The Saint of Mercy: Mother Teresa

The Saint of Mercy

Mother Teresa's mission is harder to decipher than one might think (to Rome, anyway).  She had many possible paths she could have taken; she had many different missions to live.  Perhaps the mission more fully recognized is her mission to love and serve "the poorest of the poor", but still as a nun.  "A call within a call" is how it is more commonly known.

    Mother Teresa sheltered the homeless, visited the sick, and fed the hungry.  Now, there are many different ways of sheltering the homeless, but Mother Teresa literally sheltered them.  She brought children in off the streets and sheltered them in her convent-like establishment.  She also helped to care for the homeless who were on the streets dying, which leads us to the next corporal work of mercy: Visiting the sick.

    Mother Teresa went into the streets of Calcutta and did her best to comfort the sick and dying.  Once, she helped an infant get admitted to the hospital.  She also helped save a man's leg, which should have been amputated off, but she had patience in waiting for the doctor.

    While working on the streets and sheltering children, Mother Teresa helped to feed the hungry.  She bought food for the children at her convent, and she and her sisters brought food to the group of children she was teaching, as well as those on the streets.

    Though Mother Teresa exemplified many corporal works of mercy, she also exemplified many spiritual works.  One such work is bearing wrongs patiently.  A reporter by the name of Klein took every possible chance he could to make her look bad, going as far as lying to the public by saying she was selling children.  He also accused her of taking money from innocent people, asking when she would give it back to them.  She replied, "Immediately."  She then led the reporter to a room filled with children saying, "Here is your money."  This showed both patience and wisdom.

    Mother Teresa also exemplified instructing the ignorant.  Though rather vague, she did thes everywhere she went, just by smiling.  She spread God's love and words with everyone she passed by, caring for them, speaking with them, and loving them: especially the dying.  These actions alone taught others about the wonders of God.

    Though it may be obvious, Mother Teresa manifested the virtue of charity well.  She lived a life of poverty, serving "the poorest of the poor".  There was a Hindu boy whom was wounded, and she helped him, bringing him inside her establishment.  At this time the Hindus and Muslims were fighting, and doing this act of charity could convey a message of taking sides.  What does this have to do with charity?  In the Bible, charity "refers to love of God".  What greater love of God can be shown than to care for a brother or sister in need; especially when there is some sort of risk involved?  None that I can think of.

    Aside from charity, Saint Mother Teresa encapsulated the virtue of hope.  She always hopes for a better future, knowing that with God there is a better future.  She also typifies humility by living the life of poverty, serving the poor.

However many virtues Mother Teresa exemplifies, she epitomizes the difficult virtue of fortitude.  "Fortitude is the ability to persevere in times of trial and tribulation".  As I previously explained, Klein tried to make her life miserable, but she kept moving forward.  She used her God-given gift of wit to prove Klein was wrong.

Saint Teresa used another virtue to execute fortitude: faith.  She had faith in others; she had faith in God. 

Mother Teresa typified more virtues than I could explain, which makes her an even greater Saint!