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Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu always cared for others less fortunate than she. She very much believed in and followed the Roman Catholic faith. She enjoyed writing songs and poems about her love for God. Agnes was born on August 27, 1910 in Skopje, Macedonia, now known as the Republic of Yugoslavia. When she was eighteen her father, Nikola Bojaxhiu, died. He was a good merchant and was poisoned by political enemies. Her mothers name was Drana Bojaxhiu. She was a fine seamstress. Agnes had an older brother and an older sister, Aga. In her senior year of high school, when she was about 18, she thought deeply about devoting her life to God. One of her sacrifices in becoming a nun was she could not get married and could only wear certain things. She wore a ring and later on said that she was married to Jesus. In 1928 she sailed to India. She worked mainly in the slums of Calcutta, India. She started out a teacher in the streets. In 1931, Agnes took her first vows to be a Sister. Usually forty children came each day to learn from her. She taught all slum children who came to the tree where she taught. In 1937 she took her final vows to be a nun and changed her name to Mother Teresa. After that she went out with a first aid kit, no money, and not a real plan but to help some people in the slums. Later she was involved in riding in a van through the streets of the slums to deliver hot meals and comfort. She became a citizen of India and wanted to help more. In 1950 she got permission to start the Missionaries of Charity. The Missionaries of Charity branch out in about 50 different cities in India and in about 30 other countries. It was one of the most important events in her life. The Missionaries did many different things. These included: helping people with leprosy, people that were dying (to offer comfort), and volunteering in orphanages. Many people just left their newborn in the streets. Mother Teresa made many speeches around the world. She was known as "The Saint of the Gutters". Because of her always loving, always sacrificing, every one over the entire world loved her back. People believed in what she said and because of their appreciation she was given her The Nobel Peace prize in 1979. She died September 5, 1997. Nearly half a million people of all religions came to her funeral. As she was dying Mother Teresa said, " How can I be afraid of dying when I have watched and been with so many who have died? No, on the contrary, I look forward to it." Her burial grounds were the courtyards at the houses run by the Missionaries of Charity and they were very beautifully decorated with flowers brought by people who wanted to show their respect. On her grave are carved the words of Jesus Christ, "Love one anther as I have loved you". |