Several of our Marvel Companions have gained knowledge about supporting people. You may already be familiar with the concept of being a helper. Perhaps you have even perused information about organisations such as the Peace Corps. The current Wonder of the Day centres around an individual who endeavoured to enhance the lives of others. She was a member of a religious order, an educator, and a humanitarian. Who is the subject of our discussion? None other than “Mother Teresa” 

Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu  who followed the Catholic faith, came into existence on August 26, 1910. She spent her childhood in Yugoslavia (presently Macedonia) imbibing her mother's teachings of providing assistance to those in need. This eventually became the foundation of the benevolent work that Mother Teresa carried out in her later life. 

Who Was Mother Teresa ? 

Mother Teresa was born in 1910 in Skopje, the capital of the Republic of Macedonia. Little is known about her early life, but at a young age, she experienced a calling to become a nun and provide assistance to the impoverished. At  the age of 18, she received approval to join a group of nuns in Ireland. After several months of training with the Sisters of Loreto and  she was granted permission to journey to India. She took her formal religion  in 1931 and opted to be called after St. Therese of Lisieux, the patron saint of missionaries.

Upon her arrival in India, she began working as an educator. However, the extensive poverty in Calcutta left a profound impression on her, motivating her to establish a new order called “The Missionaries of Charity.” The central objective of this mission was to care for individuals who no one else was willing to care for. Mother Teresa believed that serving others was a fundamental principle of Jesus Christ's teachings. She often cited Jesus' words to represent that she was so devoted to Jesus Christ. 

Mother Teresa underwent two distressing periods in Calcutta . The initial one was during the Bengal famine of 1943, and the second one was during the Hindu/Muslim violence in 1946, prior to India partition . In 1948, she quit the convent to live full-time among the poorest people in Calcutta. She opted for a white Indian saree  with a blue border as a sign of respect for the traditional Indian attire. For many years, Mother Teresa and a small group of nuns survived on meagre earnings and food, often having to beg for funds. However, her efforts with the poorest people were gradually recognised and appreciated by the local community and Indian politicians.

In 1952, she established her first hospice, which provided people with the opportunity to die with dignity. Mother Teresa frequently spent time with those on their deathbeds. Some have criticised the lack of proper medical care and their refusal to administer painkillers. Others argue that it allowed many neglected people to die knowing that someone cared. 

The Purpose Of Mother Teresa 

It was while teaching at the Loreto convent school that Teresa realised the immense suffering of those around her. During a train journey from Calcutta to the Himalayan foothills for a retreat, Teresa experienced what she later called "the call within a call." The concept of all people being God's children seized her, and she heard Jesus instructing her to abandon her teaching job to assist the most needy by living among them.

Drawing inspiration from Jesus' words in the Gospel, "I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me," Mother Teresa endeavoured to serve "the poorest of the poor" on the streets of Calcutta. She gave away all her belongings and lived in dire destitution with them, hoping to serve  others. 

Mother Teresa's work was extremely difficult. The street conditions were appalling, and the poor she aimed to help had no way out of their predicaments. She took it upon herself to provide a path forward for those in need. By teaching them valuable skills, which allowed them to make money and get back on their feet.  

Motivated by compassion and a strong sense of duty, Mother Teresa began teaching those she met how to care for themselves and others during sickness. After just a few years, the Missionaries of Charity had established an orphanage, daycare centre, and a number of schools throughout Calcutta, all staffed by volunteers working under Mother Teresa's guidance.  

Why People Named Their House In Honor Of Mother Teresa ? 

Throughout her existence, Mother Teresa became the most identifiable representation of unselfish generosity worldwide. She devoted herself to raising up the marginalised individuals who had been shunned and ignored by society. Mother Teresa treated everyone with kindness and supported them without regard for their religious convictions or social standing. Her endeavours aided millions of people who were afflicted by illness, poverty, homelessness, and malnutrition. Her labour had a significant impact.

