Agnes enters the Sisters of Loreto, religious sisters of Ireland, taking the name of Teresa after Saint Therese of the Child Jesus.
This spouse of Christ receives a command in her soul from the Lord himself: I cannot go alone. He was referring to the poor, the forgotten, the suffering, the despised. And the saint founded a congregation for the poorest of the poor.
In 1948, in Calcutta, she structured a discipline of Life, beginning the day with Jesus in the Eucharist. Then, rosary in hand, she went out to assist those whom no one wanted to be with, much less bothered to help. Soon, other Missionaries of Charity joined, and they began to be sent to other parts of India and the world. Union with God through communion with Jesus’ thirst and his pain in the desolation of the poorest and most abandoned of all.»
Her philosophy of service was to involve people from all walks of life in favor of the poorest, without abandoning the nuns’ lives of poverty. After her death, we know well of Mother Teresa’s spiritual desolations and how they gave her the strength to carry on. Even when she felt nothing, she would say: «Let them celebrate the Eucharist well. If I dedicate myself to the most marginalized, and attend to them, it is because I have just received Communion. Christ himself, whom I have adored and received at Mass, is the one I see present in the person of my neighbor, especially the poorest.»
Pray for us, Saint Mother Teresa of Calcutta.
Prayers of the Faithful
Celebrant: The love of Christ gathers us together in faith so that we might be renewed in our baptism and its commitment to mission. We make our prayer to the Father.
1. In the spirit of Mother Teresa, we offer our love, support and prayers for all Christian communities throughout the world. We ask God to pour out his blessings on us that we may bring the joy of the Gospel and his new life to all our daily encounters with God’s people.
2. We pray for all missionaries: for the Christian communities that sent them and those who receive and welcome them. We ask God to bless all our missionaries and to bless those who are missionaries to us.
3. We pray for those in our world who suffer injustice and those who are victims of any form of violence or terrorism. Grant them your comfort and peace and help us to contribute our missionary efforts in making this world a better place for all.
4. We pray for our own families: we thank God for them and we ask God to bless them, especially those who are sick, troubled or in any need; and also to bless those who reach out to people in need.
5. The harvest is large but the laborers are few. We pray to the Lord of the harvest to send laborers to his harvest.
6. For the sick and shut-ins, for those battling addictions, for those searching for something to fill the emptiness in their lives, that Christ’s love and compassion may comfort them.
7. For the victims of natural disasters, including the brush fires in California and the floods in Texas and the Gulf Coast, for assistance, healing and recovery.
8. For the silent prayer we hold in our hearts.
Celebrant: My the missionary spirit of Mother Teresa infuse our hearts today and encourage us. We present these prayers through your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord for ever and ever. AMEN.