Mother Teresa, who is widely regarded as one of the most esteemed figures of the 20th century due to her dedication to helping the poor, sick, and dying worldwide, was effectively portrayed in a film shown in class. The film highlighted her deep concern for society’s marginalized and her ability to inspire millions through her preaching. In her speeches, she emphasized the importance of blessing those less fortunate and showing them love. Mother Teresa’s acts of kindness and compassion have earned her a reputation as one of humanity’s most empathetic individuals. She was born in Skopje, Yugoslavia in 1910 as Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu and grew up in a privileged environment thanks to her father being the owner of a prominent construction company.
In 1928, she made a sudden decision to become a nun and went to Dublin, Ireland, to join the Sisters of Loreto. After studying at their convent, she moved to another convent in northeast India. On May 24, 1931, she adopted the name “Teresa” in honor of St. Teresa of Avila. Initially assigned to teach Geography at St. Mary’s High School in Calcutta, Mother Teresa witnessed the suffering of beggars, lepers, and homeless people on the streets. They lived difficult lives surviving on scraps and allowing unwanted babies to die in trash bins.
She decided to approach the archbishop for permission to leave her teaching job and dedicate her life to helping the less fortunate. After receiving written consent from the archbishop, Mother Teresa began her work. In 1948, Pope Pius XII granted Mother Teresa permission to be an autonomous nun so she became an Indian citizen.
Mother Teresa, the founder of the “Missionaries of Charity,” a group of nuns devoted to aiding the sick and dying, warmly received and valued a prospective nun interested in joining. A picture displays her heartfelt letter, demonstrating her compassionate character. The film effectively captures Mother Teresa’s unwavering dedication to helping the impoverished without seeking personal gain. One scene depicts her and the nuns establishing a new facility for those who are ill and dying, rejecting offered comforts in favor of simple living conditions. In contrast to many others, Mother Teresa does not depend on material possessions; she only requires clean water and essential supplies to assist those in need.
Mother Teresa was recognized for her extraordinary work with the poor through numerous prestigious honors. In 1971, she received the Nobel Peace Prize and the Pope Paul VI presented her with the first Pope John XXIII Peace Prize as a tribute to her efforts. The following year, she was granted the Jawaharial Nehru Award for International Understanding by the Indian government in acknowledgement of her contributions. Her most significant recognition came in 1979 when she was honored with another Nobel Peace Prize. Mother Teresa accepted these accolades on behalf of those living in poverty and utilized any accompanying funds to support her centers.
By 1990, there were over 3,000 nuns managing these centers across 25 countries, displaying the tremendous success of Mother Teresa’s missions to aid the impoverished. Furthermore, there are summer groups that resemble Habitat for Humanity and focus on assisting individuals who are sick and dying, similar to Mother Teresa’s endeavors.
Johann Christoph, a well-known priest, leads these groups of kids who share the same passion as Mother Teresa – bringing happiness to dying people in their final days. Wake Forest University, also known as the City of Joy Scholars, is responsible for organizing this initiative. The kids spent 18 days in Calcutta, which was Mother Teresa’s first help center. They were deeply affected by the appreciation that both Mother Teresa and the nuns had for diverse cultures and races, regardless of how sick the individuals appeared. Witnessing and assisting those in need brought about profound mental and emotional changes in these kids. The Missionaries of Charity and Mother Teresa are widely recognized as Earth’s most compassionate individuals. With her recognition as a Saint while still alive, I found the movie enjoyable and learned a great deal about her mission to aid the sick, lepers, and homeless. I have faith that she will succeed but will require additional nuns to join the esteemed Missionaries of Charity.
