Born in Macedonia in 1910, Teresa grew up in a home open to the destitute. Her mother would say: "My child, never eat a single mouthful unless you are sharing it with others." She spent 17 years teaching in India before she experienced her "call within a call" in 1946 to devote herself to caring for the sick and poor. She translated this call into a practical reality, beginning an open-air school and establishing a home for the dying, and in 1950 opened the Missionaries of Charity. She was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979 in recognition of her work "in bringing help to suffering humanity."
Her life was dedicated to living out the Gospel, practicing "true religion". That experience informed the wisdom with which she spoke. Here are ten quotes from Mother Teresa:
"If you judge people, you have no time to love them."
"Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love."
"God doesn't require us to succeed, he only requires that you try."
"Live simply so others may simply live."
"Prayer is not asking. Prayer is putting oneself in the hands of God, at His disposition, and listening to His voice in the depth of our hearts."
"I can do things you cannot, you can do things I cannot; together we can do great things."
"Spread the love of God through your life but only use words when necessary."
"I have found the paradox, that if you love until it hurts, there can be no more hurt, only more love."
"The good you do today may be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway."
"At the end of life we will not be judged by how many diplomas we have received, how much money we have made, how many great things we have done. We will be judged by "I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat, I was naked and you clothed me. I was homeless, and you took me in."
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