Mother Teresa, known by the Catholic Church as Saint Teresa of Calcutta, is honored worldwide for her steadfast commitment to serving the poorest of the poor.
Born Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu on August 26, 1910 in Skopje, Macedonia, she devoted her life to humanitarian work and founded the Missionaries of Charity in 1950.
Her journey began with a profound calling to help those in need, which she described as “a calling within a calling” during a 1946 train trip.
This inspirational moment took her to the slums of Calcutta, where she provided care and compassion for the sick, orphans, and dying.
File
- Full name: Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu
- Nickname: Mother Teresa
- Date of birth: August 26, 1910
- Age as of 2024: 114 years old (deceased)
- Gender: Female
- Birthplace: Skopje, Macedonia (then part of the Ottoman Empire)
- Nationality: Albanian-American
- Occupation: Nun, Missionary, Humanitarian
- Height: Not applicable
- Parents: Nikola Bojaxhiu and Dranafile Bojaxhiu
- Siblings: An older brother (Lazar) and a younger sister (Agnes)
- Spouse: Not applicable (still unmarried)
- Children: N/A (dedicate your life to service)
- Relationship status: N/A
- Religion: Roman Catholic
- Ethnicity: Albanian
- Net worth: $0
Early life and education
Mother Teresa (114 years old as of 2024) was born on August 26, 1910 in Skopje, Macedonia. Her parents are Nikola and Dranafile Bojaxhiu, who are of Albanian descent.
Mother Teresa was the youngest of three children; She has an older brother named Lazar and an older sister named Agnes. Raised in a devout Catholic family, she was influenced by her parents’ strong faith and commitment to helping others.
At age 12, she felt God’s strong call to become a missionary. This belief led her to leave home at age 18 to join the Sisters of Loreto in Ireland.
After completing her initial training there, she was sent to India in 1929. Upon arriving in Calcutta (now Kolkata), she began teaching at St. George’s High School. Mary’s for girls.
While teaching for nearly two decades, Mother Teresa witnessed extreme poverty and suffering outside the convent walls. The harsh realities faced by those living in the slums affected her deeply and eventually led her to seek a more direct way to serve those in need.
In 1946, while traveling by train from Calcutta to Darjeeling for a retreat, she experienced what she called “a calling within a calling.” This moment inspired her to leave the convent and devote herself to serving the poor.
In 1948, after receiving permission from church authorities, she donned a simple white sari with blue trim—a symbol of her new mission—and ventured into the slums of Calcutta.
Personal life
Mother Teresa remained unmarried throughout her life and devoted herself entirely to her mission of service. Although she did not have children or a traditional family life, she formed deep bonds with those she served and the sisters in the Missionaries of Charity.
Her commitment to helping others often came at great personal cost. She faced many challenges while establishing order and taking care of the poor. Despite these difficulties, Mother Teresa remained steadfastly focused on her mission.
Her life is characterized by simplicity and modesty; she lived among the people she served rather than seeking comfort or wealth for herself. Mother Teresa often emphasized that love and compassion were at the heart of her work.
Career
Mother Teresa’s humanitarian career began in earnest after she founded the Missionaries of Charity in 1950. The order aimed to provide free services to the poorest regardless of background or creed. their.
Under her leadership, the organization expanded rapidly—establishing homes for orphans, leprosy patients, and people suffering from various diseases.
In addition to establishing hospices such as Nirmal Hriday (Place for the Pure Heart) for terminally ill patients, Mother Teresa also organized mobile clinics and rehabilitation centers for addicts drugs and alcoholism. She also opened schools for poor children and cared for the mentally disabled.
Over time, Mother Teresa’s work gained global attention; She has received many awards recognizing her contributions to humanitarian efforts. Her dedication has inspired many individuals worldwide who have sought to follow her example by participating in charitable causes.
By the time of her death in 1997, Mother Teresa had established hundreds of centers in more than 90 countries, each dedicated to serving those most in need.
prize
- Nobel Peace Prize (1979)
- Templeton Award (1973)
- Ramon Magsaysay Award (1962)
- Jawaharlal Nehru Award for International Understanding (1986)
Net worth
Mother Teresa, famous for her selfless service to the poor, founded the Missionaries of Charity, which received significant donations globally. Estimates show that at the time of her death in 1997, the organization’s assets exceeded $100 million.
Despite this wealth, Mother Teresa vowed to live in poverty and not accumulate personal money. The Missionaries of Charity continue to work worldwide, focusing on charitable activities and serving the less fortunate.
Death
Mother Teresa passed away on September 5, 1997 in Kolkata, India. Her death marked the end of an era defined by compassion and service; Millions mourned her loss across the globe. After her death, tributes poured in from all over the world, honoring her tireless dedication to helping the less fortunate.
Argumentative
Despite widespread admiration for Mother Teresa’s humanitarian work, some controversy has emerged regarding aspects of her life and mission. Critics have raised concerns about various factors related to her practices and beliefs throughout her career.
A significant point of controversy arose from complaints regarding inadequate medical care provided at some facilities operated by the Missionaries of Charity—allegations that patients did not receive receive adequate treatment or pain relief options during their stay.
Critics say this approach stems from Mother Teresa’s staunch opposition to abortion and contraception; They suggested that such beliefs influenced the way care was administered in these settings.
Additionally, some have criticized Mother Teresa’s close association with controversial political figures — including former Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi — arguing that these relationships contradict her commitment to has her purpose for social justice.
In the years that followed, questions emerged around transparency regarding funding for Missions of Charity projects; Critics demand greater accountability for how donations are used in their operations.
Furthermore, some scholars have criticized what they see as the overly romanticized depiction of poverty promoted by Mother Teresa, asserting that this perspective may unintentionally perpetuate problematic issues. systemic rather than effectively addressing the root causes.
Despite the controversy surrounding aspects specifically related to the practices adopted in the institutions she ran, Mother Teresa remains revered by many as an enduring symbol of compassion. for humanity’s most vulnerable groups around the world.
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