The Woman Who Satiated Jesus's Thirst

St. John Paul II with Mother Teresa (CNS Photo / L'Osservatore Romano)

Contemplation and action, evangelization and human promotion: Mother Teresa proclaimed the Gospel living her life as a total gift to the poor but, at the same time, steeped in prayer.

Whoever wants to be great among you must be your servant (Mk 10: 43). With particular emotion we remember today Mother Teresa, a great servant of the poor, of the Church and of the whole world. Her life is a testimony to the dignity and the privilege of humble service. She had chosen to be not just the least but to be the servant of the least. As a real mother to the poor, she bent down to those suffering various forms of poverty. Her greatness lies in her ability to give without counting the cost, to give “until it hurts.” Her life was a radical living and a bold proclamation of the Gospel.

The cry of Jesus on the Cross, “I thirst” (Jn 19: 28), expressing the depth of God's longing for man, penetrated Mother Teresa's soul and found fertile soil in her heart. Satiating Jesus' thirst for love and for souls in union with Mary, the Mother of Jesus, had become the sole aim of Mother Teresa's existence and the inner force that drew her out of herself and made her “run in haste” across the globe to labor for the salvation and the sanctification of the poorest of the poor.

-Saint John Paul II, Beatification of Mother Teresa, 2003

Bringing God To Souls and Souls To God

...in total gift of herself to God and neighbor, Mother Teresa found her greatest fulfillment and lived the noblest qualities of her femininity. She wanted to be a sign of "God's love, God's presence and God's compassion," and so remind all of the value and dignity of each of God's children, "created to love and be loved." Thus was Mother Teresa "bringing souls to God and God to souls" and satiating Christ's thirst, especially for those most in need, those whose vision of God had been dimmed by suffering and pain. 

-Blessed John Paul II, Beatification of Mother Teresa of Calcutta

On this day of your feast, Blessed Teresa of Calcutta, please pray for us, that we too may be signs of God's love, presence, and compassion in the world. 

We are the Church, No?

You and I, we are the Church, no? We have to share with our people. Suffering today is because people are hoarding, not giving, not sharing. 

Jesus made it very clear. Whatever you do to the least of my brethren, you do it to me.
Give a glass of water, you give it to me.

Receive a little child, you receive me.

-Blessed Teresa of Calcutta

Blessed Teresa of Calcutta, our beloved Holy Father learned from you and so do we.  On this day of your feast we pray that we may share our lives as you did, and that we may see the face of Christ in those people who suffer.

Blessed Teresa of Calcutta, Pray for Us. 

Famous nuns make the news

This week The Washington Post profiled "a few famous nuns" on their website. Their list includes pictures and descriptions of inspiring religious women of our time, like Blessed Teresa of Kolkata and St. Katharine Drexel. 

It is affirming to see that even the secular media can recognize the incredible witness of these women who gave their lives over to Christ. 

Mary, Star of the New Evangelization, we ask for your intercession—so that we may be like these holy women who were and who are selfless witnesses for the world.