Mother Teresa

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"To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people exist, that is all" (O. Wilde). When Anjeze Gonxe Bojaxhiu received her life's calling, she lived the life she knew she should. Committed to helping the poor, Anjeze, more commonly known as Mother Teresa, did more than just exist; she lived. Mother Teresa was a catholic nun born in Macedonia to a loving, religious family ("Biography of Mother Teresa"). At the age of 18, she joined a group of nuns that practiced in India. However, at age 36, she felt impressed to dedicate the rest of her life helping those that were commonly ignored because of extreme poverty. She was released from the covenant and began a new organization known as the Missionaries of Charity. She ran hospitals, orphanages, schools, and homes for the dying, mainly in the slums in Calcutta, India ("Mother Teresa").  In the 1970's she expanded her work to a global scale ("Teresa, Mother").  In 1979, the Norwegian government awarded Mother Teresa the Nobel Peace Prize (Sullivan and Ingpen). Though she passed away, in 1997 ("Biography of Mother Teresa"), her life provides a model for others that seek to find purpose. Mother Teresa is a hero because she made selfless sacrifices, helped the uncared for, and inspired others to live a life filled with charity and love.

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As a result of her willingness to provide food, shelter, and love to the poor, Mother Teresa's sacrificed her personal wants and needs in order to help others.  When Mother Teresa became a nun she took upon herself three main commitments. These traditional vows include poverty, chastity, and obedience ("Mother Teresa"). When she left the covenant to help the underserved, she took upon herself an additional commitment:  "In 1950 her group, now called the Missionaries of Charity... added a fourth vow-to give free service to the most poor" ("Mother Teresa").  Throughout her life, Mother Teresa kept this promise.  She provided critical services to the uncared for without the need to get anything in return. Despite her humility and desire to remain unseen, people throughout the world recognized her devotion: "The most famous nun in the world whose uncompromising dedication to the poor, destitute, and dying made her a Catholic celebrity throughout Europe and the Americas, though most of her work was done in India..." ("Mother Teresa"). Mother Teresa's "uncompromising dedication" demonstrates how willing she was to give up her life to others.   She did not just exist; she lived through service.

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Mother Teresa's life and example of service inspired people from around the globe to give to the unloved. After Mother Teresa was inspired to dedicate her life to others, "She established an outdoor school for poor children, and in time she attracted both volunteer help and financial support from church groups and city officials in Calcutta" ("Mother Teresa").  Not only did Mother Teresa help those in need, she also demonstrated the importance of service to others. She drew attention to what really mattered in life. Her example led other volunteers to follow in her footsteps. After establishing an order of nuns known as the Missionaries of Charity, she "... established a leper colony, an orphanage, a nursing home, a family clinic and a string of mobile health clinics" ("Mother Teresa"). Mother Teresa helped others by opening up opportunities for a better life. She supported the destitute and helped others escape poverty. Even though Mother Teresa's work included establishing her awe-inspiring charity, she also believed in the power of simple acts of love. She states in her own words, "We shall never know all the good that a simple smile can do" (Mother Teresa). Even though her services towards the underserved and uncared for provided them with physical needs, she also recognized the importance of displaying love. Her charity demonstrates to others how important it is to devote their lives to assist the poor. By opening doors for the poor and motivating others to give as well, Mother Teresa exemplified the importance of helping others.

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Because of her uncompromising dedication and sacrifice to help the needy, Mother Teresa is a holy figure, a hero, who continues to inspire others to follow in her footsteps. Throughout her life, Mother Teresa helped countless people through her direct actions and her words. She motivated people to help everyone within reach and leave no one uncared for. ("Mother Teresa").  Mother Teresa's sacrifice prove to me the importance of selflessness and hard-work. Her unwavering commitment to help those in need show the importance of love towards others.  She showed that love through her actions.  She not only existed, she lived.

Works Cited

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Publications, 2007. 1847-1848. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 7 May 2015.

"Biography Mother Teresa ." Biography Online. Biography Online, 2004. Web. 07 May 2015.

"Mother Teresa." UXL Encyclopedia of World Biography. Ed. Laura B. Tyle. Vol. 7. Detroit: UXL,

2003. 1347-1350. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 7 May 2015.

"Mother Teresa." World Religions Reference Library. Ed. Julie L. Carnagie, et al. Vol. 4:

Wilde, Oscar. "Matching Quotes by Oscar Wilde." BrainyQuote. Xplore, 2015. Web. 04 May 2015.

Teresa, Mother. "Matching Quotes by Mother Teresa." BrainyQuote. Xplore, 2015. Web. 04 May 2015.

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