Remembering a Woman Who Labored and Loved Well

As we celebrate Labor Day here in the United States, today the Catholic Church also recognizes Mother Teresa of Calcutta, a woman who labored and loved well.

Born Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu in Macedonia, she left home at the age of 18 to join the Sisters of Loreto in Rathfarnham, Ireland. After a year there learning English, she was transferred to Darjeeling, India where she took her vows in 1931 and choose the name Teresa.

Fifteen years later on a train ride to a retreat, she heard Christ calling her to a new mission to serve the poorest of the poor. After two years of preparation, she left her order and began the journey to becoming the woman that impacted the world by her faithful “yes” to God.

I highly recommend the movie, “Mother Teresa” on Amazon Prime, for more information about her life.

There is a quote I recently read from her that particularly touched me:

“At the moment of death, we will not be judged according to the number of good deeds we have done or the diplomas we have received in our lifetime. We will be judged according to the love we have put into our work.” - Mother Teresa

These are incredible words from a woman who did many good deeds and was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979.

On this 25th anniversary of her death, I want to leave you with a recording I made of an excerpt of her letter to her spiritual family on March 25, 1993, in Varanasi.

In her letter she reminds us why love should be our aim. You can listen to it on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

May God bless you and your family with peace and rest on this Labor Day.

With love,

Valentina

“For when we say ‘Yes’ to God, we change the world”!