Mother Theresa
Mother Theresa was born in Yugoslavia in August 27, ‘1910 and she was named Agnes Bojaxha. Brought up by parents who were very devoted, she spent her early life peacefully. She grew up into a beautiful lady. liked and respected by all in the neighbourhood.
Some of the Jesuits known to her ware working in a mission at Culcutta. They were regularly writing to their Parish at home who in turn read out the same to the younger people in order to inspire in them a sense of devotion and service. After learning from the letters about the poverty stricken people of India, Agnes decided to devote her life to the service of the poor in India.
During that period, the Loreto sisters were doing good work in the suburbs of Calcutta. Having learnt about them through Jesuits who returned home after sometime, she joined the order of Loreto Sisters and took the vows of a nun. After the completion of her training, she was posted to Calcutta.
She served as a nun for fifteen years, teaching students unnoticed and unknown as many other nuns.
She was not satisfied with her teaching work. Even-though she had come over to Calcutta where she wanted to be, still her ambition to serve the poorest was not satisfied.
One day, she met with the greatest shock of her life. She found a woman deserted on the road side half eaten by rats and maggots. Deeply compassionate she took care of the woman and attended to her with love and care till she died. God has set her foot firmly on the service for which she has to dedicate her future.
The urge to dedicate herself to the lowliest and the lost and to work for the destitute and outcasts of society made her leave the Loreto Convent. She found the congregation which is known as the Missionary Sisters of Charity. A white saree with a blue border, open sandals and a crucifix borne on the shoulder became the uniform of the mission.
They started picking up people who were dying on the streets of Calcutta with no one to care for them. She got a house where these people could peacefully die. She called that house “Nirmal Hiruday.” The selfless and ‘devoted work started by her drew the attention of one id all here in India and abroad. The zeal with which she started her work endeared her to the young and many young women flocked eagerly to join her mission.
Many branches were started and the work though many and varied and carried on devotedly guided by her missionary zeal. Her ideal ‘The love of god shown in service to mon” is the basis of all her activities. An unknown girl from Yugoslavia has blossomed into a renowned “Mother Theresa.”
