Mother Teresa Of Calcutta Theology Religion Essay

bewilder Teresa Of Calcutta Theology Religion EssayBlessed Teresa of Calcutta, innate(p) Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu and commonly known as breed Teresa of Calcutta, was an ethnic Albanian, Indian Roman Catholic nun. By blood, I am Albanian. By citizenship, an Indian. By faith, I am a Catholic nun. As to my calling, I belong to the world. As to my heart, I belong entirely to the Heart of Jesus.The news mother Teresa by Navin Chawla is a sensitive, perceptive living written with Mother Teresas full cooperation and encouragement, describing her mission of faith and principles that guided her. The first American publication of the authorized biography of Mother Teresa (published in UK in 1992), this book was written over a five-year period (1987-1992). The author, an Indian bureaucrat and a retired chief election commissioner of India, has collected many letters and r are photographs, which provide in the flesh(predicate) charm as she describes the life of this Albanian nun who has lived in Calcutta since 1928.To read this book is to be suddenly brought up to Mother Teresas transformative vision of the world. Mother Teresa sees the anxious(p) as the very body of the crucified Christ, and she views leprosy patients as recipients of a gift of divinity designed to bring them closer to Him. Page by page, the drumbeat of this astonishing commission of thinking makes it instantly clear how the founder of the Missionaries of Charity has transformed what should be the roughly appalling circumstances of sickness, poverty and death into an opportunity to serve the downcast body of the living Christ.What makes this biography stand out from the many other books of Mother Teresa is Navin Chawlas unprecedented access to the Saint of the Gutters and the spectral beliefs he holds. Navin is a Hindu, scarce refers to himself as near atheist. Who better to write a biography than one who is skeptical? He writes of the facts, which include miracles that occur every day. Mother T eresa herself tells him active these miracles, if you pray, you leave alone see them. He writes facts which no one can dispute. The five geezerhood Navin took to complete the book enabled him to understand the upcountry person and deliver his insights. It was clear properly from the Prologue where he writes, As a Hindu, it took me longer than most to understand that Mother Teresa is with Christ each conscious hour, whether at Mass or with each of those to whom she tends to. It is non a different Christ on her crucifix and a different one which lies dying at Kalighat. For Mother Teresa, to whop ones neighbour is to love idol. This is what is inhering to her. set about TERESA, AN INDIVIDUAL WITH STRONG CHARACTERThe biography started with the biographers none on how he managed to get the permission from Mother Teresa to write a book not about her but about the work and excretes a short account of success of services by Mother Teresa. Then he talks about the childhood of Mothe r Teresa though not given in detail but was sufficient to explain the thoughts that led her to becoming a nun. Mother Teresa was born as Agnes Gonxhe Bojaxhiu on 26th August 1910 as the youngest child to Nikola and Drane Bojaxhiu in Skopje, Yogoslavia. Her mother, Drane who was not merely religious but practical and commitment to her faith had a far reaching influence on the character and the spiritual life of young Agnes. Agness religious formation developed further through her extensive affaire in the vibrant Jesuit parish of sacred heart. She was described as a good student, meticulous in appearance, well organised, one who never refused help or assistance and friendly by her family members which she developed being part of the Sodality. At the age of eighteen, she decided to leave her home and plow a nun as she realised her vocation was towards the poor.From here the book gives minute details regarding Mother Teresas journey from her initial days in India especially in Darjeel ing and Kolkata as a sister at Loreto convent, Entally where she took her vows, those of poverty, chastity and obedience to becoming Bengali Teresa. A person with strong spirituality and a deep love for her colleagues (Sisters) and followers (students), Mother Teresas twenty years at Loreto was noted for her charity, unselfishness and courage, her capacity for hard work and a natural talent for organization, she lived out her consecration to Jesus, in the midst of her companions, with faithfulness and joy.MOTHER TERESA, A LEADER WITH CONVICTIONAt this point of time when she obtaind a call in a call as an inner command to go and serve the poor in the streets, she approached the situation with much meditation and consultation with her spiritual advisor Father Van Exem. She wanted to cover faithful to her catholic faith and not be seen as a secular that had abandoned her role as Mother. Years later with nothing more(prenominal) than three Saris and pennies she was on her way into th e streets hoping to give love and hope where none existed and with a strong belief in her cause that God would be her provider.This is a European woman that stepped out into the poorest of the poor streets of India with no money, no home and no guarantees. She has been ridiculed, starved had stones thrown at her, been threatened and persecuted. She is the one who started her first schoolhouse in India with a twig that she drew out the Bengali alphabet in under a tree. She didnt believe in saving, as she always believed that God would provide. She never asked for donations, but sometimes would resort to begging as the poor did. Never for herself but always for others. The amazing thing about her was that she did it all on faith. Today there are homes created by her in over 130 countries including the U.S. Her Missionary Services called Missionaries of Charity continues to grow even after her death. There are Sisters and Brothers that serve and have all taken the poverty vow and live exactly like the poor. She always referred to herself as a mere instrument of God and all the work was done by God.MOTHER TERESA, A LEADER WITH A STRONG VISION AND MISSIONOne of the most important principles Mother Teresa lived by as a draw was herVision. She realized that she was the voice of her vision. She had to state it clearly. The vision was kept simple and unambiguous and she believed in it and lived it every dayin everything she did. The vision do her every day and she embedded it deeply into the organization that she built. She as well had a clear goal which was her mission for her whole life-to serve and to do Gods forget.Her warning of honorable use