Mother Teresa is the patron saint of World Youth Day
Feast Day September 5th.
Born August 26 1910.
Mother Teresa made her vow to be the "spouse of Jesus" for "all eternity." Her name was Agnes, but took the name Mary Teresa after St. Thérèse of Lisieux.
After over a year of lobbying to answer "her call within a call" , in January of 1948 at 37 years old, she donned her blue-and-white sari and never took it off. White for purity and blue for the Blessed Mother. with a goal to care for the unwanted, unloved, and uncared for.
In Calcutta she devoted her life to caring for the sick and the poor. Though her life's work did not go without controversy. She stood firmly in speaking out against abortion, saying when receiving the Nobel Prize in 1979," I feel the greatest destroyer of peace today is abortion." and in 1995 publicly advocated her vote in the Irish referendum for the laws on divorce and remarriage to be lifted and she stood a strong "no".
"After several years of deteriorating health, including heart, lung and kidney problems, Mother Teresa died on September 5, 1997, at the age of 87."( The Biography.com)
"The Pope spoke about Mother Teresa’s life of service in the homily. ”Mother Teresa, in all aspects of her life, was a generous dispenser of divine mercy, making herself available for everyone through her welcome and defense of human life, those unborn and those abandoned and discarded," he said. "She bowed down before those who were spent, left to die on the side of the road, seeing in them their God-given dignity. She made her voice heard before the powers of this world, so that they might recognize their guilt for the crime of poverty they created."
He also told the faithful to follow her example and practice compassion. “Mercy was the salt which gave flavor to her work, it was the light which shone in the darkness of the many who no longer had tears to shed for their poverty and suffering,” he said, adding. "May she be your model of holiness."" (The Biography.com)
"Summing up her life in characteristically self-effacing fashion, Mother Teresa said, "By blood, I am Albanian. By citizenship, an Indian. By faith, I am a Catholic nun. As to my calling, I belong to the world. As to my heart, I belong entirely to the Heart of Jesus."" (The Biography.com)
Mother Teresa, please pray for us that we may all answer "the call" God has for each of our lives like you did.
information from https://www.biography.com/religious-figure/mother-teresa