Essay on Mother Teresa

 

Essay on Mother Teresa

Introduction

Mother Teresa the name of peace, love, dedication and Humanity. Many wise have been born in this world to spread the message of peace in the world, to dedicate themselves to the service of the needy and helpless people. Mother Teresa was one of them who dedicated her entire life to the service of poor and helpless people. She is our dearest, most revered “Mother”.

Early Life of Mother Teresa

Mother Teresa’s original name was Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu. She was born on 26 August 1910 into a devout Catholic Albanian family in Skopje and 27 August she was baptized. Her father name was Nikolle and mother’s name was Dranafile Bojaxhiu. Her father worked as a construction contractor and a trader for drugs and other goods. In 1919, she was just eight years old, her father suddenly fell ill and died. Agnes began her education at a convent-run primary school and then at a government secondary school.

Mother Teresa often went to the Church of the Black Madonna in Letnice, where she first felt a calling to religious life, then she was only 12 years old. She decided to become a nun so she left home in 1928 at the age of 18 and set off for Ireland to join the Sisters of Loreto in Dublin where she named Sister Marie Teresa after Saint Therese of Lisie.

Work of Mother Teresa

In 1929 Mother Teresa arrived in India and began her novitiate in Darjeeling where she taught at St. Teresa’s School. On 24 May 1931, she took her first Profession of Vows. Then she went to Calcutta now Kolkata where she joined as a teacher at Saint Mary’s High School for Girls, a school run by Loreto Sisters. In 1944 Mother Teresa became the school's headmistress.

'Call Within a Call'

On 10 September 1946, Sister Teresa experienced the call of her inner conscious, “the call within a call”, when she was travelling by train to visit Darjeeling. Mother Teresa said that Christ spoke to her and asked him to leave work and help the poorest and sickest people of Calcutta. In 1950, she founded “Missionaries of Charity” after leaving the school.

“Missionaries of Charity”

In 1950, Mother Teresa founded “Missionaries of Charity” which she founded with some former teachers or pupils from St. Mary's School. She started her missionary work with a simple, white cotton sharee with blue border. After adopting  Indian citizenship, Mother Teresa received basic Medical Training at Holy Family Hospital in Patna. She dedicated her life for Hungry, naked, homeless, crippled, blind, leper all people who feel unwanted, loveless, careless in society. Mother Teresa opened her first hospice in 1952, name “Nirmal Hriday” (Pure Heart). She also found a hospice for the poor people who have leprosy, name “Shanti Nagar” (City of Peace). In 1955 Teresa opened the “Nirmala Shishu Bhavan” for orphans and homeless youth. Soon many people were attracted to her work, and donations began to flow in both domestically and internationally. Missionaries of Charity Brothers was founded in 1963. From 1950s to1960s, Mother Teresa established a leprosy colony, an orphanage, a nursing home, a family clinic for poor, needy people. Mother Teresa expanded the congregation to dozens of countries in Asia, Africa and Europe. Since its founding, the organization has expanded to actively include 4,500 nuns on more than 600 missions in 123 countries.

Rewards and honors

Mother Teresa was honored for her tireless and effective charitable work. In 1962, Mother Teresa was awarded the “Padma Shree” by the Government of India, which is one of its highest civilian honours. She was awarded several awards such as Pope John XXIII Peace Prize on January 6, 1971,on 1996 Honorary American Citizenship (only the 4th person to receive this honour) and many more. In 1979, Mother Teresa was awarded the “Nobel Peace Prize” and “Bharat Ratna”, highest civilian honour of India.

Death of Mother Teresa

On 13 March 1997, Mother Teresa resigned as head of Missionaries of Charity and handed over the charity work to Sister Nirmala. On 5 September 1997, Mother Teresa was dead at about 9:30 p.m. after suffering a cardiac arrest at the Calcutta headquarters of the Missionaries of Charity.

Conclusion

When India is plagued by epidemics, floods, famines and various superstitions, in that darkness she came with the hope of light. Mother Teresa brought a smile to the face of the poor, helpless people, gave shelter to the homeless, gave food to the hungry. India will never forget their beloved and revered “Mother”