St. Teresa of Kolkata
Feast Day: September 5
“Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love.” – St. Teresa of Kolkata
St. Teresa of Kolkata, known to the world as Mother Teresa, is honored as one of the greatest witnesses of Christian charity in the modern age. Her feast day, celebrated on September 5, commemorates her lifelong mission of serving Christ in the poorest of the poor.
A Life of Service and Compassion
Teresa was born in 1910 in Skopje (modern-day North Macedonia) into a devout Catholic family. Drawn to religious life at an early age, she joined the Sisters of Loreto and traveled to India, where she first served as a teacher.
In 1946, while traveling by train, she experienced what she called her “call within a call”—a conviction that God was asking her to leave the classroom and live among the poor, serving them directly.
Missionaries of Charity
In 1950, Teresa founded the Missionaries of Charity, a religious congregation dedicated to serving “the poorest of the poor.” Beginning with a handful of sisters in Kolkata, the Missionaries grew into a worldwide order, running homes for the dying, orphanages, clinics, and shelters for those society had abandoned.
Her sisters embraced poverty and simplicity, wearing their now-famous white saris with blue borders as a sign of their service and humility.
A Witness of Love in Action
Mother Teresa became a global symbol of mercy and charity. She insisted that true holiness was found not in grand achievements, but in doing even the smallest tasks with great love. Her work extended beyond India as she and her sisters opened homes on nearly every continent.
She was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979, yet she remained humble, reminding the world that her mission was simply to love Christ in the distressing disguise of the poor.
Dark Nights and Deep Faith
Though she was admired worldwide, Teresa also experienced decades of spiritual darkness—an interior trial where she felt abandoned by God. Yet even in this silence, she persevered in faith and love, teaching the world that sanctity is not about feelings but about fidelity.
Legacy of Love
Mother Teresa died on September 5, 1997, and was canonized by Pope Francis in 2016. Today, the Missionaries of Charity continue her work across the globe, caring for the sick, the hungry, the abandoned, and the dying.
Her life remains a powerful reminder that holiness is not reserved for extraordinary people—it is found in ordinary acts of love carried out with extraordinary faith.
Patron of the Poor and the Helpless
St. Teresa of Kolkata is patron of the poor, the marginalized, and those who dedicate their lives to charity. Her example invites all Christians to see Christ in the least of our brothers and sisters.
A Call to Live Love
St. Teresa’s life calls us to put love into action—not only in faraway missions, but also in our daily lives, families, and communities. Her words and example challenge us to bring Christ’s love to those around us, especially the lonely and forgotten.
St. Teresa of Kolkata, pray for us!
