Mother Teresa’s 114th birthday: remembering a life of compassion and service

On August 26, the world commemorates the birth anniversary of Mother Teresa, a figure synonymous with compassion, selflessness, and humanitarianism. Born in 1910 as Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu in Skopje, Macedonia, she felt a divine calling at the young age of 12 and dedicated her life to serving those in need.

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In 1928, Mother Teresa joined the Sisters of Loreto, an Irish order of nuns, and embarked on a journey that would eventually take her to the streets of Kolkata, where she spent years teaching before finding her true mission: aiding the poorest of the poor.

Witnessing the extreme poverty around her, she founded the Missionaries of Charity in 1950, an organisation devoted to helping the underprivileged, regardless of their background or faith. By the time of her death in 1997, the Missionaries of Charity had grown to thousands of members, working in over 130 countries.

Mother Teresa’s unwavering dedication did not go unnoticed. She was honoured globally for her efforts, most notably receiving the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979. In her acceptance speech, she emphasised that “love has to be put into action, and that action is service.” Her message and deeds continue to inspire countless people worldwide.

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Mother Teresa’s journey from a young girl in Macedonia to a Nobel laureate and eventually being canonised as a saint in 2016, stands as a testament to her lifelong commitment to serving humanity.