Scottish Catholic Observer

THE centenary of the birth of Mother Teresa was celebrated by hundreds of nuns and slum dwellers with Mass at the headquarters of the Missionaries of Charity, the order founded by Mother Teresa, in Calcutta, India and it was also marked here in Scotland in Edinburgh and Glasgow.

Cardinal Keith O’Brien celebrated Mass at St Mary’s Metropolitan Cathedral in Edinburgh with members of the order present and Archbishop Mario Conti marked the anniversary at St Conval’s.

Paying tribute

In the 60 years since the order’s foundation, the Missionaries of Charity have worked constantly with the poor and needy in Calcutta. It was those people who flocked to Mother House in Calcutta to pray at Mother Teresa’s tomb on the 100th anniversary of her birth.

Known as the ‘Saint of the Gutters,’ Mother Teresa inspired a loyalty and devotion from the people she helped in her work, but on the anniversary of her birth the residents of Calcutta were joined by Pope Benedict XVI in praising her.

“I am confident that this year will be for the Church and the world an occasion of joyful gratitude to God for the inestimable gift that Mother Teresa was in her lifetime and continues to be through the affectionate and tireless work of you, her spiritual children,” the Holy Father said.

Mother Teresa

Mother Teresa was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979 for her work with the poor and, after her death in 1997, recognition from the Catholic Church came in 2003 when she was Beatified by Pope John II, paving the way for her future Canonisation.

On the centenary of her birth, her order numbered 4500 sisters, operating in 133 countries across the world, running homes for HIV/AIDS sufferers and victims of leprosy and tuberculosis as well as orphanages, schools and family counseling programmes.

Inspiring example

The current head of the Missionaries of Charity has called on people across the world to follow Mother Teresa’s example.

“Her life and work continue to be an inspiration for young and old, rich and poor from all walks of life, religions and nations,” Sr Prema said.

The Pope continued his praise of Mother Teresa and the order she founded in his message to Sr Prema.

“I send cordial greetings to you and all the Missionaries of Charity as you begin the centenary celebrations of the birth of Blessed Mother Teresa, founder of your Congregation and an exemplary model of Christian Virtue,” the Holy Father said. “I encourage you to draw constantly from the spirituality and example of Mother Teresa, and in her footsteps, to take up Christ’s Invitation: ‘Come, be my light.’”

Pope Benedict also focussed on the love and charity that Mother Teresa exemplified, as he said: “May this love continue to inspire you as Missionaries of Charity, to give yourselves generously to Jesus, whom you see and serve in the poor, the sick, the infirm and the abandoned.”

Pic: Paul McSherry