Rachel Evans
Mother Teresa, also known as Saint Teresa of Calcutta, was an Albanian-Indian Catholic nun who dedicated her life to serving the poorest of the poor. She was born Anjezë Gonxhe (or Gonxha) Bojaxhiu on 26 August 1910 in Skopje, then part of the Ottoman Empire, into a devoutly Catholic family. At the age of 18, she moved to Ireland to join the Sisters of Loreto and later travelled to India, where she lived for most of her life and carried out her missionary work. In 1950, she established the Missionaries of Charity, a religious congregation that aimed to serve the destitute in the slums of Calcutta. For her selfless service and inspiring message of love, Mother Teresa received numerous honours, including the 1962 Ramon Magsaysay Peace Prize and the 1979 Nobel Peace Prize. She was canonised by the Catholic Church on 4 September 2016 and given the title Saint Teresa of Calcutta.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Given name | Anjezë Gonxhe (or Gonxha) Bojaxhiu |
| Nicknames | Mother Teresa, Saint Mother Teresa, St. Teresa of Calcutta, Patron Saint of Calcutta |
| Religion | Catholic |
| Occupation | Nun, founder of the Missionaries of Charity |
| Awards | 1962 Ramon Magsaysay Peace Prize, 1979 Nobel Peace Prize |
| Date of birth | 26 August 1910 |
| Date of death | 5 September 1997 |
| Feast day | 5 September |
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What You'll Learn
Mother Teresa was born Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu
Mother Teresa, the world-renowned Catholic nun and missionary, was born Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu on August 26, 1910, in Skopje, which was then part of the Ottoman Empire and is now the capital of North Macedonia. She was born into a family of Albanian descent, with her father, Nikollë Bojaxhiu, being involved in political activities for Albanian nationalist causes. Her mother, Dranafile Bojaxhiu, was known for her deep piety and commitment to the Catholic faith.
The name "Agnes" is a feminine name of Greek origin, meaning "pure" or "holy," and it is a popular name among Christians, especially Catholics, as it is the name of one of the most famous Christian saints, Saint Agnes of Rome. The name "Gonxha," on the other hand, is an Albanian word for "rose bud," reflecting her Albanian heritage.
When Agnes was just over eighteen years old, she joined the Sisters of Loreto, an Irish community of nuns with missions in India. As was the custom, she took a new name, choosing "Teresa" after Thérèse de Lisieux, the patron saint of missionaries, reflecting her devotion and inspiration from the saint. Thus, she became known as Sister Teresa, and later, as we know her today, Mother Teresa.
The name "Mother" is a title given to a nun who is the superior or head of a religious order or community. So, the name "Mother Teresa" reflects both her chosen name and her position of leadership within the Missionaries of Charity, the religious order she founded in 1950.
In summary, the name Mother Teresa combines her birth name, Agnes, her chosen name, Teresa, reflecting her devotion to Saint Thérèse of Lisieux, and the title "Mother," indicative of her role as the founder and leader of the Missionaries of Charity. Her name, therefore, has strong Catholic connotations and reflects her deep faith and dedication to her religious vocation.
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She was an Albanian-Indian Catholic nun
Mother Teresa, also known as Saint Teresa of Calcutta, was an Albanian-Indian Catholic nun. She was born Anjezë Gonxhe (or Gonxha) Bojaxhiu in 1910 in Skopje, then part of the Ottoman Empire, to a Kosovar Albanian family. Her given name, Anjezë, is a cognate of Agnes, and her family called her Gonxhe, which means "flower bud" in Albanian.
Teresa was raised in a devoutly Catholic family. At the age of 18, she moved to Ireland to join the Sisters of Loreto, an Irish Catholic order with missions in India. In 1929, she began her novitiate in Darjeeling, India, and took her first religious vows on May 24, 1931, choosing the name "Teresa" after St. Therese of Lisieux, the patron saint of missionaries.
Mother Teresa dedicated her life to serving the poorest of the poor in Calcutta, India. She founded the Missionaries of Charity in 1950, a religious congregation dedicated to caring for the destitute, sick and dying, teaching poor children, visiting those in dire circumstances, giving shelter to the homeless, and generally caring for the unwanted, unloved, and lonely. By the early 1970s, Mother Teresa had become an international celebrity, with her work attracting volunteers, religious sisters, and donations that allowed her mission to expand across India.
In recognition of her selfless service, Mother Teresa received numerous honours, including the 1962 Ramon Magsaysay Peace Prize and the 1979 Nobel Peace Prize. She was beatified by the Roman Catholic Church in 2003 and, on September 4, 2016, she was canonised as a saint by Pope Francis in front of thousands of people in St. Peter's Square in Vatican City. Her official title is now Saint Teresa of Calcutta, and she is the co-patron of the Calcutta Archdiocese, alongside St. Francis Xavier.
