Mother Teresa (1910–1997) was an Albanian-Indian Roman Catholic nun whose name became synonymous with compassion. As the founder of the Missionaries of Charity, she dedicated her life to serving the “poorest of the poor”, the sick, dying, abandoned, and forgotten, most notably in Calcutta (Kolkata), India. Her tireless humanitarian work earned her the 1979 Nobel Peace Prize, and in 2016 she was canonized as Saint Teresa of Calcutta.

Early Life and a Calling to Serve

Born Anjezë Gonxhe Bojaxhiu on August 26, 1910, in Skopje (now North Macedonia), Mother Teresa grew up in a devout Albanian Catholic family. The death of her father when she was eight brought hardship, but her mother instilled a deep commitment to faith and charity.

At 12, she felt a calling to religious life. At 18, she joined the Sisters of Loreto, training in Ireland before traveling to India in 1928. She took her first vows in 1931, choosing the name Teresa after Saint Thérèse of Lisieux, and made her final vows in 1937, becoming known as Mother Teresa.

The “Call Within a Call”

For nearly two decades, Mother Teresa taught at St. Mary’s High School in Kolkata, eventually becoming principal. While teaching, she witnessed widespread suffering, especially during the Bengal famine of 1943.

In 1946, during a train journey, she experienced what she described as a “call within a call”,

a conviction to leave the convent school and live among the poor. With permission from church authorities, she stepped into the slums wearing a simple white sari with a blue border, a habit that would become iconic.

Founding the Missionaries of Charity

In 1950, Mother Teresa founded the Missionaries of Charity, a congregation dedicated to caring for those society had cast aside: the hungry, homeless, sick, disabled, and dying. The sisters lived simply, offering compassion and dignity rather than pity.

The order established:

• Hospices for the dying
• Homes for orphans and abandoned children
• Clinics and nursing homes for leprosy patients
• Care centers for people with HIV/AIDS

By 1965, the Vatican approved international expansion. The Missionaries of Charity eventually served in over 100 countries, supported by thousands of sisters and lay volunteers.

Global Recognition, and Criticism

Mother Teresa’s work brought global attention and honors, including:

• Pope John XXIII Peace Prize (1971)
• Nehru Prize (1972)
• Nobel Peace Prize (1979)
• Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian honor (1980)

She was widely admired as a living symbol of mercy. At the same time, critics questioned medical standards in some facilities and challenged her conservative views on issues such as contraception and abortion. Mother Teresa maintained that her mission was spiritual as well as humanitarian, offering love, presence, and dignity to those who had none.

Final Years, Death, and Canonization

Mother Teresa continued her work despite declining health. She died on September 5, 1997, in Kolkata. Her legacy endured, and on September 4, 2016, she was canonized by Pope Francis.

Her feast day is celebrated annually on September 5.

Final Thoughts

Mother Teresa’s life was marked by radical simplicity and unwavering service. Whether praised or criticized, her commitment to caring for society’s most vulnerable reshaped how the world understands compassion in action. She reminded millions that small acts, done with great love, can change lives.

Her legacy endures not only in institutions across the globe, but in a timeless challenge she left behind: to see dignity where others see despair, and to serve without counting the cost.