Mother Teresa
Created | Updated May 14, 2003
Mother Teresa (1910-97)
Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu was born in Albania in 1910, the youngest of 3 children.
She began her missionary work as a teacher in Calcutta, India.
Taking the name of Sister Teresa1, she took her final vows as a nun in 1937.
In 1948, she was granted permission by the Vatican to leave her convent so she could tend the sick, starving and homeless people living in Calcutta's slums.
The Missionaries of Charity
She founded her own Order of the Missionaries of Charity in 1950 and this subsequently extended to other countries.
At the time of writing, there are more than 2,000 nuns in this Order, caring for the sick and the dying throughout the world.
Quotes and poetry by Mother Teresa
Inspiration
This poem was written by Mother Teresa and is engraved on the wall of her home for children in Calcutta.
Awards
In 1996, Mother Teresa was awarded honarary U.S. citizenship.
Contraversies
As a catholic nun, Mother Teresa refused to allow contraception of any kind. In the poorest of countries, with too many people and not enough food, this was perhaps not the best policy.
It was unfortunate that Mother Teresa died when she did. Just a few days after Princess Diana was killed, her death passed almost unnoticed by the world's media. The contrast between the funerals of the two women could not have been greater.
Referenced Researchers
1In honour of Saint Thérèse of Lisieux
