FEATURE STORY

MOTHER TERESA AND HER BELOVABLE LOVE FOR NATIONS

Mother Teresa was always her own person, startlingly independent, obedient, yet challenging some preconceived notions and expectations. Her own life story includes many illustrations of her willingness to listen to and follow her own conscience, even when it seemed to contradict what was expected. This strong and independent woman was born Gonxha (Agnes) Bojaxhiu in Skopje, Yugoslavia, on August 27, 1910. Five children were born to Nikola and Dronda Bojaxhiu, yet only three survived. Gonxha was the youngest, with an older sister, Aga, and brother, Lazar. This brother describes the family's early years as "well-off," not the life of peasants reported inaccurately by some. "We lacked for nothing." In fact, the family lived in one of the two houses they owned. Nikola was a contractor, working with a partner in a successful construction business. He was also heavily involved in the politics of the day. Lazar tells of his father's rather sudden and shocking death, which may have been due to poisoning because of his political involvement. Though so much of her young life was centered in the Church, Mother Teresa later revealed that until she reached 18, she had never thought of being a nun. During her early years, however, she was fascinated with stories of missionary life and service. She could locate any number of missions on the map, and tell others of the service being given in each place.

This is some facts which are only meant to respect to her:

 Mother Teresa’s life has been a living proof of how a Christian life lived to the full can be a true light for THE ENTIRE world. Her smiling presence has been a beacon of God’s light radiating to all corners of the earth, bringing Joy, Peace, Understanding and Unity among all people of the most different creeds and cultures, drawing them closer to God and to each other. Mother Teresa would remind us that “love begins at home,” and this love is shown by little acts of kindness and thoughtfulness towards those who are closer to us, - our family, our neighbours, the people with whom we work. Whatever we do to them, we do it to Jesus. By that daily encounter in faith with God - in our hearts, in the Eucharist, in our brothers and sisters - we come to experience

more and more the depth of His love for us. Like Mother Teresa we will perceive His tremendous longing, His Thirst for us and for each of His children.

Mother Teresa founded the Missionaries of Charity, a Catholic order of nuns dedicated to helping the poor. Begun in Calcutta, India, the Missionaries of Charity grew to help the poor, the dying, orphans, lepers, and AIDS sufferers in over a hundred countries. Mother Teresa's selfless effort to help those in need has caused many to regard her as a model humanitarian.