Reflections

“I would have been afraid to have had her as my superior, since she was so tough,” - Pope Francis

Pope Francis recalled during his trip to Albania in September 2014, he said he’d once met Mother Teresa in 1994 during a synod of bishops at the Vatican.
 

Inés San Martín
March 15, 2016
VATICAN CORRESPONDENT
 

• ”…I know that I join countless others across the world in giving thanks to God for the many contributions Mother Teresa has made to the Church and to the human family. Mother Teresa spent her life with the Lord, especially serving Him in the poor. She must be especially happy to meet Him now face to face. Her life’s work is assured through her sisters, the Missionaries of Charity, to whom I offer my deepest sympathy – especially to the sisters who serve St. Malachy Parish on Chicago’s West Side. The simplicity of her lifestyle and the singlemindness of her dedication will serve as an example for generations to come. Believing in the power of God’s grace which transformed her life, each of us –relying on the same grace—can do what she has done.” - Archbishop Francis George, OMI, Archdiocese of Chicago
• “We are here to grieve the loss of a precious jewel, a glorious crown and a golden heart in the Church.” - Jaime Cardinal Sin, of the Philippines, at a Saturday evening Mass for Mother Teresa
• “All the life of this great woman was the bright incarnation of service to the high humanitarian ideals of goodness, compassion, selflessness and faith. Mother Teresa will always remain in the hearts and minds of Russians as a friend of our country, ready to render help at any moment.” - Russian President, Boris Yeltsin
• Fr. Andrew Apostoli, CFR, Yonkers, NY re-counted his first meeting with Mother Teresa in New York. Fr. Andrew has given retreats for the Missionaries of Charity contemplative sisters in the South Bronx on several occasions. On our first meeting, Mother Teresa gave me a rosary and commented that “the Blessed Mother is all over the world bringing people to Her Son.” She told me a story stating, “whenever I need a special favor, I do an Express Novena. An Express Novena is 9 Memorares in a row. In 1983, one of our Superior sisters had gotten sick in Eastern Berlin, and Mother Teresa had to appoint a replacement that could handle the Communist government. The sister that they appointed as the successor for Eastern Berlin needed a Visa. Mother Teresa gathered her nuns and started praying the Express Novena (9 Memorare’s). On the 8th Memorare, the phone rang, it was a Communist official stating that it would be 6 months until they would receive the Visa. After the 9th prayer, Mother Teresa started the novena again. On the 8th Memorare the second time, the telephone rang this time, it was a Communist official who stated you will have your Visa immediately!” Mother Teresa had a tremendous love for Our Lady. She had great courage and once stated to me that “I never refused God anything”.
• “When she walked into the room to greet me, I felt that I was indeed meeting a saint.” - Evangelist, Billy Graham
• “In an age when superlatives are used with abandon to describe the contributions of public figures, it is a testimony to Mother Teresa’s greatness that no same person would give her the status as the world’s most giving human being. But perhaps most of all, she will be remembered as someone who never sought the honor she so sincerely earned.” - William Donohue, Catholic League President
• "Mother Teresa marked the history of our century with courage. She served all human beings by promoting their dignity and respect, and made those who had been defeated by life feel the tenderness of God." - Pope John Paul II
• "This is very difficult for me to talk about even by way of a written statement. The day I became a bishop I became very close to Mother Teresa. She visited with me many times in New York, in Rome and elsewhere. I celebrated Mass more frequently for her than I can remember. The world has lost a saint on earth, but gained an extraordinary powerful intercessor in heaven. I never knew anyone quite like Mother Teresa. I will find myself feeling a deep sense of personal loss for a long time. I am grateful for Mother Teresa’s successor, Sister Nirmala, with whom I have established a close relationship. I know that she and all of the Missionary Sisters of Charity will continue to carry out the indescribable work that this one saintly woman has initiated. I do not have to pray ‘may she rest in peace’; I am convinced that she is already in glory." - John Cardinal O’Connor, Archdiocese of New York
• "It is a time of both sadness and joy for all our sisters. It is a time of sadness because we have lost a loved one who supported us in our desire to serve the Lord Jesus…We are joyful in the knowledge that Mother is with Our Heavenly Father." - Sister Noreen, Superior at the Missionaries of Charity, Newark, NJ.
