A collection of quotes, stories and prayers that reflect Mother Teresa's undying faith and concern for the human spirit. You will cherish this book forever!

Mother Teresa Of Calcutta

by: Sunita Kumar
In honor of the first anniversary of her death, this stunning coffee-table pictorial history of the life and work of Mother Teresa was produced by one of her very closest associates for over 30 years with the authorization and blessing of the Missionaries of Charity.

This photographic tribute to her extraordinary achievements, including some six hundred homes worldwide dedicated to the service of the poor, includes 120 original photos with inspiring commentary, and meditations from Mother Teresa. The photos have been gathered from all over the world and include many by world-class photographers. Beautifully printed, sturdily bound, a wonderful keepsake.

Sunita Kumar, a native of India, worked closely with Mother Teresa from 1965 until her death, initially as the link between the "co-workers" (volunteers) and the Missionaries of Charity. Later she became the spokeswoman for the order. She is married and has three children and six grandchildren.

Mother Teresa Of Calcutta And The Missionaries Of Charity

Works Of Love Are Works Of Peace

More than four years in the making and published with the permission and cooperation of Mother Teresa of Calcutta, this large format 224 page book offers the most comprehensive photographic documentation of the apostolic work and prayer life of the Missionaries of Charity yet published. Destined to serve as an important historical record, this "illustrated prayer book" vividly portrays the peace and joy that can come when "small things" are done with great love.

The more than 180 fine art quality tri-tone photographs, along with spiritual counsel from Mother Teresa, will provide a lifetime of rich material for prayer and meditation. Also included and published for the first time ever, with Mother Teresa's special permission, is an appendix containing the contents of the Missionaries of Charity daily prayer book as well as a most personal and profound letter on the interior life written by Mother Teresa during Holy Week of 1993 and addressed to her entire order. Though meant originally as an instruction and appeal to those in her order, this "I Thirst" letter is certain to become a source of spiritual light and encouragement, drawing innumerable hearts and souls closer to God.

Michael Collopy is one of the preeminent portrait photographers of our time, well known for his commissioned portraits of a variety of world figures ranging from Mikhail Gorbachev and Margaret Thatcher to Frank Sinatra and Placido Domingo. A student of such luminaries as Ansel Adams and Richard Avedon, Collopy's work has been published in books, magazines, newspapers, and on record and CD covers worldwide.

Blessed Are You
Mother Theresa And The Beatitudes

What are we to make of encountering the person of Christ in the poor and seeing our suffering transformed into joy? These reflections of Mother Teresa point to the heart of the Beatitudes, the Gospel, as a sign of contradiction to the world and a source of spiritual freedom for all who follow Jesus.

Blessed Are You: Mother Teresa and the Beatitudes captures this woman of the Gospel in images and words. Each chapter includes reflections by Mother Teresa on the Beatitudes, an opening meditation by Eileen and Kathleen Egan, and a closing sketch of Mother Teresa and her Sisters, the Missionaries of Charity, living that Beatitude and bringing Jesus' love into the farthest corners of the world. This book will inspire you to live the heart of the Gospel. Its attractive design makes it an ideal gift for your family members and friends. Illustrated

"I could not help but be overwhelmed by the wonderful simplicity of this book. As with St. Francis of Assisi, Mother Teresa's reflections pierce deeper and soar higher than the theological and pastoral reflections of most of us. She remains a guiding light for us all."
- John Michael Talbot, Author, A Passion for God

Eileen Egan and Kathleen Egan, O.S.B., were longtime friends and associates of Mother Teresa, and authors of other books about her.

"At the end of our lives, we will not be judged by how many diplomas we have received, how much money we have made or how many great things we have done. We will be judged by ‘I was hungry and you gave me food to eat. I was naked and you clothed me. I was homeless and you took me in.’
Hungry not only for bread-but hungry for love. Naked not only for clothing-but naked of human dignity and respect. Homeless not only for want of a room of bricks-but homeless because of rejection.
...This is Christ in distressing disguise."

Greater Things

We have all been created for greater things - to love and to be loved. Love is love - to love a person without any conditions, without any expectations. Works of love are always a means of becoming closer to God, so the more we help each other, the more we really love God better by loving each other. Jesus very clearly said, "love one another as I have loved you". Love in action is what gives us grace. We pray and, if we are able to love with a whole heart, then we will see the need. Those who are unwanted, unloved, and uncared for become just a throwaway of society - that's why we must really make everybody feel wanted.

"There is something else to remember - that kind of love begins at home. We cannot give  to the outside  what we don't have on the inside. This is very important. If I can't see  God's Love  in my brother and sister then how can I see that love in somebody else?  How can I give it to somebody else? Everybody has got some good. Some hide it, some neglect it, but it is there.

