Teresa of Calcutta

(August 26, 1910 – September 5, 1997), born Agnesë Gonxhe Bojaxhiu (pronounced [aɡnɛs ɡɔnˈdʒa bɔˈjadʒju]), was an Albanian Roman Catholic nun with Indian citizenship who founded the Missionaries of Charity in Kolkata (Calcutta), India in 1950. For over 45 years she ministered to the poor, sick, orphaned, and dying, while guiding the Missionaries of Charity's expansion, first throughout India and then in other countries.

There are volumes of information on Mother Teresa and there is little I can do to expand it, but I would like to say that in light of some who would love to see her memory torn-down as a threat to their secularist/atheist agenda, the life of Blessed Teresa of Calcutta is a prime example of "love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: and thy neighbour as thyself" (St. Matthew 22:37, St. Mark 12:30 & St. Luke 10:27)


The Collect.

Heavenly Father, whose Son Jesus Christ came, not to be ministered unto, but to minister: Grant us the grace to follow in his footsteps, and to show forth thy love by loving and serving our neighbors, and coming, as did Blessed Teresa of Calcutta, to the rescue of those in need; for the sake of the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, one God, now and forever. Amen.


The Lesson - Song of Solomon 8:6-7.

Set me as a seal upon thine heart, as a seal upon thine arm: for love is strong as death; jealousy is cruel as the grave: the coals thereof are coals of fire, which hath a most vehement flame. Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it: if a man would give all the substance of his house for love, it would utterly be contemned.


The Holy Gospel - St. Luke 12:22-37.

JESUS said unto his disciples, Therefore I say unto you. Be not anxious for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on. The life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment. Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls? And which of you by being anxious can add a cubit to his span of life? If ye then be not able to do that which is least, why are ye anxious for the rest? Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith? And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of anxious mind. For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things. But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall he added unto you. Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. Let your loins be girded about, and your lamps burning; and ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately. Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them.


Reference and Resources:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mother_Teresa
http://www.ttstm.com/2009/09/september-5-teresa-of-calcutta-mother.html

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