What is wrong with the world today? Would you be willing to give up everything to go and help?

What is wrong with the world What is wrong with the world today?today?

Would you be willing to give up Would you be willing to give up everything to go and help?everything to go and help?

Mother TeresaMother Teresa

WALT: to know why Mother WALT: to know why Mother Teresa is an important Teresa is an important

Christian figureChristian figure

Who is she?Who is she?

Mother Teresa was born in Mother Teresa was born in Skopje part of the modern-day country of Macedonia

She was originally called Agnes She was originally called Agnes BojaxhiuBojaxhiu

By the age of 18 she was in Ireland By the age of 18 she was in Ireland where she joined a convent of the where she joined a convent of the Sisters of our Lady LorettoSisters of our Lady Loretto

She changed her name to Mother She changed her name to Mother TeresaTeresa

She trained as a teacher and became She trained as a teacher and became principal of a high school in Calcutta principal of a high school in Calcutta in Indiain India

While she was there she was While she was there she was horrified by the sight of so many sick horrified by the sight of so many sick and dying people on the streetsand dying people on the streets

She knew that it was wrong and she She knew that it was wrong and she was determined to do something was determined to do something about it although she didn’t really about it although she didn’t really know what at firstknow what at first

Read Matthew 25:31-40Read Matthew 25:31-40 In 1946 she was travelling to In 1946 she was travelling to

Darjeeling by train “when I heard the Darjeeling by train “when I heard the voice of God… I was sure i was God’s voice of God… I was sure i was God’s voice. I was certain he was calling voice. I was certain he was calling me”me”

His message was clear and she His message was clear and she decided to leave the convent and decided to leave the convent and help the poor by living among them.help the poor by living among them.

What do you think this must What do you think this must have been like?have been like?

The Missionaries of Charity was set The Missionaries of Charity was set up in 1848. No-one was turned away up in 1848. No-one was turned away and the sisters vowed not to won and the sisters vowed not to won possessions or have wealth of their possessions or have wealth of their own, but to give everything they had own, but to give everything they had to the poor. to the poor.

Would you be willing to do this? Would you be willing to do this? Would you want to?Would you want to?

What sort of person is Mother What sort of person is Mother Teresa?Teresa?

She was saddened that many people She was saddened that many people were so poor that they lived and died were so poor that they lived and died on the streets, so she opened the on the streets, so she opened the Poor Heart Home for Dying Poor Heart Home for Dying DestitutesDestitutes

She wanted poor people to be cared She wanted poor people to be cared for when they needed it mostfor when they needed it most

Home for abandoned babies was Home for abandoned babies was founded in 1955founded in 1955

1957 a home was set up for Lepers1957 a home was set up for Lepers

She was determined to do all she She was determined to do all she could to ease the difficulties that could to ease the difficulties that poor people had to face and that poor people had to face and that meant she was not frightened of meant she was not frightened of challenging the rich in India and challenging the rich in India and elsewhere and she was eventually elsewhere and she was eventually one of the few foreign people in India one of the few foreign people in India who could challenge the governing who could challenge the governing classes about wrong laws and classes about wrong laws and policies.policies.

She received a Nobel Peace Prize in She received a Nobel Peace Prize in 19791979

How do you think she reacted?How do you think she reacted? She said “Personally I am unworthy. I She said “Personally I am unworthy. I

accept it in the name of the poor”accept it in the name of the poor” She passed away in 1997. How old She passed away in 1997. How old

was she?was she?

What do you like to spend your What do you like to spend your money on?money on?

If you suddenly became rich over If you suddenly became rich over night what would you spend it on?night what would you spend it on?

Mother Teresa made a great deal of Mother Teresa made a great deal of sacrifices.sacrifices.

““We do not accept anything from our We do not accept anything from our parents, friends or benefactors for parents, friends or benefactors for our personal use. Whatever is given our personal use. Whatever is given to us is handed over to the to us is handed over to the community community

Imagine you were asked to interview Imagine you were asked to interview Mother Teresa.Mother Teresa.

Think about what questions would Think about what questions would you ask her and how she would you ask her and how she would reply.reply.