Finally, She is a Saint

Mother Teresa’s beauty and her canonization

Mother Teresa was a picture of a most beautiful person, a woman who felt loved and loved in return. Beauty as defined by her life challenges the world’s standards of beauty and preoccupation with youthfulness and worldly prestige. She was bent and wrinkled by age but agile to give service to the poorest of the poor. Her eyes alive with compassion and joy as it beheld Christ in the poor. Her steps defying her age hurried to their care.

So many things have been written about her. Some are encouraging while a few are questioning. But it is her work and its fruit that gives testimony to her. Her houses have grown to more than 700 while her active sisters have grown to more than 5 thousand all over the world not only in India but also in Asia, Africa, Latin America, North America, Europe, Australia, and the US.

In the Philippines, they have more than 14 houses by now. Here in Davao, they have a Home for the abandoned children in Juna Subd., Matina and the House of the Sick, the Dying and the Destitute in Agdao. The latter used to be located in Fatima Street where patients were attended to for 29 years. In July 10, 2010, according to Sr. Ann Michael, MC, some benefactors donated the land and built the facilities at their current address in Cabaguio St, Agdao. Currently, there are 62 patients in the facility, 33 of which are males.

It is a place where the destitute can find a refuge. They are taken cared of and provided for. However, patients are taken in on a case to case basis. Those with families who can take care of them stay home and provided only with medicines and others necessary for their care.

One of them is Algerico, who is single at 66. He is suffering from heart disease and ulcer. He is from Surigao and migrated to the city to work when he was still young. With no one to take care of him he approached the Caritas in San Pedro Cathedral which referred him to the MC sisters.

Eugenia, on the other hand is a 70 year old mother. She was alone in the hospital undergoing lung operation. She was later brought by a barangay kagawad to the Misssionaries of Charity.

Sr. Ann Michael also cited the case of a single and now aged male patient. He supported his family all his life but when he got sick no one was able to provide for his needs because of poverty. The sister of another patient could not take care of him because her own husband is also a stroke patient and she could not provide and take care of them both. Another was abandoned by her own daughter, the only family he has.

The stories of patients at the facility are varied but speak of the same theme: extreme need. They have no one to take care of them or to provide for them. A number of them are simply abandoned.

The Missionaries of Charity serve them mindful of their founders’ simple but profound message: by serving others they are serving Jesus himself. The sisters also facilitate the need for the Sacraments, such as Matrimony and Baptism in poor areas. They also teach kindergarten in the Parish while their mothers attend sewing class. There are only 6 sisters serving in this house. But they get support from their lay volunteers, who are called by Mother Teresa as their co-workers. Mila, the one who facilitated the author’s interview there, is one of them.

Mother Teresa is declared today a Saint by the Church. Her beauty continues to shine in those who follow her footsteps in serving the poorest in the poor. Indeed, her deeds continue to inspire the able to follow her example and the rich to support her charities. St. Teresa of Calcutta’s words guide them and us: “The fruit of silence is prayer; the fruit of prayer is faith; the fruit of faith is love; the fruit of love is service; the fruit of service is peace.”