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As we deepen our relationship with the Eternal Word, Jesus Christ, we grow in grace and are transformed by His love and mercy.
August 26, 1910–September 5, 1997
Patron Saint of the Missionaries of Charity; the poor; the sick; the dying; and Calcutta (Kolkata), India
St. Teresa of Calcutta, known worldwide as Mother Teresa, is one of the most recognizable saints of modern times. Her life of radical charity and service to the poorest of the poor continues to inspire people of all faiths and backgrounds.
Named Agnes at birth in 1910, she grew up in Skopje in North Macedonia. She felt called to religious life and joined the Sisters of Loreto, later traveling to India, where she taught at a school in Calcutta for two decades. She became known as a dedicated teacher and later served as the school’s principal.
In 1946, as she traveled by train, she experienced what she later described as a “call within a call.” She felt Jesus inviting her to leave the convent school and serve Him among the poor and destitute in the streets of Calcutta. After a period of discernment and approval from Church authorities, she left the Sisters of Loreto and began her new mission.
Four years later, she founded the Order of Missionaries of Charity, a religious congregation devoted to serving “the hungry, the naked, the homeless, the crippled, the blind, the lepers.” The sisters lived among the poor, offering care and support with dignity, love, and spiritual comfort.
One of her most significant works was establishing a home for the dying destitute called Nirmal Hriday (Pure Heart), where those who had been abandoned on the streets were given care, companionship, and the opportunity to die with dignity. Mother Teresa often described this work as “doing something beautiful for God.”
Although she experienced prolonged periods of spiritual dryness, she remained faithful to her mission and exemplified compassion and joy in serving the most vulnerable. As her global recognition grew, she received numerous honors. She was a recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979. Yet she was humble, pointing attention away from herself and toward Christ present in the suffering.
St. Teresa of Calcutta died on September 5, 1997, and was canonized in 2016. Beginning with twelve recruits, her Missionaries of Charity grew to five thousand nuns and 450 priests serving in 138 countries worldwide.
Mother Teresa’s extraordinary work of mercy with the “poorest of the poor” gained international attention and gave her access to global platforms, where she advocated for the destitute and unborn. Accepting the Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo, she reached millions globally by reading the Prayer of St. Francis and firmly advocating for the protection of unborn children, directly challenging secular nations on social issues. During the UN’s 40th anniversary, she addressed an international audience, highlighting the “poverty of being unwanted” and encouraging delegates and citizens to recognize the inherent dignity of the marginalized. She spoke directly to young people at secular universities, and her message was covered by publications such as TIME. Her ideas resonated deeply with non-believers, uniting diverse, secular audiences in a shared appreciation for humanitarian efforts.
Nirmal Hriday, meaning “Pure Heart,” was a home for the dying destitute founded by Mother Teresa in Calcutta. It was created to care for those who had been found dying on the streets with no family or support. Rather than allowing them to die alone, the sisters provided medical attention when possible, but more importantly, offered compassion, dignity, and human presence. All faiths were welcomed and respected. The home offered one of the most powerful expressions of Mother Teresa’s belief that every human life has infinite dignity.
Teresa’s private letters, later published, reveal that she endured decades of spiritual dryness and a profound sense of God’s absence. Through this interior struggle, she shared in the desolation of the poor she served. She remained faithful to prayer, the Sacraments, and her mission of service. Spiritual writers often describe this as a participation in the “dark night of the soul,” a form of purification in which faith is deepened beyond feelings or consolation. St. Teresa’s endurance in the face of this hidden suffering is often seen as one of the most striking aspects of her sanctity.
The Blessed Virgin Mary bore extreme pains throughout her life. And as the mother of the Suffering Servant (Isaiah 53), she witnessed her Son’s Passion and Death on the Cross. This is why, as we face our own pains and temptations, we should turn to Our Lady of Sorrows and meditate on her Seven Dolors, or Sorrows.
This free eBook will encourage you to meditate on these Sorrows that pierced Mary’s Immaculate Heart. Use the form below to tell us where to send your free eBook, The Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Host Sean Brown interviews Fr. Leo Maasburg about his seven-year involvement with Mother Teresa and her Missionaries of Charity during their global outreach in the 1980s. Five episodes.
Filmed on five continents, with commentary from prominent Catholics, this unique documentary is a soaring tribute to Mother Teresa’s singular vision of serving Christ through the poor, one that lives on through the Missionaries of Charity.
Susan Conroy reflects on her friendship with Mother Teresa to show us how we can learn from her example of holiness.
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As we deepen our relationship with the Eternal Word, Jesus Christ, we grow in grace and are transformed by His love and mercy.
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