Grace Thompson
Mother Teresa, born Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu, was a Catholic nun and the founder of the Order of the Missionaries of Charity, a congregation of women dedicated to serving the poorest of the poor. She was born in 1910 in Skopje, Macedonia (then part of the Ottoman Empire), to an ethnic Albanian family. At the age of twelve, she felt a calling to become a nun and devote her life to God. At eighteen, she left her home in Skopje to join the Sisters of Loreto, an Irish Catholic order, in Ireland. After receiving training near Dublin, she travelled to India in late 1928 and took her first vows as a nun in May 1931, adopting the name Teresa after Saint Thérèse of Lisieux. In 1937, she took her final vows and became known as Mother Teresa.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu |
| Born | 26 August 1910 |
| Birthplace | Skopje, North Macedonia |
| Citizenship | Indian |
| Faith | Catholic nun |
| Language | Bengali, Albanian, Serbo-Croatian, English, and Hindi |
| Awards | Ramon Magsaysay Peace Prize (1962), Nobel Peace Prize (1979), Padma Shri (1962), Pope John XXIII Peace Prize (1971), Balzan Prize (1979), Bharat Ratna (1976) |
| Work | Founder of the Order of the Missionaries of Charity, a congregation of women dedicated to the poor |
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What You'll Learn
Mother Teresa's life and work
Mother Teresa, known for her selfless dedication to serving the poor and destitute, led a life of compassion and charity that inspired people worldwide. She was, indeed, a Catholic nun and is considered a symbol of humanitarianism and a source of inspiration for people from all walks of life.
Born Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu in Skopje, Macedonia, on August 26, 1910, she was the youngest of three children born to Albanian parents. From a young age, she felt a calling to dedicate her life to religious service and helping others. At the age of 18, she joined the Sisters of Loreto, an Irish community of nuns with missions in India, and became known as Sister Teresa. She made her final profession of vows in May 1937, taking the name Mother Teresa.
Mother Teresa's work began in the slums of Calcutta (now Kolkata), India, where she taught in a girls' school. However, her true calling lay elsewhere—with the sick and dying destitute people that she encountered in the streets. In 1946, she received what she described as a "call within a call" during a train ride to the Himalayan foothills. This inspired her to found the Missionaries of Charity, a congregation dedicated to caring for the poorest of the poor. With Vatican approval, she founded the order in 1950, donning a white sari with blue borders that would become her trademark.
The order initially consisted of only 13 members, but it quickly grew, attracting volunteers and donations from around the world. They cared for those that others tended to ignore: the homeless, the disabled, the sick, and the dying. Mother Teresa opened a hospice for the dying, as well as an orphanage and a leprosy clinic. She also founded a home for infants that were about to be aborted, reflecting her strong pro-life beliefs. As her congregation grew, she expanded her work to other countries, eventually establishing homes, leprosy clinics, and schools worldwide.
Mother Teresa's unwavering dedication to her cause brought her worldwide recognition. She received numerous awards, including the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979, for her humanitarian work. Despite the accolades, she remained humble and steadfast in her devotion to the poor, insisting that her work was done for the love of God. She once said, "It is only one drop in the ocean, but the ocean would be less without that drop."
Mother Teresa passed away on September 5, 1997, at the age of 87. At the time of her death, the Missionaries of Charity numbered over 4,000 sisters running orphanages, AIDS hospices, and charity centers worldwide. She was beatified by Pope John Paul II and given the title "Blessed," and is now known as Blessed Teresa of Calcutta.
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The Order of the Missionaries of Charity
Mother Teresa, a Catholic nun, established the Missionaries of Charity (Latin: Congregatio Missionariarum a Caritate) in 1950. It is a Catholic centralised religious institute of consecrated life of pontifical right for women. As of 2023, the congregation has grown to 5,750 members serving in 139 countries in 760 homes, with 244 of these homes in India. The Missionaries of Charity have a presence in North America, Latin America, Europe, Africa, and Australia.
The Missionaries of Charity care for refugees, former prostitutes, the mentally ill, sick children, abandoned children, lepers, people with AIDS, the aged, and convalescent. They also run orphanages, homes for the dying, charity centres, and schools for abandoned street children. The sisters identify themselves by wearing religious habits and are loyal to church teachings. They are also known for their obedience, chastity, and poverty.