• "The Catholic Church in our day, and especially in our corner of it here in Newark, has been enriched by the life of Mother Teresa. He stated that Mother Teresa was "a devoted religious daughter of the Church and an extraordinary missionary with tremendous zeal and energy. The witness of her life has been a model of simplicity, piety and charity." - Archbishop Theodore McCarrick, Archdiocese of Newark
• "The sisters indicated that they were comforted by the fact that Mother Teresa had died between the ‘first Friday’ feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the ‘first Saturday’ feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary." - Michael Hurley, spokesman for the Archdiocese of Newark, NJ
• "A heartfelt concern for the poor, the downtrodden and the rejected'' during a special Mass yesterday. ``She saw Jesus Christ in every single person,'' the cardinal said. ``We must carry on her work." - Anthony Cardinal Bevilacqua, Archdiocese of Philadelphia
• "This evening, there is less love, less compassion, less light in the world. She leaves us a strong message, which has no borders and which goes beyond faith: helping, listening, solidarity." - French President Jacques Chirac
• "She helped the poorest of the poor, gave them courage to live and the feeling of their worth, Mother Teresa will remain unforgotten and be an example after her death." - German Chancellor Helmut Kohl
• "Just over two years ago, the Archdiocese of Atlanta, and all the citizens (of Atlanta) had the rare opportunity to enjoy a visit from Mother Teresa. Today, on the occasion of her passing into eternal life, we are moved to remember the impact of those few hours she spent with us then, and how her words still resound in our hearts today. Mother’s good works will always be remembered -- everyone must know and admit that -- but more deeply still, we will remember the love that shone from within her heart -- love that was fueled by absolute dedication to Jesus Christ, His Church, and His command that we should love one another. Not long ago, she expressed once more the simple fundamental axiom of Christian life: ‘Let us keep the joy of loving in our hearts and share this joy with all we meet.’ Mother Teresa certainly lived up to these words, and by her actions, taught their meaning to the whole world. She will long remain an inspiration to those who would serve the poor, and we bless God the Father for having shared the gift of Mother’s life with us all." - Archbishop John F. Donoghue, Archdiocese of Atlanta
• "She is the United Nations. She is peace in the world." - Former U.N. Secretary-General Javier Perez de Cuellar
• "This beautiful Mother Teresa has opened for mankind the portals of heaven and shown us the Heart of God. Jesus is saying to her, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father. I was hungry and you gave me to eat. I was thirsty and you gave me to drink. I was alone, forsaken, sick, abandon, poor, heartbroken, and desolate and you took me in. What you did to the least of these My Brethren, you did to me.’ Mother Teresa had a Mother’s heart, great and strong, and courageous enough to embrace the whole world. She will not soon be forgotten. Her reward will be great in Heaven. We pray for her and for those who follow her, that her work may go on. She has done something beautiful for God." - Sr. M. Raphael, PCPA, Our Lady Of Angels Monastary, Birmingham, Ala.
• "The news of Mother Teresa’s death is sad news: we shall miss her, with her warmth of spirit, her ability to talk about God and the prayer life which brings God so close to us. We shall miss her unique witness of care for the neediest of the needy for the love of God. At the same time we give thanks to God for the wonderful memories Mother Teresa leaves us: her commitment to daily prayer, her building up of a worldwide network of religious sisters, brothers and priests who offer direct care to the suffering poor and homeless. In a special way we in Baltimore we are grateful to God for the ministry to those dying of AIDS carried out by the Missionaries of Charity in the Gift of Hope residence located here in St. Wenceslaus Parish. Several years ago in Rome I had the privilege of working closely with her for the month-long meeting of the World Synod on the Consecrated Life, which brought together Catholic Church leaders, religious women and men, and delegates from other Christian churches to discuss at length the meaning of lives consecrated to God through vows. Mother Teresa was assigned to the same English language discussion group as I, and all of us were impressed and touched by the depths of her convictions and the high spiritual quality of the insights which she shared with us. Mother Teresa leaves to all the world a legacy of faith and love and of concern for the poorest of the poor in the name of Jesus." - Cardinal Keeler, Archdiocese of Baltimore
• "The humanity of the world has lost its mother." - Congress Party President Sitaram Kesri
• Prime Minister Inder Kumar Gujral called her "an apostle of peace and love."
