Sept 5 - Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta

[MariaChristi]

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Today is the Feast-Day of Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta. You may want to read the summary of her life and the homily of St. John Paul II at her Canonization. See HERE In the conclusion of his Homily St. John Paul II said:

…5. “The Son of man also came… to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mk 10: 45). Mother Teresa shared in the Passion of the crucified Christ in a special way during long years of “inner darkness”. For her that was a test, at times an agonizing one, which she accepted as a rare “gift and privilege”.

In the darkest hours she clung even more tenaciously to prayer before the Blessed Sacrament. This harsh spiritual trial led her to identify herself more and more closely with those whom she served each day, feeling their pain and, at times, even their rejection. She was fond of repeating that the greatest poverty is to be unwanted, to have no one to take care of you.

1. “Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you”. How often, like the Psalmist, did Mother Teresa call on her Lord in times of inner desolation: “In you, in you I hope, my God!”.

Let us praise the Lord for this diminutive woman in love with God, a humble Gospel messenger and a tireless benefactor of humanity. In her we honour one of the most important figures of our time. Let us welcome her message and follow her example.

Virgin Mary, Queen of all the Saints, help us to be gentle and humble of heart like this fearless messenger of Love. Help us to serve every person we meet with joy and a smile. Help us to be missionaries of Christ, our peace and our hope. Amen!

How we all need to here those words today! Each one needs to answer the call to holiness, by God’s Grace, enabling the Church to be what she was meant to be and to do. Like Mother Mary and Mother Teresa, we are called to be one in Jesus and bring Him to others.

 

[liturgy96]

Thanks for this! I can especially relate to these paragraphs:

1. “Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you”. How often, like the Psalmist, did Mother Teresa call on her Lord in times of inner desolation: “In you, in you I hope, my God!”.

Virgin Mary, Queen of all the Saints, help us to be gentle and humble of heart like this fearless messenger of Love. Help us to serve every person we meet with joy and a smile. Help us to be missionaries of Christ, our peace and our hope. Amen!

I have been through spiritual desolation recently and all I could do was do my best in everything and pray. With the Lord’s help, I managed to overcome that difficult time in my life.

I also pray that I may grow more in humility and gentleness as sometimes, I have to fight thoughts of being holier and more superior to others who have no idea of the wealth of Catholic tradition.

Virgin most prudent, pray for us! Blessed Teresa of Calcutta, pray for us!

 

[MariaChristi]

Thanks for this! I can especially relate to these paragraphs:

1. “Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you”. How often, like the Psalmist, did Mother Teresa call on her Lord in times of inner desolation: “In you, in you I hope, my God!”.

Dear Liturgy96,

Yes, anyone who is striving for holiness needs to expect that God will give as “gift” a share in Jesus’ Cross. We cannot be transformed into Christ without embracing the whole of His Sacred Humanity with His Divinity. It is not easy to learn the true “glory of the Trinity which shines through His Passion”. St. John Paul II, like Mother Teresa of Calcutta learned from our Mother Mary to unite with Jesus on His Cross in offering themselves totally, as He did.