The Missionaries of Charity was first established in Calcutta (now Kolkata), with 12 members. Mother Teresa's mission was to care for "the hungry, the naked, the homeless, the crippled, the blind, the lepers, all those people who feel unwanted, unloved, uncared for throughout society, people that have become a burden to the society and are shunned by everyone."
The congregation's first rural mission in the United States was in one of the poorest, former coal mining areas of Kentucky, where they continue to serve to this day. The first home of the Missionaries of Charity in the US was established in the South Bronx, New York, in 2019.
The Missionaries of Charity is aided by Co-Workers, who became an official International Association in 1969. By the 1990s, there were over one million Co-Workers in more than 40 countries. Lay Catholics and non-Catholics constitute the Co-Workers of Mother Teresa, the Sick and Suffering Co-Workers, and the Lay Missionaries of Charity.
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Mother Teresa's awards and honours
Mother Teresa, born Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu, was an Albanian-Indian Catholic nun who dedicated her life to serving others. She received numerous awards and honours throughout her lifetime and after her death in recognition of her humanitarian work. Here is a detailed list of her notable awards and honours:
Padma Shri (1962)
The Indian government awarded Mother Teresa the Padma Shri, one of its highest civilian honours, for her exceptional humanitarian work and selfless service to the people of India. This award acknowledged her dedication and significant contributions to the welfare of humanity in India.
Pope John XXIII Peace Prize (1971)
Mother Teresa was honoured with the Pope John XXIII Peace Prize, an international award recognising individuals or organisations that have made remarkable contributions to peace, justice, and human rights. Her efforts in promoting peace and social justice through her work with the Missionaries of Charity were specifically acknowledged.
Nobel Peace Prize (1979)
Mother Teresa received the prestigious Nobel Peace Prize for her unwavering commitment to serving the poorest and most vulnerable members of society. The Nobel Committee recognised her compassion, selflessness, and tireless efforts in alleviating human suffering. This award brought global recognition to her humanitarian endeavours.
Bharat Ratna (1980)
The Indian government bestowed upon Mother Teresa the Bharat Ratna, the highest civilian honour in India. This award honoured her immense contributions to humanity and her selfless service to the poor and needy. The Bharat Ratna is given to individuals who have achieved exceptional excellence in fields such as social work, arts, literature, and science.
Order of Merit (1983)
Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom presented Mother Teresa with the Order of Merit, a prestigious honour recognising her remarkable achievements and significant contributions to society. This award underscored the impact of her work and dedication to the welfare of humanity.
Presidential Medal of Freedom (1985)
President Ronald Reagan awarded Mother Teresa the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian award in the United States. This honour recognised her profound impact on society, particularly her selfless advocacy for the vulnerable and marginalised communities.
Canonisation as Saint Teresa of Calcutta (2016)
In 2016, Mother Teresa was canonised by the Catholic Church and became Saint Teresa of Calcutta. This honour recognised her sainthood and the enduring legacy of her selfless service and dedication to helping those in need.
In addition to these prestigious awards, Mother Teresa has been further honoured through various dedications, including having buildings, roads, and complexes named after her, such as Albania's international airport. Mother Teresa Day is also observed as a public holiday in Albania on the anniversary of her death, which has been designated as the International Day of Charity by the United Nations General Assembly. The establishment of the Mother Teresa Awards, or the Mother Teresa Memorial Awards for Social Justice, further honours her memory and recognises individuals and organisations promoting peace and social justice. These awards and honours are a testament to the impact and inspiration of Mother Teresa's lifelong dedication to humanitarian causes.
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Criticisms of Mother Teresa
Mother Teresa, a Catholic nun and missionary, is widely revered for her dedication to serving the poor and destitute in Calcutta, India. She founded the Missionaries of Charity, a religious congregation that continues her work today. While she has been beatified by the Catholic Church and is revered by many, Mother Teresa has also been the subject of criticism and controversy.
One of the primary criticisms of Mother Teresa is her apparent acceptance of substandard medical care in the homes and hospices run by her order. Critics argue that she promoted a culture of suffering, where the sick were not provided with adequate pain relief or modern medical treatments. Christopher Hitchens, one of Mother Teresa's most vocal critics, alleged that she opposed the use of condoms to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS, contributing to unnecessary suffering and death. In addition, her missions have been criticized for their lack of separation between the church and the state, with allegations that they actively promoted Christianity among the vulnerable and impressionable poor.
