In Pope Francis’ apostolic exhortation Gaudete et Exsultate (Rejoice and Be Glad), he enjoins us to embark on our Christian journey of holiness by embracing the ordinariness of everyday. Throughout his exhortation, Pope Francis calls out more than 40 saints who can assist us on our mission of Christian faith, and to teach us how to rejoice and be glad in all of life’s challenges, mysteries, and joys.
During the 34 weeks of Ordinary Time, we will introduce you to some of the saints mentioned in Pope Francis’ apostolic exhortation. #OrdinarySaints for #OrdinaryTime #HolyOrdinary
St. Teresa of Calcutta – #100, #107
Feast Day – September 5
#100 I regret that ideologies lead us at times to two harmful errors. On the hand hand, there is the error of those Christians who separate these Gospel demands from their personal relationship with the Lord, from their interior union with him, from openness to his grace. Christianity thus becomes a sort of NGO stripped of the luminous mysticism so evident in the lives of St. Francis of Assisi, St. Vincent de Paul, St. Teresa of Calcutta, and many others. For these great saints, mental prayer, the love of God and the reading of the Gospel in no way detracted from their passionate and effective commitment to their neighbors; quite the opposite
#107 Those who really wish to give glory to God by their lives, who truly long to grow in holiness, are called to be single-minded and tenacious in their practice of works of mercy. St. Teresa of Calcutta clearly realized this: “Yes, I have many human faults and failures… but God bends down and uses us, you and me, to be his love and compassion in the world; he bears our sins, our troubles and our faults. He depends on us to love the world and to show how much he loves it. If we are too concerned with ourselves, we will have no time left for others.”
Mother Teresa, as she was so lovingly known, lived her days serving the abandoned people of Calcutta, India. Born in 1910, Mother Teresa was born in Skopje (now the capital of Macedonia). She was convinced at a young age that her calling was to become a missionary sister and joined the Sisters of Loreto at age 18.
By 1950 she started her own religious missionary congregation – the Missionaries of Charity. Her vocation became to serve the poorest of the poor. She lived in poverty, much like the people she served. She loved all and never turned away an opportunity to care for the sick or dying. Within 40 years the Missionaries of Charity boasted more than 4,000 members.
Mother Teresa died on September 5, 1997. During her life she became known for her selflessness and charity.
