Overview
Mother Teresa was born on August 26, 1910, in Skopje within the Republic of Macedonia. On August 27, 1910, a date mistaken for her birthday, she was baptised as Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu. Mother Teresa's parents, Nikola and Drana Bojaxhiu, were of Albanian descent and her father was an entrepreneur who worked as a construction contractor and a trader of medicines. The Bojaxhius were a very devoted Catholic family.
In 1919, when Mother Teresa was only 8 years old, her father suddenly fell ill and died. The cause of his death remains unknown. After her father's death, Mother Teresa became extremely close to her mother, a compassionate woman who encouraged her daughter to have a deep commitment to charity.
Mother Teresa attended a convent run primary school and then a state run secondary school. On a trip to the chapel of the Madonna of Letnice in Skopje, at the age of 12 ,that Mother Teresa first felt a calling to a religious life. Six years later, in 1928, Agnes Bojaxhiu decided to become a nun and set off for Ireland to join the Loreto Sisters of Dublin. It was there that she took the name Sister Mary Teresa after Saint Thérèse of Lisieux.
A year later Mother Teresa traveled to India to made her First Profession of Vows. Afterward she was sent to Calcutta, where she was assigned to teach at Saint Mary's High School for Girls, a school run by the Loreto Sisters.
On May 24, 1937, she took her Final Profession of Vows to a life of poverty, chastity and obedience. As it was the custom for Loreto nuns, she took on the title of ‘mother’ when making her final vows and thus became known as Mother Teresa.
On September 10th, 1946, Mother Teresa experienced a second calling that would transform her life forever. She was riding a train from Calcutta to the Himalayan foothills for a retreat when Christ spoke to her and told her to abandon teaching to work in the slums of Calcutta. Since Mother Teresa had taken a vow of obedience, she could not leave her convent without official permission. After nearly a year and a half of persuading, in January 1948 she finally received approval from the local Archbishop. Mother Teresa quickly transformed this calling into helping the city's poor.
After several years of deteriorating health in which she suffered from heart, lung and kidney problems, Mother Teresa died on September 5, 1997 at the age of 87. Since her death, Mother Teresa has remained in the public spotlight.
In 1919, when Mother Teresa was only 8 years old, her father suddenly fell ill and died. The cause of his death remains unknown. After her father's death, Mother Teresa became extremely close to her mother, a compassionate woman who encouraged her daughter to have a deep commitment to charity.
Mother Teresa attended a convent run primary school and then a state run secondary school. On a trip to the chapel of the Madonna of Letnice in Skopje, at the age of 12 ,that Mother Teresa first felt a calling to a religious life. Six years later, in 1928, Agnes Bojaxhiu decided to become a nun and set off for Ireland to join the Loreto Sisters of Dublin. It was there that she took the name Sister Mary Teresa after Saint Thérèse of Lisieux.
A year later Mother Teresa traveled to India to made her First Profession of Vows. Afterward she was sent to Calcutta, where she was assigned to teach at Saint Mary's High School for Girls, a school run by the Loreto Sisters.
On May 24, 1937, she took her Final Profession of Vows to a life of poverty, chastity and obedience. As it was the custom for Loreto nuns, she took on the title of ‘mother’ when making her final vows and thus became known as Mother Teresa.
On September 10th, 1946, Mother Teresa experienced a second calling that would transform her life forever. She was riding a train from Calcutta to the Himalayan foothills for a retreat when Christ spoke to her and told her to abandon teaching to work in the slums of Calcutta. Since Mother Teresa had taken a vow of obedience, she could not leave her convent without official permission. After nearly a year and a half of persuading, in January 1948 she finally received approval from the local Archbishop. Mother Teresa quickly transformed this calling into helping the city's poor.
After several years of deteriorating health in which she suffered from heart, lung and kidney problems, Mother Teresa died on September 5, 1997 at the age of 87. Since her death, Mother Teresa has remained in the public spotlight.