SEPTEMBER 5, 2016
MONDAY OF WEEK 23;
BLESSED TERESA OF CALCUTTA
Short Biography Mother Teresa
Mother Teresa was born, 1910, in Skopje, capital of
the Republic of Macedonia. Little is known about her early life, but at a young
age she felt a calling to be a nun and serve through helping the poor. At the
age of 18 she was given permission to join a group of nuns in Ireland. After a
few months of training, with the Sisters of Loreto, she was then given
permission to travel to India. She took her formal religious vows in 1931, and
chose to be named after St Therese of Lisieux – the patron saint of
missionaries.
On her arrival in India, she began by working as a
teacher, however the widespread poverty of Calcutta made a deep impression on
her; and this led to her starting a new order called “The Missionaries of
Charity”. The primary objective of this mission was to look after people, who
nobody else was prepared to look after. Mother Teresa felt that serving others
was a key principle of the teachings of Jesus Christ. She often mentioned the
saying of Jesus,
“Whatever you do to the least of my brethren, you
do it to me.”
As Mother Teresa said herself:
“Love cannot remain by itself — it has no meaning.
Love has to be put into action, and that action is service .” – Mother
Teresa
She experienced two particularly traumatic periods
in Calcutta. The first was the Bengal famine of 1943 and the second was the
Hindu/Muslim violence in 1946 – before the partition of India. In 1948, she
left the convent to live full time amongst the poorest of Calcutta. She chose
to wear a white Indian Sari, with blue trimmings – out of respect for the
traditional Indian dress. For many years, Mother Teresa and a small band of
fellow nuns survived on minimal income and food, often having to beg for funds.
But, slowly her efforts with the poorest were noted and appreciated by the
local community and Indian politicians.
In 1952, she opened her first home for the dying,
which allowed people to die with dignity. Mother Teresa often spent time with
those who were dying. Some have criticised the lack of proper medical
attention, and refusal to give painkillers. But, others say that it afforded
many neglected people the opportunity to die knowing someone cared.
Over time the work grew. Missions were started
overseas, and by 2013, there are 700 missions operating in over 130 countries.
The scope of their work also expanded to include orphanages, and hospices for
those with terminal illness.
“Not all of us can do great things. But we can do
small things with great love.”
—- Mother Teresa
Mother Teresa never sought to convert those of an
another faith. Those in her dying homes were given the religious rites
appropriate to their faith. However, she had a very firm Catholic faith and
took a strict line on abortion, the death penalty and divorce – even if her
position was unpopular. Her whole life was influenced by her faith and
religion, even though at times she confessed she didn’t feel the presence of
God.
The Missionaries of Charity now has branches
throughout the world including branches in the developed world where they work
with the homeless and people affected with AIDS. In 1965, the Society became an
International Religious Family by a decree of Pope Paul VI.
In the 1960s, the life of Mother Teresa was first
brought to a wider public attention by Malcolm Muggeridge who wrote a book and
produced a documentary called “Something Beautiful for God”.
In 1979, she was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize “for
work undertaken in the struggle to overcome poverty and distress, which also
constitutes a threat to peace.” She didn’t attend the ceremonial banquet, but
asked that the $192,000 fund be given to the poor.
In later years, she was more active in western
developed countries. She commented that though the west was materially prosperous,
there was often a spiritual poverty.
“The hunger for love is much more difficult to
remove than the hunger for bread.”
-— Mother Teresa
When she was asked how to promote world peace, she
replied.
“Go home and love your family”
Over the last two decades of her life, Mother
Teresa suffered various health problems but nothing could dissuade her from
fulfilling her mission of serving the poor and needy. Until her very last
illness she was active in travelling around the world to the different branches
of “The Missionaries of Charity” During her last few years, she met PRINCESS
DIANA in the
Bronx, New York. The two died within a week of each other.
Following Mother Teresa’s death the Vatican began
the process of beatification, which is the second step on the way to
canonisation and sainthood. Mother Teresa was formally beatified in October
2003 by Pope John Paul II and is now known as Blessed Teresa of Calcutta.
Mother Teresa was a living saint who offered a
great example and inspiration to the world.
First Reading
Genesis
2:4-9, 15/ 1 Corinthians 5:1-8
4These
are the generations of the heavens and the earth when they were created. In the
day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens, 5when no plant of the
field was yet in the earth and no herb of the field had yet sprung up -- for
the LORD God had not caused it to rain upon the earth, and there was no man to
till the ground; 6but a mist went up from the earth and watered the whole face
of the ground -- 7then the LORD God formed man of dust from the ground, and
breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.
8And the LORD God planted a garden in Eden, in the east; and there he put the
man whom he had formed. 9And out of the ground the LORD God made to grow every
tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food, the tree of life also in
the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. 15The
LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to till it and keep it.
Responsorial Psalm
Psalms
90:2-5, 12-14, 16 / Psalm 5:5-6,7,12
2Before
the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the
world, from everlasting to everlasting thou art God. 3Thou turnest man back to
the dust, and sayest, "Turn back, O children of men!" 4For a thousand
years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, or as a watch in the
night. 5Thou dost sweep men away; they are like a dream, like grass which is
renewed in the morning: 12So teach us to number our days that we may get a
heart of wisdom. 13Return, O LORD! How long? Have pity on thy servants!
14Satisfy us in the morning with thy steadfast love, that we may rejoice and be
glad all our days. 16Let thy work be manifest to thy servants, and thy glorious
power to their children.
ALLELUIA John 10:27
My sheep
hear my voice, says the Lord; I know them, and they follow me.
Gospel
Matthew
6:31-34/ Luke 6:6-11
31Therefore
do not be anxious, saying, `What shall we eat?' or `What shall we drink?' or
`What shall we wear?' 32For the Gentiles seek all these things; and your
heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33But seek first his kingdom and
his righteousness, and all these things shall be yours as well.
34"Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be
anxious for itself. Let the day's own trouble be sufficient for the day.
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