Today, September 5, the Catholic Church celebrates St. Teresa of Calcutta, better known as Mother Teresa, a humble servant of God who devoted her entire life to caring for the poorest and most forgotten among us. She is remembered especially for her extraordinary charity, humility, and love for Jesus Christ.
St. Teresa was born Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu on August 26, 1910, in Skopje. From a young age, she felt a strong desire to serve God and help those in need. At the age of 18, she left her home and joined the Sisters of Loreto, eventually traveling to India.
For many years, she taught at a school in Calcutta. Then, on September 10, 1946, she experienced what she described as a “call within a call.” Jesus was asking her to leave the convent and serve Him among the poorest of the poor. After receiving permission, she began her new mission among the sick, abandoned, homeless, and dying.
In 1950, Mother Teresa founded the Missionaries of Charity, a religious congregation dedicated to serving those most in need. Her mission eventually spread throughout the world. She constantly reminded people that Christ is present in the poor and suffering, and that even the smallest act of love can become a great offering to God.
Mother Teresa received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979 for her work among the poor. Yet she remained deeply humble, always directing attention away from herself and toward Jesus.
Her life was not without suffering. She experienced a profound interior darkness and periods in which she felt distant from God. Nevertheless, she continued faithfully serving Christ and the poor. Her perseverance teaches us that true holiness does not mean never experiencing suffering or spiritual dryness—it means remaining faithful to God even when we cannot see His plan.
Mother Teresa died on September 5, 1997, in Calcutta. Pope John Paul II beatified her in 2003, and Pope Francis canonized her as a saint on September 4, 2016, during the Jubilee Year of Mercy.
A Lesson from St. Teresa of Calcutta
St. Teresa teaches us that we do not need to accomplish extraordinary things to become holy. We can serve Jesus through the people He places before us each day.
A kind word.
A helping hand.
A prayer for someone who is suffering.
A visit to someone who is lonely.
Forgiveness when we have been hurt.
These small acts of love can become beautiful offerings to God.
St. Teresa once described herself as a small instrument in God’s hands. Her life reminds us that when we surrender ourselves to Christ, He can use even our smallest efforts to bring His love to others.
Prayer to St. Teresa of Calcutta
Dear St. Teresa of Calcutta,
you gave your life completely to Jesus and lovingly served the poorest and most forgotten.
Teach us to see Christ in those who suffer. Help us to become more generous, more humble, and more willing to serve others.
Pray for those who are poor, sick, lonely, abandoned, and forgotten. Pray especially for those who have no one to care for them.
Help us to trust Jesus even during times of suffering and darkness. May we never become discouraged, but continue to love God faithfully each day.
St. Teresa of Calcutta, pray for us.
Amen.
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