Devotion and prayers to Mother Teresa of Calcutta to be made today 5 September
Skopje, Macedonia, August 26, 1910 - Calcutta, India, September 5, 1997
Agnes Gonxhe Bojaxhiu, born in today's Macedonia from an Albanian family, at the age of 18 fulfilled her desire to become a missionary nun and entered the Congregation of the Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of Loreto. Leaving for Ireland in 1928, a year later she arrived in India. In 1931 he made his first vows, taking the new name of Sister Maria Teresa del Bambin Gesù (chosen for his devotion to the saint of Lisieux), and for about twenty years he taught history and geography to the students of the college of Entally, in the eastern area of Calcutta. On September 10, 1946, while on the train to Darjeeling for spiritual exercises, he felt the "second call": God wanted him to found a new congregation. On August 16, 1948 he then left the college to share the life of the poorest of the poor. His name has become synonymous with a sincere and disinterested charity, lived directly and taught to all. From the first group of young people who followed her, the congregation of the Missionaries of Charity arose, then expanded almost all over the world. She died in Calcutta on 5 September 1997. She was beatified by Saint John Paul II on 19 October 2003 and finally canonized by Pope Francis on Sunday 4 September 2018.
PRAYER
by Monsignor Angelo Comastri
Mother Teresa of the last! Your quick step has always gone towards the weakest and most abandoned to silently contest those who are rich in power and selfishness: the water of the last supper has passed into your tireless hands showing everyone courageously the way to true greatness .
Mother Teresa of Jesus! you heard the cry of Jesus in the cry of the hungry of the world and you healed the body of Christ in the wounded body of the lepers. Mother Teresa, pray that we become humble and pure in heart like Mary in order to welcome in our hearts the love that makes us happy. Amen!
PRAYER
(when she was blessed)
Blessed Teresa of Calcutta, in your yearning to love Jesus as he was never loved before, you gave yourself completely to him, never refusing him anything. In union with the Immaculate Heart of Mary, you accepted the call to satiate His infinite thirst for love and souls and to become the bearer of His love for the poorest of the poor. With loving trust and total abandonment you have done His will, bearing witness to the joy of belonging totally to Him. You have become so intimately united with Jesus, your crucified Spouse, that He, suspended on the cross, has deigned to share with you the agony of His Heart. Blessed Teresa, you who have promised to continually bring the light of love to those who are on earth, pray that we too wish to satisfy Jesus' burning thirst with passionate love, joyfully sharing His sufferings, and serving Him with all our heart in our brothers and sisters, especially in those who, more than all, are "not loved" and "unwanted". Amen.
THOUGHTS OF MOTHER TERESA OF CALCUTTA
Which…
The most beautiful day: today.
The easiest thing: to be wrong.
The biggest obstacle: fear.
The biggest mistake: surrender.
The origin of all evils: selfishness.
The most beautiful distraction: work.
The worst defeat: discouragement.
The best teachers: children.
The main need: communication.
What makes us happier: being useful to others.
The biggest mystery: death.
The worst fault: the bad mood.
The most dangerous person: the liar.
The most disastrous feeling: the grudge.
The most beautiful gift: forgiveness.
The most indispensable thing: the family.
The fastest route: the right one.
The most pleasant sensation: spiritual peace.
The most effective protection: the smile.
The best medicine: optimism.
The greatest satisfaction:
having done your duty.
The most powerful force in the world: faith.
The most necessary people: the parents.
The most beautiful of things: love.
Life is an opportunity, take it!
Life is beauty, admire it!
Life is bliss, savor it!
Life is a dream, make it a reality!
Life is a challenge, meet it!
Life is a duty, fill it out!
Life is a game, play it!
Life is precious, take care of it!
Life is a wealth, keep it!
Life is love, enjoy it!
Life is mystery, find out!
Life is promised, fulfill it!
Life is sadness, overcome it!
Life is a hymn, sing it!
Life is a struggle, accept it!
Life is a tragedy,
grab it, hand to hand!
Life is an adventure, risk it!
Life is happiness, deserve it!
Life is life, defend it!