St. Teresa of Calcutta
Mother Teresa, Saint of the Gutters
Feast Day: September 5
Biography
St. Teresa of Calcutta (1910–1997), born Anjezë Gonxhe Bojaxhiu in Skopje (modern North Macedonia), became one of the most recognized and admired people of the 20th century. She joined the Sisters of Loreto at eighteen and taught at a girls' school in Calcutta for nearly twenty years. On September 10, 1946, during a train ride to Darjeeling, she experienced what she called 'the call within the call' — a directive from Christ to leave her comfortable convent and serve Him among 'the poorest of the poor.' She founded the Missionaries of Charity in 1950, beginning with a handful of sisters caring for the dying on the streets of Calcutta. The order grew to over 4,500 sisters operating 610 missions in 123 countries, running hospices, orphanages, schools, and shelters. She received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979. After her death in 1997, her private letters revealed that she had endured nearly fifty years of spiritual darkness — feeling the absence of God while serving Him with complete dedication. Far from diminishing her sanctity, this 'dark night of the soul' revealed the depth of her faith: she served without consolation, purely out of love. She was canonized by Pope Francis in 2016.
Patronages
Symbols
Prayer
St. Teresa of Calcutta, you saw the face of Christ in the poorest of the poor and served them with tireless love. Help me to recognize Christ in everyone I meet, especially those who are suffering, lonely, or forgotten. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Asking for Intercession
Catholics ask saints to pray with us and for us, as we ask friends on earth. St. Teresa of Calcutta, who lives in God's presence, intercedes before His throne. Speak from your heart: “St. Teresa of Calcutta, please pray for me…” You may also pray the prayer above or include this intention in your Rosary.