Blessed Mother Teresa

The primary definition of “mother” is “a female parent,” but “mother” can be an affectionate term for any woman who acts in the place of a female parent, even if there are no biological or legal ties.  As we take time today to honor the mothers in our lives, including Mary, the Mother of God, we look at a woman who inspires us to truly live as disciples of Jesus.

Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta was born in 1910 in the country of Albania, directly east from Italy’s boot heel, across the Adriatic Sea.  The Vatican website quotes Mother Teresa as saying, “By blood, I am Albanian.  By citizenship, an Indian.  By faith, I am a Catholic nun.  As to my calling, I belong to the world.  As to my heart, I belong entirely to the Heart of Jesus.”

Mother Teresa was the founder of the Missionaries of Charity, a Roman Catholic religious congregation which now has over 4500 sisters in 133 countries.  Members of the order take vows of chastity, poverty and obedience, and a fourth vow:  to give "wholehearted and free service to the poorest of the poor."  For over 45 years, she ministered to the poor, sick, orphaned, and dying, while guiding the Missionaries of Charity as they expanded throughout India and beyond.

As the recipient of the 1979 Nobel Peace Prize, Mother Teresa refused the banquet given to winners, and asked that the almost 200 thousand dollars in funds be given to the poor in India.  When asked, "What can we do to promote world peace?" she answered "Go home and love your family."  Her many other awards include the first Pope John XXIII Peace Prize, the Albert Schweitzer International Prize, and, from the United States, the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

During her lifetime, Mother Teresa’s name was often included in lists of “Most Admired Women.”  After her death in 1997, she was ranked first in the Gallup Poll's List of Most Widely Admired People of the 20^th Century.  Even before Risen Savior’s youth building was finished and dedicated in 1998, the youth of this parish so admired this inspirational woman that they voted to name the building the Mother Teresa Youth Center.  She was beatified by Pope John Paul II and given the title "Blessed Teresa of Calcutta."

Mother Teresa singled out abortion as “the greatest destroyer of peace in the world.”  To that end, Risen Savior has begun a new Dignity of Life Ministry and supports Birthright, an organization that  helps women choose life for their unborn children.  As you honor your mother today, also remember all of those holy women like Mother Teresa who guide us in our Catholic Faith.