TO 25 years after his death, Mother Teresa of Calcutta continues to speak to us. She urges us not to close our eyes to the evil that exists in the world, starting with the poor around us. She does it through the memory of him, now indelible in today’s culture. And through the work of the Missionaries of Charity, which she founded in 1950.
25 years without Mother Teresa of Calcutta
The naturalized Indian Albanian nun died on 5 September 1997 in Calcutta. In the course of his life he left a very strong mark, between public speeches, meetings that have become historical with political figures or religious figures and, above all, thanks to the example of a commitment to the poor in the populous Indian city.
In 1950 he founded the congregation of Missionaries of charity which today has about 5,000 religious. The consecrated women with the blue-edged sari are present on all continents and are involved in works of moral and material assistance to the poor. Their founder, winner of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979was proclaimed blessed by Pope John Paul II in St. Peter’s Square in Rome on October 19, 2003.
On 4 September 2016, however, Pope Francis canonized Mother Teresa (aka Anjëzë Gonxhe Bojaxhiu). For her canonization she was recognized as miraculous healing of Marcilio Haddad Andrinoa Brazilian engineer diagnosed with eight brain abscesses and a severe form of hydrocephalus in 2008.
Pope Francis at the canonization of Mother Teresa in St. Peter’s Square in Rome on September 4, 2016. Credit: Pressefoto Ulmerullstein bild via Getty Images
Shortly before the surgery – made necessary due to a sudden deterioration – he felt healed and the doctors noted the disappearance of hydrocephalus and abscesses. During her illness, Andrino’s wife had prayed for him, placing a relic of Mother Teresa on her head.
The memory of Pope Francis
Own Pope Bergoglio today, Monday 5 September, dedicated a thought to the Saintwith a tweet.
«#MadreTeresa loved to say:“ Maybe I don’t speak their language, but I can smile ”. Let us carry his smile in our hearts and give it to those we meet on our journey, especially to those who suffer. In this way we will open horizons of joy and hope », she reads.
Today is celebrated the International day of charity. This anniversary in 2012 was linked to this day, the anniversary of the death of Saint Mother Teresa of Calcutta, by the will of the United Nations General Assembly.
In this regard, Pope Francis tweeted. “The little, if shared with love, never ends, but is transformed into a reserve of life and happiness. So it happens for our alms, whether small or large, offered with joy and simplicity“.
A docufilm arrives
In order to bring the figure of Mother Teresa of Calcutta closer to the new generations, the Knights of Columbus decided to create a documentary film centered on her figure. Mother Teresa: there is no greater love was premiered in the Vatican and it will be released in over 900 theaters in the United States and Canada starting from 3 October.
Inside the film you will be able to see materials taken from the archives of the Missionaries of Charityamong the testimonies of the sisters of the congregation but also of people who, around the world, they came across his charisma. And they felt challenged and pushed towards the light of faith.
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