Her mission and ministry of mercy and compassion were limitless and ever expanding.

Consequently, she became the most loved and respected woman of the world. She became
internationally known for her charitable work for the victims of disease, illness, poverty, exploitation,
neglect and adversity.
Mother Teresa was named Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu at her birth by her parents. She was born on
26th August, 1910 in Skopje, Macedonia. Her Albanian parents were Catholics. Her father Kole
was a small businessman and her mother Drana a housewife. Agnes was the youngest of her
parents three children.
`
When she was only 9 years old her father suddenly died and her mother had to look after the
family single handedly. She had to do add jobs to support her three children and herself. She was
God-fearing and a religious lady and always found time for prayers, counting the rosary and visiting
the church. This had a lasting impact on Agnes and decided the future course of her life.
Teresa went to Ireland in 1928 and joined the Blessed Virgin Mary Institute. And then, hardly six
weeks later, she left for India to become a teacher. She studied nursing and went to the slums of
Kolkata, the home of the most neglected and deprived men, women and children of the world. One
day, soon after her coming as a young Yugoslav Loreto nun from Loreto Abbey, Rathfarnham in
Dublin, she was travelling to Darjeeling in a train.
Then suddenly she had a vision and heard Gods call to leave the Loreto Order and work among
the poorest of Indias poor. God had told her his wish and directed what she should do. He wanted
that she should serve him and seek him among the destitute. Therefore, she founded the Order of
the Missionaries of Charity, an institution of women dedicated to the service of the lepers, diseased
and destitute in 1950.
The Order opened schools and centres to treat and give shelter to the lepers, aged, disabled,
diseased and the dying. She also founded a leper colony called Shanti Nagar (Town of Peace)
near Asansol. Sister Francis Xavier was made the in-charge of the colony and she had really done
a miracle by transforming a piece of barren land bloom into a vibrant living place in just five years.
Here the lepers had a place of their own, a place where they could live and die in peace and
dignity, where they could work gainfully and lead a meaningful normal life.
Her journey to Darjeeling proved a turning point in her life. It was really the most significant journey
of her life. The day was September 10. 1946 and later it came to be recognized as Inspiration
Day. She was 38 years of age when she took the strict vows of poverty, purity, obedience and
selfless service. She was given permission by the Pope to leave the convent and begin her lifelong
ministry the year was 1448.
Two years later, her order of the Missionaries of Charity was approved by the archdiocese of
Kolkata and subsequently recognised as a Pontifical Congregation under the direct jurisdiction of
Pope at Rome.
Mother saw the manifestation of God in every human being and felt she was serving the Lord when
she served a leper, a destitute or a dying person. In them she saw Christ himself. She did not
hesitate to serve even a faithless because of her own firm faith in humanity, God and his creation.
She never tried to thrust her faith and belief on others.
Mother led a very frugal and austere life. She had renounced all possessions. The sisters also own
nothing except three coarse sarees, one mattress, one mug and one plate. She became the Indian
citizen in 1962.
Mother Teresa opened charitable dispensaries, hospitals, TB clinics, homes for unwanted children,
schools and a home for dying and destitute called Nirmal Hriday (Pure Heart). This most revered
daughter and mother of India spent her long life in helping the wretched on the gutters. She waged

a relentless and long war against suffering, appalling poverty and disease and compassion was
her only weapon. She lived and died for charity, service and the welfare of the weakest of the
weak.
As a recognition to her matchless and long service she was showered honours upon honours
including the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979, the most prestigious civilian award of India Bharat
Ratna in 1980. Universities felt proud in conferring on her honorary doctorate degrees. She was
given the honour of honorary citizenship of several big and famous cities. In 1971 Pope Paul
awarded her the first Pope John XXIII Peace Prize.
Mother Teresa also received Jawaharlal Nehru Award for International Understanding. She was a
perfect embodiment of selfless love, service, compassion and charity. In her own lifetime she had
grown into a legend.
Mother Teresa died on 5th September, 1997 and thus created a huge void. It was a tragic and
irreparable loss to Kolkata and India in particular and the entire humanity in general. In her death
an important chapter of human history came to an end, and an era closed. However, Indians felt
proud that she chose India as her country of her work, mission and service, India the land of
Buddha, Mahavira and Mahatma Gandhi.
The passing away of this saint of the gutters at the age of 87 years plunged millions of people into
untold sorrow and mourning and orphaned thousands of people. Physically she is no more with us,
but her spirit of love, service, charity and compassion is always there to guide and help us all. In
the recognition of her selfless services the Pope granted her Sainthood. Really, she became a role
model of charity, compassion, holiness and selfless service.