"There is something else to remember - that kind of love begins at home. We cannot give  to the outside  what we don't have on the inside. This is very important. If I can't see  God's Love  in my brother and sister then how can I see that love in somebody else?  How can I give it to somebody else? Everybody has got some good. Some hide it, some neglect it, but it is there.”        …..Mother Teresa

"Mother Teresa was called not only to enter the ‘dark holes of the poor,’ but also to bring the light of Gods love to every corner of the world. Her ready smile, the warmth of her firm hand, and the tenderness of her determined voice, are still fresh in our memory…. She, who had been a true mother to the poor and suffering while on earth, intercedes for and protects all of those who seek her assistance—and still rejoice in her light."
-- Fr. Brian Kolodiejchuk, M.C., Postulator

"The thirst of God, our merciful Father, knocks at our human hearts, asking us to let His mercy pass through our hearts to the hearts of our suffering brothers and sisters who live in hunger and thirst, in cold and in darkness, in hopelessness, and forgotten by all…. On September 10, 1946, Jesus knocked at the heart of our Mother, Mother Teresa of Calcutta…."
-- Sr. Nirmala Joshi, M.C.
Superior General of the Missionaries of Charity

  Brief  Biography

Mother Teresa was born Agnes Bonxha Bojaxhiu in Skopje, Macedonia, on August 27, 1910. Her family was of Albanian descent. At the age of twelve, she felt strongly the call of God. She knew she had to be a missionary to spread the love of Christ. At the age of eighteen she left her parental home in Skopje and joined the Sisters of Loreto, an Irish community of nuns with missions in India. After a few months' training in Dublin she was sent to India, where on May 24, 1931, she took her initial vows as a nun. From 1931 to 1948 Mother Teresa taught at St. Mary's High School in Calcutta, but the suffering and poverty she glimpsed outside the convent walls made such a deep impression on her that in 1948 she received permission from her superiors to leave the convent school and devote herself to working among the poorest of the poor in the slums of Calcutta. Although she had no funds, she depended on Divine Providence, and started an open-air school for slum children. Soon she was joined by voluntary helpers, and financial support was also forthcoming. This made it possible for her to extend the scope of her work.

On October 7, 1950, Mother Teresa received permission from the Holy See to start her own order, "The Missionaries of Charity", whose primary task was to love and care for those persons nobody was prepared to look after. In 1965 the Society became an International Religious Family by a decree of Pope Paul VI.

Today the order comprises Active and Contemplative branches of Sisters and Brothers in many countries. In 1963 both the Contemplative branch of the Sisters and the Active branch of the Brothers was founded. In 1979 the Contemplative branch of the Brothers was added, and in 1984 the Priest branch was established.

The Society of Missionaries has spread all over the world, including the former Soviet Union and Eastern European countries. They provide effective help to the poorest of the poor in a number of countries in Asia, Africa, and Latin America, and they undertake relief work in the wake of natural catastrophes such as floods, epidemics, and famine, and for refugees. The order also has houses in North America, Europe and Australia, where they take care of the shut-ins, alcoholics, homeless, and AIDS sufferers.

The Missionaries of Charity throughout the world are aided and assisted by Co-Workers who became an official International Association on March 29, 1969. By the 1990s there were over one million Co-Workers in more than 40 countries. Along with the Co-Workers, the lay Missionaries of Charity try to follow Mother Teresa's spirit and charism in their families.

Mother Teresa's work has been recognized and acclaimed throughout the world and she has received a number of awards and distinctions, including the Pope John XXIII Peace Prize (1971) and the Nehru Prize for her promotion of international peace and understanding (1972). She also received the Balzan Prize (1979) and the Templeton and Magsaysay awards.

From Nobel Lectures, Peace 1971-1980, World Scientific Publishing Co., Singapore

Mother Teresa died on September 5, 1997.

Mothers Teresa Stories
Some of my sisters work in Australia. On a reservation, among the Aborigines, there was an elderly man.  I can assure you that you have never seen a situation as difficult as that poor old man's.  He was completely ignored by everyone.  His home was disordered and dirty.

I told him, "Please, let me clean your house, wash your clothes, and make your bed." He answered, "I'm okay like this. Let it be."

I said again, "You will be still better if you allow me to do it."

He finally agreed. So I was able to clean his house and wash his clothes.   I discovered a beautiful lamp, covered with dust.  Only God knows how many years had passed since he last lit it.

I said to him, "Don't you light your lamp? Don't you ever use it?"

He answered, "No. No one comes to see me.  I have no need to light it.  Who would I light it for?"

I asked, "Would you light it every night if the sisters came?"

He replied, "Of course."

From that day on the sisters committed themselves to visiting him every evening.  We cleaned the lamp, and the sisters would light it every evening.

Two years passed. I had completely forgotten that man.  He sent this message: "Tell my friend that the light she lit in my life continues to shine still."

I thought it was a very small thing. We often neglect small things.

One evening we went out and rescued four people off the streets. One of them was in a desperate condition. I told the sisters, "You take care of the others.    I will care or this one who is worse off." I did everything for her that my love could do.  I put her into bed, and I saw a beautiful smile light up her face.   She squeezed my hand and only managed to say two words, "Thank you." And then she closed her eyes.