Mother Teresa, born in 1910 in Skopje, North Macedonia, was a Catholic nun renowned for her humanitarian work.
She founded the Missionaries of Charity in 1950, dedicated to aiding the poorest of the poor, primarily in Calcutta’s slums.
Her selfless service earned her the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979, and in 2016, she was canonized as a saint by the Catholic Church.
Mother Teresa’s legacy continues to inspire acts of kindness and compassion worldwide.
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1910 | Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu (Mother Teresa) is born in Skopje, North Macedonia. |
| 1928 | Agnes joins the Sisters of Loreto in Ireland. |
| 1929 | Agnes arrives in India and begins her novitiate in Darjeeling, taking the name Sister Mary Teresa. |
| 1931 | Sister Teresa takes her solemn vows and becomes Mother Teresa. |
| 1946 | Mother Teresa experiences a “call within a call” and starts working with the poor in Calcutta. |
| 1950 | Mother Teresa founds the Missionaries of Charity. |
| 1952 | The first Home for the Dying is opened in Calcutta. |
| 1979 | Mother Teresa is awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. |
| 1985 | Mother Teresa opens the Gift of Love Home for AIDS patients in New York City. |
| 1997 | Mother Teresa passes away on September 5th in Calcutta at the age of 87. |
| 2003 | Pope John Paul II beatifies Mother Teresa. |
| 2016 | Mother Teresa is canonized as Saint Teresa of Calcutta by Pope Francis. |
Timeline of Mother Teresa
1910: Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu (Mother Teresa) is born in Skopje, North Macedonia
On August 26, 1910, Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu was born in Skopje, which was then a part of the Ottoman Empire and is now the capital of North Macedonia.
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She was born to Albanian parents, Nikola and Drana Bojaxhiu, and was baptized as Gonxha Agnes.
1928: Agnes joins the Sisters of Loreto in Ireland
In 1928, at the age of 18, Agnes left her family home and traveled to Ireland, where she joined the Sisters of Loreto, a community of nuns with missions in India. She adopted the name Sister Mary Teresa upon entering the convent.
1929: Agnes arrives in India and begins her novitiate in Darjeeling
In 1929, Sister Teresa arrived in India and began her novitiate in Darjeeling, a hill station in the Indian state of West Bengal. This period marked her formal training and initiation into religious life as a novice nun.
1931: Sister Teresa takes her solemn vows and becomes Mother Teresa
In 1931, Sister Teresa took her final religious vows, becoming a fully professed nun. She adopted the title of “Mother” and became known as Mother Teresa. Her commitment to a life of service and devotion to God deepened during this time.
1946: Mother Teresa experiences a “call within a call” and starts working with the poor in Calcutta
In 1946, while serving as a teacher at the Loreto Convent School in Calcutta (now Kolkata), Mother Teresa experienced what she later described as a “call within a call.”
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She felt a strong, inner calling from Jesus to serve the poorest of the poor and those suffering in the slums of Calcutta. This profound spiritual experience led her to leave the Loreto convent and establish a new mission to care for the destitute and dying.
1950: Mother Teresa founds the Missionaries of Charity
In 1950, Mother Teresa founded the Missionaries of Charity, a religious congregation dedicated to serving the poorest of the poor.
The mission’s primary focus was to provide care, love, and support to those who were destitute, homeless, and suffering in the slums of Calcutta and other parts of India. This marked the official beginning of her lifelong mission to alleviate human suffering.
1952: The first Home for the Dying is opened in Calcutta
In 1952, Mother Teresa opened the first Home for the Dying in Calcutta. This facility, called Nirmal Hriday (meaning “Pure Heart”), provided a place of comfort and care for those who were terminally ill and often abandoned on the streets.
The Missionaries of Charity expanded this service to include hospices and homes for people with leprosy, tuberculosis, and other serious illnesses.
1979: Mother Teresa is awarded the Nobel Peace Prize
In 1979, Mother Teresa received international recognition for her selfless work when she was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.
The Nobel Committee recognized her “work in bringing help to suffering humanity” and her dedication to the principles of love, compassion, and respect for the dignity of every human being.
1985: Mother Teresa opens the Gift of Love Home for AIDS patients in New York City
In 1985, Mother Teresa expanded her mission to the United States and opened the Gift of Love Home in New York City.
This facility was dedicated to providing care and support to individuals suffering from AIDS at a time when there was still significant stigma and fear associated with the disease. Mother Teresa’s work in this area contributed to raising awareness and compassion for those affected by HIV/AIDS.
1997: Mother Teresa passes away on September 5th in Calcutta at the age of 87
On September 5, 1997, Mother Teresa passed away in Calcutta, India, at the age of 87. Her death marked the end of a remarkable life dedicated to serving the poorest of the poor.
Her work had touched the lives of countless individuals, and her legacy of compassion and selflessness continued to inspire people around the world.
2003: Pope John Paul II beatifies Mother Teresa
In 2003, Mother Teresa was beatified by Pope John Paul II. Beatification is a significant step toward sainthood in the Catholic Church. During the beatification ceremony, Mother Teresa was given the title “Blessed Teresa of Calcutta.”
This recognition was based on her virtuous life, her commitment to serving the needy, and the miraculous healing of an Indian woman who had prayed to Mother Teresa for intercession.
2016: Mother Teresa is canonized as Saint Teresa of Calcutta by Pope Francis
On September 4, 2016, Mother Teresa was canonized as Saint Teresa of Calcutta by Pope Francis during a ceremony at the Vatican. Canonization is the formal process by which someone is declared a saint in the Catholic Church.
Mother Teresa’s canonization recognized her exemplary life of service, love, and devotion to God, as well as her profound impact on humanitarian efforts worldwide.