Donor Terry Caster and his family decided to give this edifice the name of Saint Teresa of Calcutta to pay homage to her life's work of serving those in need across the globe. Terry and his beloved spouse, Barbara, collaborated with Mother Teresa on several of her charity projects around the world. Terry donated a precious relic of Saint Teresa of Calcutta - a letter written in her own hand - to bless everyone who resides in the Villa.

By providing reasonable accommodations and comprehensive services tailored to each person's requirements, Father Joe's Villages has helped hundreds of thousands of individuals off the streets and into homes of their own. In this manner, Father Joe's Villages continues the work that Mother Teresa pursued throughout her life.

By naming our new low-cost housing structure after Mother Teresa, we pay tribute to the compassion and selfless love she bestowed upon those who needed it most in her lifetime. Through her spirit of love and compassion, Saint Teresa believed that one should "Let no one ever come to you without coming away better and happier." Saint Teresa of Calcutta Villa was founded in that same spirit. May all who enter through these doors find the opportunity for a brighter and happier future. 

The Real Face Or The Dark Side Of Mother Teresa 

The news which was  published in the journal "Studies in Religion," three professors from the University of Montreal argue that Mother Teresa should not be praised or considered for sainthood. The article has gained significant attention, particularly in India. The authors claim that Mother Teresa had a problematic worldview that idealised poverty and discouraged those in need from seeking to improve their situations. They also criticise  in many ways by telling of her political naivety, including her friendly relationships with dictators like Jean-Claude "Baby Doc" Duvalier and her tribute to Albania's communist leader Enver Hoxha. 

Furthermore, the authors recount allegations of poor medical conditions at facilities run by her Missionaries of Charity and the funnelling of funds to the Vatican instead of those in need. The authors also question the legitimacy of Teresa's beatification, which was based on a dubious "miracle." I  spoke with Serge Larivee, one of the paper's authors, who explained that their interest in the topic arose during an ethics course where they discussed the existence of pure altruism. While they acknowledge that they are not the first to criticise Mother Teresa, they have gained credibility in their research, including that of the late Christopher Hitchens in his book "The Missionary Position."  

Larivee questions whether the church's "fast-tracking" of Mother Teresa's canonization was a calculated PR move. He points out that during John Paul II's pontificate, over 600 beatifications and 300 canonizations occurred, surpassing the number of canonizations in the previous four centuries. Larivee spoke with a theologian who suggested that the canonization of a model saint is an effective way to revitalise the church during a time when church attendance is declining.

John Paul II himself was beatified in 2011, and there have been suspicions about the "miracles" attributed to him. The church requires supernatural occurrences, usually miraculous healings, for sainthood, which is more difficult to prove in modern times with the advancement of medical science.

If actions such as opposing dictatorships or advocating for the poor were considered valid grounds for sainthood, rather than miraculous healings, modern sainthood would have more credibility. Larivee acknowledges that while Mother Teresa's methods were criticised, she inspired the development of humanitarian action and motivated people to help those affected by poverty.

However, another theologian Larivee consulted suggested that the people wanted a saint, and the pope gave them one, implying that the canonization was more of a political move than a spiritual one. 

Conclusion 

No matter what was the real truth or real face of Mother Teresa the thing was that alongside her devout beliefs, empathy, and religious convictions, Mother Teresa possessed all the characteristics of a successful leader - perseverance, tenacity, and utilising adverse circumstances to her advantage.  

Her approach to management was "unique." She directed her organisation through people, establishing a foundation and then enlisting individuals to encircle and serve her, which ultimately led to its expansion. Ultimately, "Mother Teresa by Navin Chawla" is an excellent read that can inspire us to contemplate and support the impoverished!

"The essence of  beliefs is that even if our contributions seem insignificant, they are vital. If we didn't make those small contributions, the world would be lacking in those areas. I don't adhere to the idea of grandiose projects.