Mother Teresa's 114th Birth Anniversary, Observed on August 26

August 26, 2024 marks the 114th birth anniversary of Mother Teresa, a divine figure whose legacy of love and compassion continues to inspire the world. Born on 26 August 1910 in Albania, she became one of the most revered figures of the 20th century, recognized globally for her selfless service to humanity. Mother Teresa was honored with the Nobel Peace Prize, the Ramon Magsaysay Peace Prize, and India’s highest civilian award, the Bharat Ratna, among many others.

Early Life and Education of Mother Teresa

Mother Teresa was born as Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu in Skopje, Macedonia. From a young age, she was deeply influenced by her Catholic upbringing. At just 12 years old, she felt a divine call to become a missionary. In 1928, she left her home and joined the Sisters of Loreto, an Irish order of nuns with missions in India. After training in Dublin, she was sent to Kolkata, India, where she worked as a school teacher from 1931 to 1948. During this time, the sight of extreme poverty moved her to dedicate her life to helping the destitute.

Founding the Missionaries of Charity

In 1950, Mother Teresa founded the Missionaries of Charity in Kolkata, a religious congregation dedicated to serving “the poorest of the poor.” Despite having no financial resources, she began by teaching children in the slums and offering help to the sick and hungry. Her organization grew rapidly, and by the time of her death, it had thousands of members working in over 130 countries, providing care for the homeless, the dying, and those suffering from various diseases.

Awards Received by Mother Teresa

Here is the list of awards received by Mother Teresa:

1962: Padma Shri Award for distinguished service.
1971: Pope John XXIII Peace Prize
1971: Prize of the Good Samaritan, Boston
1971: Kennedy Prize
1972: Jawaharlal Nehru Award for International Understanding
1972: Koruna Dut, angel of charity from the President of India.
1973: Templeton Prize
1975: Albert Schweitzer International Prize
1977: Honorary PhD in Theology, University of Cambridge, England
1979: Nobel Peace Prize
1980: Bharat Ratna
1982: Honorary PhD from the Catholic University Brussels, Belgium
1985: Presidential Medal of Freedom
1996: Honorary U.S. citizenship (only the 4th person to receive this honor)
1997: Congressional Gold Medal

Facts Related to Mother Teresa

Here are some of the unheard facts you must know about Mother Teresa:

Mother Teresa was deeply inspired by Mahatma Gandhi’s principles of non-violence. She was also greatly influenced by his ideas and beliefs.
As a child, she spent a lot of time in church, which sparked her interest in the lives of missionaries. At 18, in 1928, she left her home and never returned or met her family again.
Mother Teresa was fluent in five languages: Albanian, Serbian, English, Hindi, and Bengali. She believed learning these languages helped her connect with and understand the pain of others better.
She started her charitable work as a headmistress at Loreto Convent School in Kolkata. However, she felt a calling to do more for the needy, homeless, and poor.
In 1979, she was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for her dedication to helping the poor and sick. She lived her life among those in need, dedicating herself to their care.
Mother Teresa strongly opposed contraception and abortion, believing there was no difference between killing a human being and ending a life in the womb.
From 1931 to 1948, she taught geography, arithmetic, and religion at Mary’s High School in Calcutta and later became the headmistress.
In 2015, Pope Francis declared her a saint, and she is now known as Teresa of Calcutta. Mother Teresa also had the rare opportunity to speak at prestigious places like the Vatican and the United Nations.

Death and Legacy of Mother Teresa

Mother Teresa passed away on 5 September 1997, a date now commemorated as the International Day of Charity. Although she is no longer with us, her teachings, her words, and her example continue to influence millions of people around the world. In 2016, she was canonized as Saint Teresa of Calcutta, a title that reflects her lifelong dedication to serving the poorest of the poor.

Memorials Honoring Mother Teresa

Here is a list of memorials named in honor of Mother Teresa:

India

Mother Teresa Sarani: Park Street in Calcutta was renamed in her honor.
Mother Express: A train introduced by Indian Railways on August 26, 2010, to mark her birth centenary.
Mother Teresa Women’s University: Established in Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu, in 1984.
Mother Theresa Postgraduate and Research Institute of Health Sciences: Located in Pondicherry, established in 1999.
Mother Teresa Girls Home: Run by Sevalaya, near the village of Kasuva in Tamil Nadu.
Special ₹5 Coin: Issued by the Government of India on August 28, 2010, to celebrate her 100th birthday.
Church of Blessed Mother Teresa: Located in Virar near Mumbai.

Albania

Tirana International Airport Nënë Tereza: The airport in Tirana, the capital city, was named after Mother Teresa in 2002.
Mother Teresa Square: The second largest square in Tirana is named after her.
Mother Teresa Hospital: The largest civil hospital in Tirana bears her name.

North Macedonia

Memorial House of Mother Teresa: Located in her hometown of Skopje, this museum features a selection of objects and relics from her life.
Memorial Plaque: A plaque at the former location of her family home in Skopje reads: “On this place was the house where Gondža Bojadžiu – Mother Teresa – born on 26 August 1910.”