Mother Teresa was the founder of the Order of the Missionaries of Charity, a Roman Catholic congregation of women dedicated to helping the poor. Considered one of the 20th Century's greatest humanitarians, she was canonized as Saint Teresa  of Calcutta in 2016.

Mother Teresa, also known as Saint Teresa of Calcutta, was an Albanian-Indian Roman Catholic nun and missionary. She dedicated her life to helping the poor, sick, and marginalized in India and around the world. Mother Teresa founded the Missionaries of Charity, a religious congregation that runs hospices, homes for people with HIV/AIDS, orphanages, and schools. She received numerous awards for her humanitarian work, including the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979.

Early Life and Call to Serve

Mother Teresa was born on August 26, 1910, in Skopje, now the capital of North Macedonia. She was baptized as Anjezë Gonxhe Bojaxhiu. At the age of 18, she left home to join the Sisters of Loreto in Ireland and became a nun. She took the name Sister Teresa and traveled to India in 1929, where she taught at a school in Kolkata (formerly Calcutta).

Inspiration and Founding of Missionaries of Charity

While teaching, Sister Teresa was deeply moved by the poverty and suffering she witnessed in the slums of Kolkata. In 1946, she received a "call within a call" from God, urging her to serve the poorest of the poor. This led her to establish the Missionaries of Charity in 1950, with the primary goal of caring for those in need.

Works and Impact

Mother Teresa and her fellow sisters focused on providing love, compassion, and support to the destitute, abandoned, and dying. They opened homes for the dying, where people received dignified care in their final moments. They also established centers for leprosy patients, orphanages, schools, and clinics. Mother Teresa's work expanded beyond India, and the Missionaries of Charity now operate in over 130 countries.

Legacy and Recognition

Mother Teresa's selfless dedication to serving humanity earned her worldwide recognition and admiration. In 1979, she received the Nobel Peace Prize for her efforts to alleviate poverty and suffering. She used the prize money to fund a leprosy hospital in Kolkata. Mother Teresa was also awarded the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian award, and was canonized as a saint by the Catholic Church in 2016.

Conclusion

Mother Teresa's life and work exemplify the power of compassion, love, and service to others. Her legacy continues to inspire millions of people to reach out to those in need and work towards creating a more compassionate and just world. Mother Teresa's unwavering commitment to the poor and marginalized serves as a guiding light for generations to come.