Mother Teresa's Early Life and Ministry

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Questions and Answers

What was Archbishop Périer's initial attitude towards Mother Teresa's mission?

He was cautious and believed her efforts might not succeed.

Who were the primary targets of missionary work in colonial India?

The educated middle class.

What did Mother Teresa decide to do after her first aid training in 1948?

She chose to settle in the Motijhil slum in Calcutta.

What does the name 'Motijhil' mean?

It means 'pearl lake.' Signup and view all the answers

What was the main issue with potable water in Motijhil?

There was only one source of potable water. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary focus of the text regarding Mother Teresa?

The text focuses on the living conditions and challenges faced by the poor in Calcutta. Signup and view all the answers

How does the text depict poverty in Calcutta?

It portrays poverty as a significant hardship affecting the lives of many people. Signup and view all the answers

What kinds of challenges faced by the poor are mentioned in relation to Mother Teresa's experiences?

Challenges include lack of basic necessities and overall difficult living conditions. Signup and view all the answers

In what way does Mother Teresa's work relate to the theme of the text?

Her work highlights efforts to alleviate the suffering caused by poverty. Signup and view all the answers

What underlying message can be inferred from the text about poverty in Calcutta?

The text suggests that poverty requires attention and action to improve the living conditions of the affected individuals. Signup and view all the answers

What inspired Mother Teresa to establish the Nirmal Hriday hospice?

The death of a woman on the streets due to poverty inspired her to create a place for the dying. Signup and view all the answers

What steps did Mother Teresa take to find a suitable location for the hospice?

Mother Teresa sought help from the state government and bureaucrats to find a larger building. Signup and view all the answers

What was the initial concern some locals had about the hospice?

Some locals feared the hospice was a front for converting sick and dying Hindus and Muslims to Christianity. Signup and view all the answers

How did Mother Teresa respond to the local opposition regarding the hospice?

She responded gently and firmly in their language, affirming her identification with their culture and religion. Signup and view all the answers

What impression does the text convey about Mother Teresa's character?

The text highlights her dedication to helping the poor and her skillful handling of criticism. Signup and view all the answers

What was the main challenge faced by the Missionaries of Charity in their work?

Suspicion and opposition from locals regarding their efforts to convert Hindus. Signup and view all the answers

How did Mother Teresa respond to the mob's aggression?

She confronted them with a gesture of peace, saying, 'Kill me if you want to, but do not disturb those inside.' Signup and view all the answers

What was the Missionaries of Charity's approach to evangelizing?

They focused on serving others and showed love and care instead of forcing conversion. Signup and view all the answers

What eventually occurred between the Missionaries of Charity and the local community?

Trust was established with Hindu neighbors and even support from high caste volunteers. Signup and view all the answers

What gesture demonstrated the local businessman’s support for Mother Teresa?

He sent monthly supplies of cigarettes to the patients and sought her blessing. Signup and view all the answers

Who is Subhasini Das and what role did she take on in Mother Teresa's ministry?

Subhasini Das became Sister Agnes and joined Mother Teresa's Missionaries of Charity. Signup and view all the answers

What did Mother Teresa express gratitude for when Subhasini arrived?

Teresa thanked God for sending them and fulfilling a promise made to her. Signup and view all the answers

What were the aspirants aware of when they decided to join Mother Teresa?

The aspirants were aware that joining would require significant sacrifice and would be a hard life. Signup and view all the answers

What year did Mother Teresa receive canonical recognition of her work from the Vatican?

1950 Signup and view all the answers

How did the aspirants alter their dress once they joined Mother Teresa?

They gave up their expensive saris and put on humble cotton ones. Signup and view all the answers

What were the four vows taken by the Sisters of the Missionaries of Charity?

Poverty, chastity, obedience, and charity. Signup and view all the answers

Why were Sisters forbidden from wearing gloves while treating patients?

They believed that the flesh they touched was Christ's. Signup and view all the answers

What was the economic background of the girls who joined Mother Teresa?

All the girls came from middle-class families who supported their decision. Signup and view all the answers

When did the Sisters of the Missionaries of Charity take their final vows?

October 7, 1953 Signup and view all the answers

What was expected of the Sisters in their service to the suffering?

Joyful service was expected, even in difficult situations. Signup and view all the answers

What role did sponsors play in the care of orphans at St. Teresa of Calcutta's orphanages?