• "Mother Teresa never ceased to remind us that the greatest poverty of all is to live and to die unloved and unwanted. She demonstrated that love 'one person at a time'." - Roger Cardinal Mahony, Archdiocese of Los Angeles
• “The passing of Mother Teresa is a moment of joy because of her holiness. She was always with the dying and the poor, so rather than bringing mourning it brings joy. We are happy to offer her to God: Here is such a lovely soul.” - Bishop David E. Foley, Diocese of Birmingham, Alabama
• The world marveled “at the commitment of this extraordinary woman.” - Bishop Gerald R. Barnes of San Bernardino, CA.
• “A loss to the entire humanity. She will be deeply missed in our efforts to build international peace, and a just, caring and equitable world order.” - South African President Nelson Mandela’s
• “Mother Teresa imitated Christ and her life was a lesson in love. As she personally tended the sick and the dying in Calcutta’s slums, she helped people there and beyond see the material and spiritual poverty that confronts modern society. She taught all—from youth groups to governments—through piety and charm, wisdom and simplicity. As small and soft-spoken as she was, her reach was large and her message heard around the world. She saw Jesus in everyone—from the child in the womb, to the sick and vulnerable, especially those afflicted with AIDS, to the aged and dying abandoned in the streets of Calcutta. She urged people everywhere to reach beyond themselves to heal those hurting about them. Mother Teresa transcended cultures and politics as she spoke of God’s call to love and assist the poor. She had a profound realization that anyone she was with—immigrant, alien, president or prime minister, was first of all a Child of God and intrinsically worthy of respect. Her life will stand as a reminder to all of us that we are called to care for one another and especially that we are called to respect and aid the poorest among us. God blesses the world with wonderful treasures—certainly Mother Teresa has been one of the finest of our century.” - Bishop Anthony M. Pilla, President of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops/United States Catholic Conference
• “Mother Teresa’s life proved that the only real revolution in human affairs flows from service to others and self-sacrifice out of love for Jesus Christ. She was a champion of the unwanted, from the outcast of Calcutta to the unwanted unborn of America. She was the genius of the little way of doing great things. Above all, she was in every sense a woman of the Gospel: strong in forgiving, tender to the poor, in love with Jesus Christ, and a servant of His Church. May God welcome her into eternal light and joy, and may the work of her sisters here in Colorado and around the world thrive on the legacy of mercy and Christian love she leaves with us.” Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, Archdiocese of Denver
• “An example of selfless devotion to charity. I hope she can be a good example to all charity workers and philanthropists.” - Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad
• “A rare and unique individual who lived long for higher purposes. Her life-long devotion to the care of the poor, the sick and the disadvantaged was one of the highest examples of service to humanity.” - Nawaz Sharif, Prime Minister of Pakistan
• The Chairman of the Nobel Peace Prize panel, Francis Sejersted, said Mother Teresa stood out “as an example of true self-sacrifice in humanitarian work.” She was awarded the prize in 1979.
• In a memorial Mass celebrating the life of Mother Teresa at St. Patrick Cathedral in New York on Monday, Cardinal John O’Connor spoke of the life of this devote nun who gave her life “fighting for the weakest of the weak, the poorest of the poor.” On ministering to the poor Mother Teresa wrote, “Without suffering, our work would just be social work.” O’Connor added, “Only by being one with them can we redeem them.” Rudolph Giuliani, former Mayor of NYC, shared with Mass attendees his thanks “for having had Mother Teresa among us.” On a lighter note, Mayor Giuliani commented that he and former Mayor Ed Koch never said no when Mother Teresa asked the city [New York] for help. “We knew she knew better than us what’s good for our people,” Giuliani said. “If she wanted parking spaces, we gave her parking spaces.”