St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta

At the time of her Inspiration (1947) Jesus gave to Mother Teresa the name of the religious community he was asking her to begin: Missionaries of Charity. Mother Teresa "translated" this to "carrier's of God's love." Pope Francis' desire is to have Mother Teresa's canonization during this Year of Mercy. He wished to place Mother Teresa, with her example and message, directly and clearly into the context of the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy.  With that in mind, the theme, "Carrier of God's Tender and Merciful Love" has been chosen to  honor all the volunteers and workers of mercy.  Pope John Paul beatified Saint Mother Teresa of Calcutta, founder of the Missionaries of Charity, on October 19, 2003. The Church recognized her as Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta, and acknowledged that she has attained the blessedness of heaven.  On the first anniversary of Mother Teresa’s death – Sept. 5, 1998, the healing of an Indian woman was recognized by the Pope in 2002 as the miracle required for beatification. The second miracle has indeed been credited to the popular nun, with the unexplained healing of a Brazilian man with brain tumors in 2008.  

Saint Mother Teresa entered the Loreto Convent in Rathfarnam, Ireland in 1928. She was sent to India in 1929, and took her final vows there in 1937. After 15 years of teaching history and geography, Saint Mother Teresa "heard the call to give up all and follow Christ into the slums to serve him among the poorest of the poor."  In 1948, after receiving permission from the Pope, Saint Mother Teresa left her community to live as an independent nun.  As she began this new chapter, Saint Mother Teresa set aside the habit she had worn as a Loreto sister and opted to wear the ordinary dress of an Indian woman: a plain white sari and sandals. In addition to the never-ending stream of human needs in the poor she met, Saint Mother Teresa found more help than she ever imagined. While young women, who would later become the core of Saint Mother Teresa's order, came to volunteer their services, others came forward to offer food, clothing, shelter medical supplies, and money.  In 1950, Saint Mother Teresa founded the Congregation of the Missionaries of Charity. Nourished by the faith, true compassion, and the tireless commitment of Saint Mother Teresa, the Missionaries of Charity now number over 4,500 sisters, and nearly 600 foundations in 123 countries. Mother Teresa was the 1979 recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize. She was canonizedon September 4, 2016.

Feast Day is on September 5.