St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta

Saint Mother Teresa

Saint Mother Teresa, born Anjezë Gonxhe Bojaxhiu, was born on August 26, 1910, in Skopje, then part of the Ottoman Empire. Raised in a Catholic family of Albanian origin, she developed a deep faith and a strong sensitivity toward those living in poverty and suffering from an early age.

At the age of 18, she joined the Sisters of Loreto and left her homeland to begin her missionary vocation. After a period of formation in Ireland, she traveled to India, where she began her religious life as a teacher in Calcutta.

In 1946, she experienced what she later described as a "call within a call", a profound spiritual experience that inspired her to leave traditional convent life and dedicate herself entirely to the poorest and most abandoned people.

To prepare for this new mission, she received nursing training and began working directly in the slums of Calcutta, caring for the sick, the elderly, lepers, the dying and the marginalized, regardless of religion, culture or background.

In 1950, she founded the Missionaries of Charity, officially recognized by the Catholic Church. The sisters adopted the distinctive white sari with blue borders, which became one of the most recognizable symbols of Christian charity in the world.

Under her leadership, numerous homes for the needy, hospitals, care centers and leprosy clinics were established. The work of the Missionaries of Charity quickly spread across all continents, bringing material assistance and spiritual comfort to thousands of people.

In 1979, she received the prestigious Nobel Peace Prize in recognition of her extraordinary humanitarian work and tireless service to the poorest of the poor.

Throughout her life, she met heads of state, religious leaders and international figures, while always maintaining a simple lifestyle and profound humility. Her mission remained focused on defending human dignity and witnessing Christian love through concrete actions.

She died on September 5, 1997, in Calcutta. In 2003, she was beatified by Pope John Paul II, and on September 4, 2016, she was canonized by Pope Francis.

Today, Saint Mother Teresa is regarded as one of the greatest examples of charity, service, compassion and humility of the twentieth century. The Missionaries of Charity continue her work in more than one hundred countries worldwide.

Iconography:
with a white sari with blue borders, a book, a rosary, among the poor and the sick

Feast Day:
September 5

Patronage:
of the marginalized, the poor, the dying and charity volunteers