When I visited Kolkata (formerly Calcutta), it flashed back to my mind the name of a single person. She's not just ordinary, but a blessed one in the name of Mother Teresa, who was popularly known as a 'Living Saint' before her death.
Mother Teresa became a global sensation when I was a young child in the Philippines and even became world-renowned in the 90s until she passed away in 1997. Then, we saw Mother Teresa as a simple nun caring for the sick and the dying in Kolkata. Her work isn't extraordinary but just ordinary deeds accompanied by great love, compassion, and commitment to serving needy people.
Since I was in Kolkata, I've considered visiting her place: the main headquarters of the "Missionaries of Charity," the Congregation she founded. That was when I saw the outstanding achievements of a simple nun with extraordinary power, now Blessed Teresa.
What could have made her adorable and famous is her selfless love and compassion for the poorest of the poor, the sick, the abandoned, and the dying people. In her early years in Kolkata, she used to be a teacher in a convent school until such time she had a calling from the Divine to look after the needs of the poor people who were hungry, homeless, and dying in the streets due to widespread poverty and famine in the locality.
She lived the 'Corporal Works of Mercy' and had it in action to stand the test of time. She fed the hungry, gave drink to the thirsty, clothed the naked, visited the sick, visited the imprisoned, and buried the dead. All of these works were achieved by Mother Teresa when she was living.
Her congregation, the "Missionaries of Charity," started with a mission to save the people who needed care on the streets. She had nothing to give financially at first. Still, due to global recognition and the power of media, they have attracted donations from individuals and organizations worldwide and financial aid from different States and Government Agencies.
Perhaps, it was the shortest pilgrimage I had to visit the Mother House, where the tomb of Mother Teresa is placed. It is a simple tomb with a chapel inside for the visitors to offer a prayer. It is a peaceful place with people of different creeds coming in to witness the thousands of archives relevant to the work of Mother Teresa located in the room adjacent to her tomb.
Visitors will also realize how a Spiritually powerful Nun used to live in simplicity in a small room with a tiny single bed. It made me realize that our living status does not matter what we can achieve. Hence, there is no room for self-doubt about what we can accomplish.
Nowadays, people become a victim of their lower emotions. Some are playing the victim in life and degrading people of miseries and misfortune.
Many people are capable and fortunate in life, but they remain empty. They have the feeling of being unloved and abandoned. This would seem like a global epidemic, but Mother Teresa's dedication to love and compassion speaks it all.
Like all the successful and accomplished people in history, Mother Teresa has a share of unjust criticism from her critics globally. She had been condemned and ridiculed for her ways of leadership with the founded congregation. However, Mother Teresa stood up for what she believed was right. Like in life, people see the opposing sides and have themselves put into an exemption. In the end, no matter what people say and do, the mirror still reflects back; and the ones who do better are ahead of the game of life like Mother Teresa did.
Blessed Teresa did not only show her motherly care, but she taught humanity how to live in modesty. To live a life in simplicity and remain to be strong when life seems to be unjust.
© 2013 Del Cusay
