MOTHER TERESA, A SAINT IN THE MAKING She was born on 27-8-1910, Skope,Yugoslavia, Republic of Macedonia. She was baptized the next day as Agnes Gouxha Bojaxhiu (rosebud), . Dronda (Dranafile) was her father and mother Nikola Bojaxhiu .She was the youngest of 5 children and one of 3 to survive. Her elder brother was named Lazar and older sister Aga. Father was in construction business and trader in medicines and were well to do family, Due to political rivalry his death was surrounded in mystery and he died young and suddenly and believed to have been poisoned. Teresa was then just 8 years old. At the age of 12 ,on annual pilgrimage to the church of Black Madona, she got the inspiration for her vocation., After father’s death she was very close to her mother, who had profound influence on her , as they were very devout family .At the age of 18 years, 1928 Teresa joined Loreto sisters at Dublin, Ireland .She completed her novitiate at Darjeeling India. After graduation she adopted the name of sister Teresa after Therese of Lisieux in and took first profession 24-5- 1931 and final profession on 24-5- 1937, Teresa was deputed to Calcutta as a teacher to St Mary`s school for girls. Her conduct and behavior won her great appreciation. After teaching for 17 years she was appointed Principal in 1944. On a train journey from Calcutta to Himalayas on 10-9-1946 ,she received a call to, leave teaching and start work for poor and abandoned. It took almost a year for her to be granted permission in 1948. She started her mission wit 12 nuns mostly from the school. In the year 1950 Teresa received canonical recognition for Mission of Charity. The initial period was a big struggle both economically and with need for physical infrastructure .She continued with the daunted task with faith and love for the downtrodden, Soon she had a school, orphanage , lepers colony. Her work flourished with dedication, concern, love and care taking those on street, dying and uncared for thus providing physical and emotional support. She was nick named the saint of gutters. After prolonged illness she passed away on 5-9-1997 at the age of 87 years at her Mission of Charity at Calcutta and was granted state funeral in recognition of her humanitarian works of charity and selfless service.
In the year 2007 it is believed she had a crisis of faith for most of her life until she saw the light and the purpose of her calling. She was accused of religious imperialism attempting to foist her views on conversion and fierce opposition to contraception and abortion. Her remarks have been taken out of context and misinterpreted to discredit her work of mercy and , ,compassion She received many awards Bharat Ratna 1980, Padma shri 1962,, International understanding 1969, Peace prize in 1974, Ramon Mega say peace prize, Golden medal from Soviet Union and citation” Jewel of India “ among numerous others Her grave has become a pilgrimage centre. Mother Teresa was beatified in 2003 after Monica Bersa, Bengal woman was miraculously healed of abdominal tumor .The second miracle of Marcilio Andrino of Brazil, who was cured of unexplained multiple brain tumours,in 2008. She will be canonized saint Teresa on 4-9-2016 , 19 years after her death at Rome There are over 600 Centres spread over 133 countries with the presence of Mission of Charity Once she left home , she never again saw her mother and sister She was by blood Albanian, by citizenship Indian and by faith Catholic Nelso Lopes Chinchinim
