“If you are humble nothing will touch you, neither praise nor disgrace, because you know what you are.”

– Mother Teresa

Mother Teresa was a beacon of hope for the homeless and penniless. Without a doubt, Mother Teresa’s own way of helping had a massive impact on life by changing the world and inspiring people. Her charity inspired many to help others without regarding their race or status. Eventually, her work grew and she founded Missionaries of Charity. The organization cared for refugees, former prostitutes, children who needed help, the mentally ill, etc. To this day, Missionaries of Charity has almost 5157 nuns; around 4500 nuns are on 600 different missions in 133 different countries. Mother Teresa also began an open air school and convinced the government to donate a dilapidated building that she repurposed into a home for dying destitutes. During the Siege of Beirut, Mother Teresa displayed bravery by discussing a temporary ceasefire with enemy forces. The ceasefire was to allow 37 children stuck in a mental hospital at the front lines to a refugee camp. The selflessness Mother Teresa continued to display throughout her years of charity work resulted in many awards. Some of the notable ones are the Nobel Peace Prize and three highest civilian honors — one in India and two in the US. In addition, Mother Teresa’s impact has created a couple of “almost miracles”; a French girl whos ribs healed after touching a medallion from Mother Teresa and a Palestinian girl who recovered from bone cancer after seeing Mother Teresa in a dream. Mother Teresa’s passion for serving the poor changed the world and inspired many by showing what universal love means. 

A Beacon of Hope for the Destitute

Mother Teresa is the epitome of humility, kindness, and confidence which was an inspiration to many. She would help all without seeing their status or race. When she worked, Mother Teresa was always assured and satisfied in her tasks. Whenever people came for her for help, Mother Teresa would always care for them. People saw the good things she did and were motivated to join her and her goal in helping those less fortunate.

In 1950, Mother Teresa established Missionaries of Charity, which cared for refugees, former prostitutes, mentally ill, sick children, abandoned children, lepers, people with AIDS, and convalescent. Her legacy continues to inspire others as the organization continues to run, with 5157 members (2020). In addition, 4,500 nuns are actively working in 600 missions in almost 133 countries.

An open-air school and a home for the dying destitute in a dilapidated building were founded by Mother Teresa after she convinced the city government to donate to her cause. She did a lot of charitable work to support children and children’s charities, particularly in India. In addition, she did a lot of work to open orphanages, hospices, and other places for the homeless to live all over the world. Mother Teresa received an honorary doctor of social science degree, in recognition of her service and her ministry to help the destitute and sick.

The work Mother Teresa did for the sick involved places with war. Her bravery saved 37 children after she evacuated them during the Siege of Beirut by arranging a temporary cease-fire and taking them from a mental hospital to a refugee camp.

Convinced that each human is called upon to do something for the common good of all, Mother Teresa fed the poor, provided care for the sick, and found shelter for the homeless. Likewise, she spent much of her own time helping individuals in extreme need. Her personal example still serves as the model for the Missionaries of Charity.

By devoting her life to working for the destitute, Mother Teresa’s resilience and kindness inspired many people. Her legacy continues to live on through her organization and hard work.

Momentous Events In Mother Teresa’s Life

One of many events Mother Teresa was in includes the Siege of Beirut, which a part of the Lebanon War. Mother Teresa was willing to go against the opposing force in an attempt to negotiate a cease-fire to save the lives of children. Her bravery and dedication is an inspiration and is a perfect model of the caring and selflessness that she wants others to follow.

Mother Teresa created a Leprosy Fund to help educate people about the disease and established a number of mobile leper clinics as early as September 1957 to provide affected people with medicine close to their homes. By the mid 1960s, she had established a leper colony “The Place of Peace” where lepers could live and work.

Mother Teresa’s work helped her be recognized and given awards such as the Padma Shri, the highest civilian honor in India. In addition, she won many international awards. In 1962, the Ramon Magsaysay Award for Peace and International Understanding; 1971, the inaugural Pope John XXIII Peace Prize for her work with the poor, display of Christian charity and efforts for peace; 1973, the Templeton Prize and in 1976, she was awarded with the Pacem in Terris Award; 1982, Mother Teresa was appointed an honorary Companion of the Order of Australia “for service to the community of Australia and humanity at large”. Another award that Mother Teresa won was the Nobel Peace Prize, for her “work undertaken in the struggle to overcome poverty and distress, which also constitutes a threat to peace”. Mother Teresa also won a couple of awards in the US such as the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1985 and in 1997 she was given the Congressional Gold Medal. Those awards are the two highest civilian awards in the US. She was also given the Balzan Prize (1978) and the Albert Schweitzer International Prize (1975).

A Humble Hero to Be Remembered

Mother Teresa was a person who not only was admired but also respected. She was a person that made an impact on lives all around the world along with making people look at the world from a different perspective. With all of her extensive actions for the homeless and penniless, she has immensely impacted society in a global manner. First and foremost, Mother Teresa did plenty of charitable work to support children, families, and children’s charities. She was determined and hard working to open orphanages, hospices, and other places for the homeless to live all over the world. Alongside her actions, she has created awareness for a large number of communities worldwide. In addition, she was convinced that each human is called upon to do something for the common good of all. To her, this meant feeding and providing for the homeless. Likewise, she spent much of her own time helping individuals in extreme need, expressing her selflessness. All of the actions of hers showed the world that material things wont bring as much happiness as helping others. The respect that Mother Teresa garnered has had a huge impact on the lives of society today; therefore making her a significant figure in the 20th century. 

We all have our own heroes, people that we admire as well as respect, impact, and make us look into the world from a different perspective. Mother Teresa is definitely the one for us. Although the world is filled with good people, people who can donate billions of dollars, people who raise their voices to make a difference, Mother Teresa stands out because she believed in “[…] not how much we do, but how much love we put into doing.” She gave back dignity that poverty had taken away and if they die, they will die with a smile on their face knowing that someone loved and cared for them.

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“Mother Teresa’s Missionaries of Charity Center.” Semester at Sea, 15 Nov. 2017, http://www.semesteratsea.org/field-programs/missionaries-charity-center-sp18.

“Nobel Prizes 2021.” NobelPrize.Org, http://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/peace/1979/teresa/biographical. Accessed 20 Jan. 2022.

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