015, Pope Francis recognized a second miracle attributed to Mother Teresa and canonized her at a ceremony on 4 September 2016 in St. Peter Square in Vatican City. Tens of thousands of people witnessed the ceremony,
During her lifetime, it wasn’t proved that St. Theresa of Calcutta was perfect or never made a mistake but it was proved that her virtue was heroic. And her Feast day is 5th September.
