Gurus & Saints of India
Mother Teresa
Saint Mother Teresa is perhaps the greatest human being who has ever lived
in this world. She was beatified by Pope John Paul II in October 2003. She
had only one aim in life, to serve the poor, the destitute, the needy and
all those who were dejected by the society. Mother Theresa founded an
institution, known as 'The Missionary of Charity' to help her in fulfilling
this aim. Read on this biography to know more about Saint Mother Teresa.
Early Life
As per her life history, Mother Teressa was born as Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu on
26th August 1910. At the young age of twelve, Agnes started to feel
disinterest in the worldly affairs. By the age of eighteen, she was
determined to become a nun and left her home to join the Convent of Our Lady
of Loreto in Dublin. She undertook the name Teresa in the year 1931 and at
the same time, she took her vows.
Coming to Calcutta (Kolkata)
Mother Theresa came to Calcutta (now Kolkata) in the year 1937 and joined
St. Mary's High School. It was here that she fully comprehended her true
calling in life, which was to serve the needy and rejected people of the
society.
Founding Missionaries of Charity
To help her in attaining her goal in life, Mother Theresa wanted to start a
diocesan congregation. However, for this she required the permission of the
Vatican. The permission came in 1950 and thus was born 'The Missionary of
Charity'. In 1965, Mother Teresa was awarded a Decree of Praise by Pope Paul
VI and with this, she received the permission to expand her order to other
countries. Toda, the Missionaries of Charity boasts of 4,000 nuns and
branches in 133 countries of the world.
The Noble Peace Prize
Mother Teresa was awarded the Noble Peace Prize in the year 1979. She
accepted the prize as a representative of the 'poorest of the poor'. Mother
Teresa breathed her last on September 5, 1997, leaving behind a legacy of
love and sacrifice.