The financial practices of Mother Teresa and her order have also come under scrutiny. The Missionaries of Charity received significant donations from questionable sources, including dictators and controversial politicians. Critics argue that Mother Teresa did not do enough to ensure the ethical handling of these funds and that the order lacked transparency in how the money was spent. Some also questioned the allocation of resources, claiming that a disproportionate amount of donations were spent on non-aid purposes, such as funding religious activities and expanding the order, rather than directly helping the poor and sick.
Another point of criticism is the apparent glorification of poverty and suffering. Mother Teresa's oft-quoted statement, "I think it is very beautiful for the poor to accept their lot, to share it with the passion of Christ. I think the world is being much helped by the suffering of the poor people", has been criticized as romanticizing poverty and promoting passive acceptance of injustice. Critics argue that this mindset discourages efforts to address the systemic causes of poverty and improve the long-term living conditions of the destitute, focusing instead on short-term relief without empowering individuals to escape the cycle of poverty.
There has also been criticism surrounding the proselytizing nature of her work. While Mother Teresa helped many people regardless of their religious beliefs, she was also known for her strong Catholic evangelism. Critics argue that the vulnerable and desperate people she served were in no position to refuse religious conversion or instruction, creating an environment of coercion rather than free choice.
Finally, some critics have questioned the extent of Mother Teresa's charitable works and the effectiveness of her methods. They argue that the homes she established provided only basic, short-term relief without addressing the underlying social issues contributing to poverty and illness. Critics also point out that Mother Teresa often declined offers of assistance from qualified medical professionals, preferring to rely on untrained volunteers, which may have limited the impact and sustainability of her efforts.
In conclusion, while Mother Teresa is admired by many for her dedication to serving the poorest of the poor, there are also significant criticisms surrounding her practices, financial decisions, and philosophical views on poverty and suffering. These controversies continue to shape discussions about ethical humanitarian work and the role of religion in providing aid.
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Mother Teresa's legacy
Mother Teresa, born Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu, was a Catholic nun and one of the most well-known religious figures of the 20th century. She dedicated her life to serving the poor, the sick, and the destitute, and her legacy continues to inspire people worldwide.
Mother Teresa joined the Loreto Sisters, a community of nuns in Ireland, in 1928 and was sent to Calcutta, India (now Kolkata), where she taught at a girls' school for nearly two decades. In 1946, a transformative train ride to Darjeeling changed her life. During this trip, she received her "call within a call" and felt an overwhelming desire to serve the poorest of the poor. This led her to found the Missionaries of Charity, a religious congregation dedicated to this work, in 1950.
Mother Teresa and her congregation began by gathering abandoned children off the streets, creating a home for them, and later expanding their work to include hospices for the dying, care for leprosy patients, and support for the elderly, homeless, and disabled. The congregation grew rapidly, and by the time of her death in 1997, it had over 4,000 sisters running orphanages, AIDS hospices, and charity centers worldwide, continuing her legacy of selfless service.
Mother Teresa's work gained international recognition, and she received numerous awards, including the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979, for her unwavering dedication to the poorest and most vulnerable members of society. She was beatified by Pope John Paul II in 2003 and canonized as Saint Teresa of Calcutta in 2016 by Pope Francis.
Through her unwavering dedication, Mother Teresa demonstrated that every individual has the power to make a positive impact, and her spirit of selfless service continues to inspire and guide people today.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Mother Teresa was a Roman Catholic nun. She was born Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu, an ethnic Albanian, in 1910 in what is now Skopje, North Macedonia. At the age of 18, she left home to join the Sisters of Loreto, an Irish Catholic order with missions in India. In May 1931, she took her first vows as a nun and received the name Teresa, after Saint Thérèse of Lisieux.
Mother Teresa is known for her missionary work with the poor in India. She founded the Order of the Missionaries of Charity, a Roman Catholic congregation of women dedicated to serving the poorest communities in Kolkata (then Calcutta). She received several honours for her humanitarian work, including the 1979 Nobel Peace Prize.
Mother Teresa died on 5 September 1997.
