St. Teresa of Calcutta: The Saint of the Slums

•Religious 
•Feast day: September 5 
•1910-1997 

St. Teresa of Calcutta, also known as Mother Teresa, is one of the most revered figures of the 20th century. Born on August 26, 1910, in Skopje, which was part of the Ottoman Empire at the time (modern-day North Macedonia), she was baptized as Gonxha Agnes Bojaxhiu. Although of Albanian descent, she was raised in a devout Roman Catholic family that emphasized charity and faith. Her early life was deeply influenced by her mother, Dranafile, who instilled in her the values of compassion and devotion to the poor.

At the age of 18, Gonxha Bojaxhiu felt a strong calling to religious life. She joined the Sisters of Loreto, a missionary order known for its work in India. In 1928, she left her family and homeland, never to return, and traveled to Ireland to learn English at the Loreto Abbey in Rathfarnham, Dublin. After completing her training, she was sent to India, where she arrived in 1929. In 1931, she made her first religious vows and took the name Teresa, after St. Therese of Lisieux, the Patroness of Missions.

Mother Teresa spent nearly 20 years teaching at St. Mary’s School for Girls in Entally, a suburb of Calcutta. However, she became increasingly distressed by the extreme poverty surrounding her. In 1946, while traveling by train to Darjeeling for her annual retreat, she experienced what she described as “the call within the call.” She felt compelled to leave the convent and serve the poorest of the poor by living among them. This profound experience led her to seek permission from her superiors to pursue this new calling, which was granted in 1948.

Mother Teresa replaced her traditional religious habit with a simple white cotton sari adorned with a blue border, symbolizing her commitment to a life of simplicity and poverty. She moved into the slums of Calcutta, where she began her work by teaching poor children and tending to the needs of the sick and hungry. Her efforts quickly attracted followers, and in 1950, she founded the Missionaries of Charity, a religious congregation dedicated to serving “the hungry, the naked, the homeless, the crippled, the blind, the lepers, all those people who feel unwanted, unloved, uncared for throughout society.”

Under her leadership, the Missionaries of Charity grew rapidly. By the time of her death in 1997, the order had over 4,000 sisters and operated more than 500 missions in over 100 countries, providing care for orphans, lepers, the terminally ill, and those suffering from extreme poverty. In addition to the sisters, the order also includes a branch for brothers, as well as lay volunteers known as the Co-Workers of Mother Teresa.

Mother Teresa’s selfless service earned her international recognition. She received numerous awards, including the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979, which she accepted on behalf of the “unwanted, unloved, and uncared for” people of the world. Despite her global fame, she remained humble and focused on her mission, often stating that she was merely “a pencil in God’s hand.”

Throughout her life, Mother Teresa faced challenges and criticisms. Some questioned the quality of care in her homes, while others criticized her views on issues such as abortion and contraception. However, her commitment to her faith and her mission remained central to her identity. In her own words: “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 passed away on September 5, 1997, in Calcutta. Her death was mourned worldwide, and she was hailed as “a living saint” by many. In 2003, just six years after her death, she was beatified by Pope John Paul II, earning the title “Blessed Teresa of Calcutta.” Her canonization followed on September 4, 2016, when Pope Francis officially declared her St. Teresa of Calcutta.

Today, her legacy lives on through the ongoing work of the Missionaries of Charity, who continue to serve the poorest of the poor in her spirit. Mother Teresa’s life remains an enduring example of compassion, humility, and faith, inspiring countless people around the world to follow in her footsteps.