Mother Teresa
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Born in Albania in 1910 Mother Teresa entered the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary, a.k.a. Sisters of Loretto in 1928. From 1931 on she worked in Bengal India as a teacher for girls from wealthy families. However, she wanted to give Jesus something without reserve so in 1942 she made a vow to give to God anything He may ask, and not to refuse him anything.
On Tuesday September 10, 1946, on a train bound for Darjeeling, she had a mystical encounter with Christ. She saw a big crowd of people who cried out to her “Come, come, save us, bring Jesus to us.” And then she heard the voice of Jesus pleading with her, “Come, come, carry Me into the holes of the poor. Come be My light.” This double invitation from the crowd of poor and from Jesus echoed throughout her life.
At first, she hesitated because she had a stable, safe and comfortable life as a teacher.
However, again Jesus spoke to her with words that cut her to the heart: “You have come to India for Me. The thirst you had for souls brought you so far. Are you afraid to take one more step for your Spouse, for me, for souls? Is your generosity grown cold? Am I a second to you? You did not die for souls. That is why you don’t care what happens to them. Your heart was never drowned in sorrow as it was My Mother’s. We both gave our all for souls and you? You are afraid that you will lose… (who you were), and that you will be wanting in perseverance. Nay - your vocation is to love and suffer and save souls and by taking this step you will fulfill my Heart’s desire for you. That is your vocation.”
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About that same time Mother Teresa read a biography of St. Francis Cabrini who came from Italy to be a missionary in America in 1889.
Reflecting on her life Mother Teresa wrote: “Mother Cabrini did not wait for souls to come to her. She went to them with Zealous workers. Why can’t I do the same for Jesus here in India?”
Yet Mother Teresa did not feel capable. In Reply Jesus said to her: You are, I know, the most uncapable person, weak and sinful, but just because you are that I want to use you for my glory! Wilt thou refuse?
So, in 1948 she left the comfort and security of her convent, walking through the gates with five rupees, the equivalent of 5 pennies, to go out into the dark holes of the slums of India to bring the light of Jesus to souls steeped in darkness, abandonment and sin.
From that day forward her aim was to bring souls to God and God to souls.
In 1950 12 women joined her and the Missionaries of Charity began.
She writes: “The Aim of the Missionaries of Charity is to satiate the thirst of Jesus on the Cross for love and souls.
Today the Missionaries of Charity number more than 5000 members with 766 homes serving the poor in 139 countries.
Like Mother Cabrini before her, Mother Teresa was adamant: “We will not wait for souls to come to us; we will go in search of them.”
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Mother Teresa knew she and those who joined her were totally incapable to bring the light of Jesus to those in darkness.
So, no matter how busy they were or how great a need they faced, Mother Teresa made deep friendship with Jesus through prayer her source of strength. She relied on Jesus in the Eucharist and Mary through the Rosary.
She was convinced that the work of comforting those in the greatest need would be impossible without the continual grace of Jesus received every day in the Eucharist and a deep life of prayer. Jesus would have to do everything, she would say, we have just to follow.
Mother Teresa consecrated her life to Mary and was devoted to the Rosary. The Rule of the Missionaries of Charity was never to go to the slums without first praying the Rosary, so they prayed the Rosary in the streets as they walked to take care of the poor. Mother Teresa would say: “Cling to the rosary…for without Our Lady we cannot stand!”
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Mother Teresa spoke of three types of poverty: material, social and spiritual. She would say “Calcutta is everywhere.” And “The greatest, most serious form of poverty is spiritual.” To live life without food, water, shelter or health care is bad. But to live life without a relationship with God, without His life in one’s soul is far worse. Physical poverty will end. Spiritual poverty, to live without God, can go on forever.
So we must ask ourselves: Who are the people we live with, are friends with, interact with, who do not have the light of Jesus?
What good is it to hear about the life of Mother Teresa unless we answer the call of Jesus ourselves. Can you not hear Him: “Come, come, carry me into the holes of the poor? Come be My light.
I am the “Rosary Guy,” but I have fears and doubts, I am full of sin, and I am attached to my routines and comforts. Still, I desperately want to be a good Donkey who carries Mary and Jesus to others. But I can only do very little. I can’t do this alone. But we can do this together.
Can you hear those around you: “Come, come save us, bring us to Jesus.” And Jesus, “Wilt thou refuse?”
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Mother Teresa had a vison of big crowds.
Most people respond: “Well, I’m no Mother Teresa. I just want to get my family and friends get to heaven.” That is precisely our call. We are called to bring the light of Jesus to a small crowd.
The best way to begin is by taking back Sundays.
Even though we don’t live in the same parish, every Sunday my wife Sandy and I, my Son Xavier and his girlfriend Annie, my daughter Sara, her husband Nick and the grandkids, Cormac and Elliot and my daughter Teresa try to go to Mass together.
Then at 5pm that crew - plus my parents and my son John and his fiancé Naomi - gather in one of our homes to prepare and eat a meal together and we hang out and talk or take the kids to the park and hang outside.
And when possible – we invite someone who has no one to delight in them to join us. A wonderful young woman named Katie who is the head of the ministry to the deaf community joined us for the feast of the Assumption. It was so beautiful to have her with us because her family lives in Kentucky.
We can take back our souls, take back our families, and take back our sanity if we would take back Sundays.
Every Sunday - invite family and friends to go to Mass with you to delight in the goodness of all God has done.
Then invite them to do something good together that day
Do this every Sunday
And when possible – invite someone who is all alone or has no faith community.
Then everyone who wants to take back Sundays – let’s all gather together one Sunday a month -
Everyone bring their little group to gather as one Big Group so you can see there are lots of people who want to take their lives and families and faith back.
Can you hear Jesus calling you: Come, come, carry me into the holes of the poor? Come be My light.
Can you hear those closest to you saying: Come, come save us, bring us to Jesus. Wilt thou refuse?