Born Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu, the world knew this Nobel Peace Prize winner simply as Mother Teresa

“Being unwanted, unloved, uncared for, forgotten by everybody, I think that is a much greater hunger, a much greater poverty than the person who has nothing to eat.” - Mother Teresa

In life, Mother Teresa understood the hunger of the human soul — the need of each person to feel loved and safe.

Born Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu on August 26, 1910, she was the daughter of Albanian parents who lived in the area that would later become Macedonia.

Following the death of her father, Agnes’ mother began attending the Catholic church with all five of her children. At a young age Agnes became fascinated with the work of the missionaries that she heard about in church. However, it wasn’t until she was eighteen that she felt a desire to become a missionary herself.

In September of 1928, Agnes joined The Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary where she became known as Sister Mary Teresa.

After receiving her initial training, Teresa was sent to work in Calcutta, India. Little did she know at that time how that assignment would ultimately change the course of her life and her calling.

For many years Teresa worked in a Catholic school for girls in Calcutta. In 1946, she received her inspiration that she would describe as “Jesus’ thirst for love and for the souls of the people.”

A few years later she established the “Missionaries of Charity Sisters“, a religious community. In the following years she also established the “Missionaries of Charity Brothers,” and the “Missionaries of Charity Fathers.” The goal of each of these groups was to respond better to the physical and spiritual needs of the poor.

In 1979, Mother Teresa, as she was then known, received the Nobel Peace Prize. As part of her lecture she stated, “I want you to find the poor here, right in your own home first. And begin love there. Be that good news to your own people. And find out about your next-door neighbor – do you know who they are?”

Mother Teresa’s life was a picture of her own words. She worked among the people of Calcutta, loving them, caring for them. They were the work of her heart — a fulfillment of God’s calling on her life.

On September 5, 1997, Mother Teresa’s earthly life came to an end. She was buried in the Mother’s House at the Missionaries of Charity in India.

Concerning her nationality, Mother Teresa always said, “By blood and origin I am Albanian. My citizenship is Indian. I am a Catholic nun. As to my calling, I belong to the whole world. As to my heart, I belong entirely to the heart of Jesus.”

However, as the 100th anniversary of her birth approaches, there has surfaced a question as to where her body should find its final resting place. Albanian Prime Minister Sali Berisha has made a request to have her remains return to Albania. However, at this point the Indian government is opposed to the idea.

When questioned on the Albanian request, the spokes person for the Missionaries of Charity stated that they had not been made aware of any official request to have Mother Teresa’s remains moved.

The Catholic Bishops Conference of India also made a statement that they would like for Mother Teresa’s body to remain in India as she was a citizen of India.

Despite the opposition to his request Prime Minister Berisha has said that this will remain an open issue and that he will continue to work to have Mother Teresa’s body brought “home” where she would be “more calm” resting next to her mother and sister.

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