Sponsors provided financial support for individual orphans, which was saved and given to them upon leaving the orphanage. Signup and view all the answers

How did the health conditions in Calcutta's slums impact the local population?

The slum dwellers faced numerous illnesses, including significant issues like leprosy, due to unsanitary conditions and malnutrition. Signup and view all the answers

What measures did St. Teresa of Calcutta take to support lepers in her community?

She initiated fundraising efforts to provide medication and address the various needs of lepers. Signup and view all the answers

What contribution did the Bengali government provide to address overcrowding in the Nirmala Shishu Bhavan orphanage?

The Bengali government assisted in establishing additional orphanages to help alleviate overcrowding. Signup and view all the answers

What specific challenges did St. Teresa of Calcutta face due to the partition of India and Pakistan?

The partition resulted in an influx of lepers into the slums of Calcutta, worsening the already dire health conditions. Signup and view all the answers

What key initial factor influenced Mother Teresa's ministry?

A deep prayer life and Eucharist influenced Mother Teresa's ministry. Signup and view all the answers

How did the Indian government impact Mother Teresa's work?

The Indian government provided support for her ministries despite facing financial and political challenges. Signup and view all the answers

Which marginalized group did Mother Teresa particularly support through her work?

Mother Teresa supported the Dalits, a marginalized group in India. Signup and view all the answers

What role did personal encounters play in Mother Teresa's motivation?

Personal encounters with people in need strongly motivated Mother Teresa's humanitarian work. Signup and view all the answers

What was one of the main challenges faced by the Indian government after 1947?

The assassination of Gandhi and subsequent conflicts created financial and political problems for the Indian government. Signup and view all the answers

What was granted to St. Teresa by Pope Paul VI that allowed the Missionaries of Charity to expand internationally?

A decretum laudis (decree of praise) was granted. Signup and view all the answers

How long after the founding of the Missionaries of Charity were they allowed to start a second mission?

They were prohibited from launching a second mission for a decade. Signup and view all the answers

What significant milestone did the Missionaries of Charity achieve after the decree was granted?

They founded a mission in Venezuela. Signup and view all the answers

Under what kind of supervision were the Missionary Sisters placed allowing them greater flexibility in their ministries?

They were placed under pontifical supervision. Signup and view all the answers

What was the purpose of the Vatican council that St. Teresa participated in?

To demonstrate the relevance of Catholicism in the modern world. Signup and view all the answers

What year was the mobile leprosy clinic launched by Mother Teresa?

1957 Signup and view all the answers

What drug was used in the mobile leprosy clinic to treat patients at home?

Dapsone Signup and view all the answers

What is the name of the leper colony established with government support?

Shanti Nagar Signup and view all the answers

How did Mother Teresa help fund the construction of a hospital in Shanti Nagar?

She raffled off Pope Paul VI's used car. Signup and view all the answers

By which year had the Missionaries gained international recognition for their work?

1960 Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Early Life and Ministry

Mother Teresa's initial desire to serve the poorest of the poor was met with hesitation from Archbishop Périer.
Archbishop Périer was accustomed to missionary work focusing on the educated middle class, not the poorest segment of society.
Mother Teresa's decision to live among the poorest, sharing their poverty, was seen as remarkable.
Mother Teresa faced initial difficulties and discouragement during her first months in Calcutta.
Mother Teresa settled in Motijhil, a slum surrounding the Loreto Sisters' compound.
The slum was named "pearl lake" due to the polluted water surrounding it.
There was only one source of potable water in the area.

Nirmal Hriday: Place of the Immaculate Heart

Mother Teresa was inspired to create a hospice after witnessing a woman die on the streets due to poverty.
A small hut was initially used as a shelter, but it was too small for the large slum population.
Mother Teresa requested a larger building from the state government and sought help from bureaucrats.
Two rooms attached to a Kali temple, a popular Hindu pilgrimage site, were identified as suitable for the hospice.
The rooms were thoroughly cleaned before the Nirmal Hriday was opened.
There was initial resistance from some individuals who feared the hospice was a front for converting Hindus to Christianity and viewed it as disrespectful to the Hindu sacred space.
Mother Teresa responded to criticisms by speaking Bengali, emphasizing her Indian identity and respect for their culture and religion.

