Mother Teresa Biography

Mother Teresa – The Nun with an unforgettable touch. Mother Teresa was a soul filled with the light of Christ, on fire with love for Him and burning with one desire: “to quench his thirst for love and for souls.”  Mother Teresa, a strong and independent woman was born Agnes   Gonxha Bojaxhiu in Skopje, Yugoslavia, on August 26, 1910 to Nikola and Drain Bojaxhiu.

Mother was a Catholic nun of Albanian ethnicity and received Indian citizenship, who founded the Missionaries of Charity in Kolkata, India in 1950. Through out her life for more than 45 years she ministered to the poor, orphans, sick and dying while guiding the missionaries of charity’s expansion, first throughout India and then in other countries. After her death Mother Teresa was beautified by Pope John Paul 11 and given the title blesses Teresa of Calcutta.

Mother Teresa’s Missionaries of Charity continued to expand, and at the time of her death it was operating in about 610 missions in 123 countries, including hospices and homes for people with HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis  and leprosy , children’s and family counseling programs, orphanages, and schools.

She also faced a diverse range of Criticism. These include objections by various individuals and groups against the proselytizing focus of her work including a strong stance against contraception and abortion, a belief in the spiritual goodness of poverty and alleged baptisms of the dying. Medical journals also criticized the standard of medical care in her hospices and concerns were raised about the opaque nature in which donated money was spent.

In 1952 Mother Teresa opened the first Home for the Dying in space made available by the city of Calcutta, India. With the help of Indian officials she converted an abandoned Hindu temple into the Kalighat Home for the Dying, a free hospice for the poor. She renamed it Kalighat, the Home of the Pure Heart also called NIRMAL HRIDAY. Those brought to the home received medical attention were afforded the opportunity to die with dignity, according to the rituals of their faith. Muslims were read the Quran, Hindus received water from the Ganges, and Catholics received the Last Rites.

Mother Teresa was internationally famed as a humanitarian and advocate for the poor and helpless. She has been praised by many individuals, governments and organizations.

She won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979 and India’s highest civilian honor, the Bharat Ratna, in 1980 for her humanitarian work.