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Mother Teresa founded the Missionaries of Charity
Mother Teresa, also known as Saint Teresa of Calcutta, was born Anjezë Gonxhe (or Gonxha) Bojaxhiu on 26 August 1910 in Skopje, in modern-day North Macedonia. She was born into a Kosovar Albanian family and baptised the day after her birth. She was raised in a devoutly Catholic family and joined the Sisters of Loreto in Ireland at the age of 18. In 1929, she began her novitiate in Darjeeling, India, and took her first religious vows on 24 May 1931, choosing the name Teresa after St Therese of Lisieux, the patron saint of missionaries.
Mother Teresa's work with the Missionaries of Charity attracted international attention and praise. By the 1960s, the word of her work had spread, inspiring an increase in volunteers, religious sisters, and donations that allowed the mission to expand across India and beyond. In 1965, Pope Paul VI granted Mother Teresa's request to expand her congregation to other countries. The congregation's first house outside India was in Venezuela, with other houses opening in Rome and Tanzania. By the 1970s, the congregation had opened houses and foundations in the United States and dozens of countries in Asia, Africa, and Europe.
Mother Teresa received several honours for her work, including the 1962 Ramon Magsaysay Peace Prize and the 1979 Nobel Peace Prize. She was beatified by the Roman Catholic Church in 2003 and canonised in 2016 by Pope Francis, becoming known as St Teresa of Calcutta. Mother Teresa Day (Dita e Nënë Terezës) on 5 September is a public holiday in Albania.
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She was canonised by the Catholic Church in 2016
Mother Teresa, born Anjezë Gonxhe (or Gonxha) Bojaxhiu, was an Albanian-Indian Catholic nun. She was born on 26 August 1910 in Skopje, then part of the Ottoman Empire, and raised in a devoutly Catholic family. At the age of 18, she moved to Ireland to join the Sisters of Loreto and later travelled to India, where she lived for most of her life.
Mother Teresa dedicated her life to helping India's poor. In 1950, she founded the Missionaries of Charity, a religious congregation initially dedicated to serving the poorest of the poor in the slums of Calcutta. By the 1960s, word of Mother Teresa's work had spread, attracting international attention and praise. She received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979 for her efforts.
Mother Teresa was beatified by the Catholic Church in 2003 and, on 4 September 2016, she was canonised by Pope Francis in St. Peter's Square in Vatican City. She was declared Saint Teresa of Calcutta, also known as the "saint of the gutters".
Tens of thousands of people witnessed the canonisation ceremony, including 15 government delegations and 1,500 homeless people from across Italy. The anniversary of her death, 5 September, is now observed as her feast day.
In 2017, Mother Teresa was named the co-patron saint of the Calcutta Archdiocese, alongside St Francis Xavier.
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She is now known as Saint Teresa of Calcutta
Mother Teresa, also known as Saint Teresa of Calcutta, was born Anjezë Gonxhe (or Gonxha) Bojaxhiu on 26 August 1910 in Skopje, then part of the Ottoman Empire, into a Kosovar Albanian family. She was baptised the day after her birth and considered 27 August, the day of her baptism, her "true birthday". She was raised in a devoutly Catholic family and received her First Communion at the age of five.
Teresa chose the name "Teresa" after St Therese of Lisieux, the patron saint of missionaries. She was an Albanian-Indian Catholic nun who founded the Missionaries of Charity in 1950 and dedicated her life to serving "the poorest of the poor" in the slums of Calcutta. She was inspired to begin her missionary work at the age of 18, when she moved to Ireland to join the Sisters of Loreto, and later to India.
Teresa's work with the poor and destitute in India attracted international attention and praise. She received the 1979 Nobel Peace Prize for her work and was named the first patron saint of Calcutta by the Catholic Church in 1986. On 4 September 2016, Pope Francis declared her a saint of the Roman Catholic Church in front of thousands of people in St. Peter's Square in Vatican City. She is now known as Saint Teresa of Calcutta, and her feast day is celebrated on 5 September.
Teresa's legacy continues to inspire people worldwide. She has been commemorated by museums and named the patroness of several churches. In addition, buildings, roads, and complexes have been named after her, including Albania's international airport. Mother Teresa Day (Dita e Nënë Terezës) on 5 September is a public holiday in Albania.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Mother Teresa was a Catholic nun and saint. Her given name was Anjezë Gonxhe (or Gonxha) Bojaxhiu. She was born into a Kosovar Albanian family in Skopje, North Macedonia, and was baptised the day after her birth.
Mother Teresa is now known as Saint Teresa of Calcutta. The Vatican confirmed that her official title had changed following her canonisation.
Mother Teresa was canonised by Pope Francis on 4 September 2016. She is the co-patron saint of the Calcutta Archdiocese, alongside St Francis Xavier.
Mother Teresa founded the Missionaries of Charity in 1950. The order was dedicated to serving "the poorest of the poor" in Calcutta, India. She also inspired the world with her message to radically love and serve all people.
