In the slums of Calcutta, among the dying, abandoned, and broken, Mother Teresa found Christ. She didn’t build great cathedrals or write volumes of theology — she simply loved those the world left behind. And in doing so, she showed what holiness looks like when it puts on an apron and gets to work.
Known today as St. Teresa of Calcutta, she remains a powerful witness that love isn’t about feeling good — it’s about showing up, especially when it’s hard.
A Call Within a Call
Born in 1910 in what is now North Macedonia, Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu became a missionary nun and teacher. But in 1946, while riding a train, she received what she called a “call within a call”: to leave her convent and serve the poorest of the poor.
She obeyed, alone at first, and eventually founded the Missionaries of Charity. Her life was a daily yes to God — even when she felt nothing but silence.
“Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love.”
Love in Action
Mother Teresa’s holiness wasn’t loud — it was steady. She washed the dying, fed the hungry, and listened to the lonely. She taught that being unwanted is a greater poverty than hunger — and that the answer is always love.
She didn’t ask how much you could do. She asked how much you were willing to give of yourself.
To her, success was not measured by numbers, but by faithfulness.
Why Mother Teresa Still Matters Today
We live in an age of overexposure and under-connection. In the noise, we often miss the quiet cries of those nearby. Mother Teresa reminds us to look closer — to see Christ in the person in front of us.
Her life challenges us to:
- Love those who are hard to love
- Serve without expecting recognition
- Find meaning in hidden, ordinary work
- Keep going even when God feels silent
Her strength came not from comfort, but from courage rooted in prayer.
Faithfulness Over Feelings
One of the most striking revelations after her death was that Mother Teresa lived in spiritual darkness for decades. Yet she never stopped serving. She never stopped smiling. She never stopped believing in love.
She showed us that you don’t have to feel God to be faithful to Him.
Want to Walk with Mother Teresa?
Look at your hands. Ask God how He wants to use them today. Whether it’s a kind word, a small sacrifice, or time spent with someone who feels forgotten — that’s where love begins.
For a deeper journey, you’re welcome to explore our 30-day devotional, Walking with Mother Teresa, available now.
Mother Teresa’s path is not easy, but it’s real. And in every small act of love, you’ll find Christ waiting.