Mother Teresa Biography
Mother Teresa, born Anjezë Gonxhe Bojaxhiu on August 26, 1910, in Skopje, then part of the Ottoman Empire (present-day Skopje, North Macedonia), was an Albanian Catholic nun and the founder of the Missionaries of Charity¹. She is also known as Saint Teresa of Calcutta, having been canonized by the Catholic Church on September 4, 2016¹. Mother Teresa dedicated her life to serving the poor and marginalized in society and is widely regarded as one of the most influential figures of the 20th century¹.
Mother Teresa’s journey began in Skopje, where she was born into an Albanian family¹. At the age of 18, she moved to Ireland and later to India, where she spent most of her life¹. In 1950, she founded the Missionaries of Charity, a religious congregation that grew to have over 4,500 nuns across 133 countries as of 2012¹. The congregation provides assistance to people suffering from HIV/AIDS, leprosy, tuberculosis, and other illnesses¹. They also run soup kitchens, dispensaries, mobile clinics, children’s and family counseling programs, orphanages, and schools¹.
Mother Teresa’s work was guided by her philosophy of selfless service and compassion for the less fortunate. She believed in the power of love and kindness to bring about positive change in the world¹. Her tireless efforts to alleviate poverty and suffering earned her several honors and awards. She received the Ramon Magsaysay Peace Prize in 1962 and the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979³. Mother Teresa’s work continues to inspire people around the world to this day.
Despite her immense contributions to humanity, Mother Teresa faced criticism during her lifetime. Some questioned the quality of care provided in her houses for the dying and raised concerns about her views on abortion and contraception¹. However, her unwavering commitment to serving the poorest of the poor remains an enduring legacy.
Source:
(1) Mother Teresa – Wikipedia..
(2) Mother Teresa – Biographical – NobelPrize.org.
(3) Mother Teresa – Wikipedia.
(4) Mother Teresa | Canonization, Awards, Facts, & Feast Day.