The House of the Dying

The Missionaries of Charity faced suspicion and opposition as they ministered to the dying in India, especially those from the Dalit caste.
Hindu mobs often threw stones at the house, believing the sisters were trying to force conversions.
Mother Teresa clarified their goal was to show love and care, and those who wished to convert to Catholicism could seek a priest.
Despite their welcoming attitude, periods of intense distrust and aggression towards the Missionaries of Charity occurred.
During an attack by a mob, Mother Teresa confronted them with a gesture of peace, saying, "Kill me if you want to, but do not disturb those inside. Let them die in peace."
Her bravery dispersed the crowd, and trust was eventually established with Hindu neighbors and volunteers.

Orphanage Care

Mother Teresa ensured orphaned children were taught trades to support themselves.
She invited sponsors worldwide to support individual orphans.
Surrogate parents contributed funds for the children, which were held and given to them upon leaving the orphanage.

Calcutta Slums and Health Conditions

The Nirmala Shishu Bhavan orphanage quickly became overcrowded.
The Bengali government assisted in establishing additional orphanages.
Slum dwellers faced numerous illnesses due to unsanitary conditions and malnutrition.
Leprosy was a major health concern, causing physical and social suffering.
The partition of India and Pakistan resulted in an influx of lepers into Calcutta's slums.

Compassion and Action for Lepers

Mother Teresa felt compassion for the suffering lepers, recognizing their physical and spiritual pain.
She initiated fundraising efforts to provide medication and address the needs of lepers.

Subhasini Das and Mother Teresa

Subhasini Das, a former student of Teresa's, joined her ministry.
She became Sister Agnes and remained with Mother Teresa throughout her life.
Mother Teresa was deeply grateful for Subhasini's arrival, seeing it as an answer to her prayers.
Soon, ten girls joined Mother Teresa, sacrificing their comfortable lives for the sake of serving the poor.

Canonical Recognition and the Fourth Vow

Mother Teresa became a citizen of India in 1949.
The Vatican granted canonical recognition of the Missionaries of Charity in 1950.
On October 7, 1953, the sisters took their final vows, emphasizing the fourth vow of serving Christ by caring for the impoverished.
The sisters were forbidden from wearing gloves when treating patients with open sores, emphasizing their devotion to serving the suffering Christ.

Early Ministry Expansion and Growth

Mother Teresa’s ministry began with a deep prayer life and Eucharist, and she worked with energetic young women.
The work grew rapidly, leading to the establishment of schools and buildings to accommodate increasing student numbers.
Some buildings were donated, while others were acquired with government assistance.
The Indian government often supported Mother Teresa and her Missionaries of Charity, though this was sometimes due to the complex political and financial situation following independence.
Mother Teresa’s motivation for her work often stemmed from personal encounters with suffering individuals, like those she encountered in the slums of Calcutta.

Mobile Leprosy Clinic and Shanti Nagar

Mother Teresa launched a mobile leprosy clinic in 1957 to address the lack of hospitals and physicians for lepers in Calcutta's slums.
The clinic, blessed by Archbishop Périer, used the new drug dapsone, which could be taken at home.
The Missionaries established a fleet of mobile clinics to reach more patients.
Stationary clinics in Calcutta remained necessary to manage the large number of patients.
The Indian government provided land to build a leper colony, Shanti Nagar, aiming for a dignified living environment for lepers.
International contributions funded the construction of dwellings in Shanti Nagar.
Mother Teresa raised funds by raffling off Pope Paul VI's used car, using the proceeds to build a hospital in Shanti Nagar.

International Expansion and Papal Recognition

Church leaders were tasked with demonstrating the relevance of Catholicism in the modern world.
Mother Teresa met with the Pope to request a decretum laudis (decree of praise) to expand her mission beyond India.
Canon law prohibited new religious orders from launching a second mission until a decade after founding.
The Missionaries of Charity were placed under pontifical supervision, allowing them to expand their ministry.
The decree was granted five years later by Pope Paul VI.
Following this, the Missionaries of Charity established a mission in Venezuela, marking their international expansion.

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Explore the early life and ministry of Mother Teresa, including her commitment to serving the poorest of the poor. This quiz covers her initial challenges, the establishment of Nirmal Hriday, and the community she served in Calcutta. Test your knowledge about her remarkable journey and the slums she worked in.