of power has become an example to those who have a great deal of persuasion in this world. She showed the world that one does not need money, power, an office, staff, a dictatorial voice to change the world. Instead, all that is needed is a conviction, a heart of humility, and a life of devotion. Her work itself had pro found effect in the most unlikely places and often at the highest places. For instance she was a tremendous force in the church. The pope always legitimate her whenever she visited Rome, as he might receive his own child. The book talks about several instances where her requests to a countrys President were granted immediately. She took initiatives during a famine in Ethiopia, spread the message to the then US President Ronald Reagan and he sent his help to the place with food and medicine. She was considered as the most powerful woman in the world, yet she remained humility itself.The biography gives a direct account of the character of Mother Teresa. The author gives unaltered descriptions of events from which we can easily identify these character traits as our own. She comes across as a bold, determined, severe individual who dont dare to ask, to beg for the poor a systematic person who knows how a hierarchy works, who knows priorities and the value of money. She was very simp le, yet hardworking. A person with a vision and value the importance of prayerThe author is highly moved by the fact that while most of us like to focus on the big idea, or the big vision, Mother Teresa focused on faithfulness in the smallest things. While we think about loving the whole world, she urged us to love our neighbor. While we focus on doing great things, she focused on doing small things with love. Ultimately, it is these small things that will determine if we will achieve anything big in our life.MOTHER TERESA, AS A TRANSFORMATIONAL LEADERAs a leader, the more one is willing to sacrifice and give up oneself for the larger vision, the greater the fruits one will bear. The more one sows in terms of effort, time and money, the more one will reap in ones life. Mother Teresa gave herself fully to alleviate the poverty rough her by touching one life at a time, and she accomplished so much at the end of her life. Mother Teresa is a fine example of a leader in todays culture. Her profound humble ways and leadership has forever shaped the way this world looks at those who live without it. If not for her leadership qualities Mother Teresa would not have risen to great heights to win the hearts of the millions of pack worldwide. She served the poor, orphaned and dying people for more than forty-five years and never ever was tired of her service. The real stories mentioned in the book touch and inspire our heart. When the people affected with leprosy were considered as untouchables, she extended her service to them and cared for them by starting many homes.Mother Teresa was very humble and never cared about her own image, a rare quality that could hardly be seen in any leader around the world. Whenever she happened to travel in flights, she used to collect the leftover food from all the travelers on the plane and distributed the collected food to the hungry and needy people. though she had no money many times, she never hesitated to beg to help people. Sh e was extremely courageous in helping people suffering from leprosy. She never was tired in helping the refugees, blind, homeless, flood and famine victims and lepers. The poor and forlorn people were brought to the homes and they were given medical attention. They were given an opportunity to die with dignity and during their last moments, the Muslims were read the verses from Quran, the Hindus received holy water from the Ganges and the Christians received the last rites. Though she was a Christian, this is just enough to portray the best leadership quality of generosity in her.She was so simple and humble that she never cared for her own comforts. The sari she wore cost only one US dollar. The white sari with blue border has become a symbol of peace and solace to the poor and destitute. She knew very well that if she should heal other people she must suffer herself and this was what she stated to Princess Diana once when she met her. consort to Bass and Avolio (1993)transformatio nal leadership is concerned with engaging the hearts and minds of others.It requires trust, concern and facilitation rather than direct hold in.The skills required are concerned with establishing a long-term vision, empowering people to control themselves, coaching, and developing others and challenging the culture to change. Mother Teresa was a woman who saved lives and changed them through the sheer force of her faith and determination. Clearly, Mother Teresas leadership style was transformational.It was people like Mother Teresa who give a new meaning to life. Like a true leader she proved that one person can in truth make a difference in the lives of millions. Mother Teresa set examples for future generations to continue her work. This shows how much of an impact she truly had. She made a difference, not by helping everyone, but by making people stop and realize how they could do the same. She is one of the greatest leaders the world has seen.MAHATMA GANDHI AND MOTHER TERESATh ere is also a beautiful comparison in the book about the similarities between Mahatma Gandhi and Mother Teresa. It was an interesting comparison, where both went out of their country for service, both were conservative when it comes to religious believes, but both had worked for the welfare of the people from all religion irrespective of caste and creed and the like.MOTHER TERESA AND HER ACHIEVEMENTSIndia honoured Mother Teresa by giving Padmashri and the highest of honour,Bharat Ratna. The world was competing to give the best of honour to her, including theNobel Prizefor peace.CONCLUSIONTo conclude, Mother Teresa was a multi dimensional figure, both simple and complex at the same time. Her faith, compassion and religion aside, Mother Teresa had all the qualities of a Manager grit, determination and getting the odds to work for her. Her Management Model was different. She ran the organization through people. She set up a pedestal and then found people who would form a chain around that and work for her and that is how it expanded. Finally, Mother Teresa by Navin Chawla is a good book which can combust our thoughts and support for the poorWhat we are doing is nothing but a drop in the ocean. But if we didnt do it, the ocean would be less because of that missing drop. I do not agree with the big way of doing things. To me what matters is an individual was the philosophy of Mother Teresa.