Episode Transcript  

One

The Call  

Born in Albania in 1910, Mother Teresa entered the Sisters of Loretto in 1928. She served in Bengal, India, as a teacher for girls from wealthy families. However, in 1942, she made a vow to give to God anything He may ask, and not to refuse him anything.

On Tuesday, September 10th, 1946, on a train bound for Darjeeling, she had a mystical encounter with Christ. She saw a big crowd of people who cried out to her, “Come, come, save us, bring Jesus to us.” And then she heard the voice of Jesus pleading with her, “Come, come, carry Me into the holes of the poor. Come be My light.”  This double invitation from the crowd of the poor and from Jesus echoed throughout her life. 

At first, she hesitated because she had a stable, safe, and comfortable life. However, again, Jesus spoke to her with words that cut her to the heart, “You have come to India for Me. The thirst you had for souls brought you so far. Are you afraid to take one more step for your Spouse, for me, for souls? Is your generosity grown cold? Am I a second to you? You did not die for souls. That is why you don’t care what happens to them. Your heart was never drowned in sorrow as it was My Mother’s. We both gave our all for souls and you? You are afraid that you will lose… (who you were), and that you will be wanting in perseverance. No - your vocation is to love and suffer and save souls and by taking this step you will fulfill my Heart’s desire for you. That is your vocation.”

Two

Missionaries of Charity 

About that same time, Mother Teresa read a biography of St. Francis Cabrini, who left her home in Italy to be a missionary in America in 1889. Reflecting on her life, Mother Teresa wrote, “Mother Cabrini did not wait for souls to come to her. She went to them with Zealous workers. Why can’t I do the same for Jesus here in India?”

Yet Mother Teresa did not feel capable. In reply, Jesus said to her, “You are, I know, the most incapable person, weak and sinful, but just because you are that I want to use you for my glory! Wilt thou refuse?”

So, in 1948, she left the comfort and security of her convent, walking through the gates with five rupees, the equivalent of five pennies, to go out into the dark holes of the slums of India to bring the light of Jesus to souls steeped in the darkness of sin, abandoned by any help in the world. From that day forward her aim was to bring souls to God and God to souls. 

In 1950, twelve women joined her, and the Missionaries of Charity began. She writes, “The Aim of the Missionaries of Charity is to satiate the thirst of Jesus on the Cross for love and souls.” Today, the Missionaries of Charity number more than 5000 members with 766 homes serving the poor in 139 countries. Like Mother Cabrini before her, Mother Teresa was adamant, “We will not wait for souls to come to us; we will go in search of them.”

Three

Rely on Jesus and Mary 

Mother Teresa knew that she and those who joined her were totally incapable of bringing the light of Jesus to those in darkness. She was convinced that the work of comforting those in the greatest need would be impossible without the continual grace of Jesus received every day in the Eucharist and a deep life of prayer. Jesus would have to do everything, she would say, we have just to follow.

So, no matter how busy they were or how great a need they faced, Mother Teresa relied not on herself alone, but on Jesus by spending one hour each day with Him in Eucharistic Adoration. On days in which she had too much to do, she would spend two hours with Jesus, confident that while things might be humanly impossible for her, nothing was impossible for God if she relied on Him.  

Mother Teresa had also consecrated her life to Mary and was devoted to the Rosary. The Rule of the Missionaries of Charity was never to go to the slums without first praying the Rosary. Mother Teresa would say, “Cling to the rosary…for without Our Lady we cannot stand!”

Four

Expectant Faith 

In 1982, the Israeli Air Force carried out daily bombing raids on Beirut, Lebanon, in its efforts to destabilize the country and gain more of the Golan Heights. During these raids, thirty-six disabled children had been abandoned in a hospital in West Beirut that was heavily damaged. Mother Teresa heard about this and flew from India to rescue the children. She met with several military officers and politicians and asked for a fleet of Red Cross trucks to go and pick up the children…tomorrow. The US Ambassador retorted, “This is impossible. We need a ceasefire first. And there is no chance it will come tomorrow….”

“Oh, but I have been praying to Our Lady,” Mother stated confidently. “And I have asked her to let us have a cease-fire here, tomorrow.” The ambassador was taken aback. He stared incredulously at Mother Teresa and said, “Mother, I believe in prayer, but don’t you think that the time limit is a little…well, you know… short?”

“Oh, no.” Mother Teresa responded, “I am certain that we will have the cease-fire tomorrow.” Trying in vain to conceal his skepticism, he placated her quietly. “Mother, if we have a cease-fire, I will personally make the arrangements to see that you go to West Beirut tomorrow.” Mother Teresa’s response was simply, “We shall pray.”

Then she pulled an all-nighter in prayer in the presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. To everyone’s surprise, except for Mother Teresa, a cease fire was declared the next morning, at sunrise.  You can watch for yourselves on YouTube the convoy of Red Cross trucks carrying those children to safety and a big smile on Mother Teresa’s face.

That is expectant faith.

Five

Eradicating Spiritual Poverty  

Mother Teresa said, “Calcutta is everywhere,” and warned that the greatest poverty is not material but spiritual, “The most serious form of poverty is to live without God.” Hunger, thirst, and homelessness are tragedies, but they end with death. Spiritual poverty, living without a relationship with God, can last forever. You might think, “I’m no Mother Teresa. I just want to help my family and friends get to heaven.” That is exactly our call. Our mission is to lead our loved ones to friendship with Jesus through deep friendship with one another.

The cure for spiritual poverty has three parts: Friendship with God through daily meditation on His Word in the Rosary, just as Our Lady has asked. Friendship with others, truly knowing, understanding, loving, and caring for the people God has placed in your life. Freedom from distraction, breaking the addiction to screens and entertainment that keep us from being present to God and to each other.

If we want friendship with God and others, we must reclaim our attention. Put down the phone. Pick up the Rosary. Let the Lord fill the poverty of your heart. Can you hear those around you, “Come, come save us, bring us to Jesus.” And Jesus, “Wilt thou refuse?”

Suggested Resolutions:

Choose one resolution for today to help you grow closer to God, or create your own. Here are some ideas to inspire you. 

• Mother Teresa not only prayed with confidence, but she was fully committed to her prayer, even spending the entire night in Adoration. This week, consider signing up for at least an hour of Adoration, dedicating your time to God.

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