Mother Teresa

Shaun Springer
World Religions 1150
Research Paper
7/26/11
Mother Teresa
There are few well known people in all religions all over the world. Mother Teresa is looked up to by everyone, not just Roman Catholics or even just Christians. She is “the first religious figure in history to be revered during her lifetime by adherents of all religions and Christians of all denominations” (Tucker). With so many people looking up to her, it was no surprise that when she passed away in 1997 there was a universal thankfulness to her for her long life of dedication to the sick, poor, and dying. For many years, Mother Teresa was a universal guide to hopefulness to everyone around the world, no matter what religion.

Mother Teresa grew up in a religious family with a loving upbringing. She was born Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu in Albania in 1910. At the age of 9, her father passed away leaving her mother providing only for the family. It was a difficult life, but their family’s faith sustained them (Tucker). While her father was alive he “distributed food and money to many people without drawing attention…his door was always open to those who needed food, shelter and care” (Porter). Her mother volunteered in the neighborhood, cared for alcoholic women, and also took in six orphans into their home. Mother Teresa grew up understanding to care for others and to always lend a helping hand. Her father would always tell her, “My daughter, never take a morsel of food that you are not prepared to share with others.’” (Porter). Understanding at such a young age to put others first really shaped the person she grew up to be. By the age of 12, Agnes had a feeling God was calling to her for her service (Tucker). From then on, she took on the role of serving God. At age 19, she became a teacher and a nun. She focused mainly on helping the poor and teaching young school girls in Calcutta. She continued this until the age of thirty two in which she took ‘The Vow of 1942’. At the end of her... [continues]

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