Born in Skopje (modern Republic of Macedonia) and served in India for most of her life, Mother Teresa, was an Albanian Roman Catholic nun and missionary. She is revered all over the world for her benevolence and philanthropic activities and has always been a reservoir of inspirations for all the grey-matters of this living planet. To flounder deep into this great soul, here are some interesting facts about her life and her services to the man-kind:
1. Real Name
Although, she is known as Mother Teresa world-wide, her real name was Anjezë Gonxhe Bojaxhiu.
source: biography.com
2. Blessed Teresa of Calcutta
She served in Calcutta (now Kolkata) for most of her life and was nicknamed as Blessed Teresa of Calcutta for her services to the Calcutta people.
source: wikipedia
3. Childhood Fascination
In her childhood, Mother Teresa was fascinated by missionaries and their services in Bengal, India.
source: motherteresa.org
4. When she left her home!
Moved by her desire to become a missionary, she left her home at the age of 18 in September 1928 and joined the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary, known as the Sisters of Loreto in Ireland.
source: wikipedia
5. Never saw her family members
After leaving her home at the age of 18, she never saw her family members in her life.
source: motherteresa.org
6. India Visit
In 1929, she arrived in India and began her novitiate in Darjeeling.
source: wikipedia
7. A Teacher
She worked as a teacher at the Loreto Convent School in Eastern Calcutta (now Kolkata) and after serving there for almost 20 years, she became the headmistress in 1944.
source: wikipedia
8. Call within a call!
On 10 September 1946, while traveling by a train from Calcutta to Darjeeling, she received her inspiration which she described as her call within a call.
source: motherteresa.org, image: wikipedia
9. Blue-bordered white sari!
She wore a blue-bordered white sari for the first time on 17 August 1948 and stepped out of the gates of Loreto Convent to enter the world of the poor.
source: motherteresa.org, image: quotesgram.com
10. Missionaries of Charity
On 7 October 1950, she opened a new congregation, Missionaries of Charity in Calcutta (now Kolkata), after getting the permission from the Vatican.
source: motherteresa.org, image: trabol.com
11. Nobel Award
In 1979, she was honoured with the world’s highest award, Nobel Award for peace and became the only women from India to be honoured with the Nobel.
source: wikipedia, image: yurtopic.com
12. India’s highest civilian award
In 1980, she was awarded with India’s highest civilian award, Bharat Ratna.
source: wikipedia, image: lalitkumar.in
13. Official Biography
Navin Chawla, an Indian Civil Servant, wrote and published her official biography in 1992.
source: wikipedia, image: goodreads.com
14. Documentary/Drama
In 1997, a documentary/drama, Mother Teresa: In the Name of God’s Poor, was made in which actress Geraldine Chapline played the role of Mother Teresa.
source: wikipedia, image: ravepad.com
15. Mother Teresa & Megan Fox
Mother Teresa was portrayed by Megan Fox in the 2007 movie, How to Lose Friends & Alienate People.
source: wikipedia, image: yuku.com
16. Universal Citizen
Once 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.”
source: wikipedia