A group of nuns from the Missionaries of Charity, led by superior general Sister Prema, has reached Rome to attend the cannonisation of Mother Teresa. Meanwhile, in Kolkata, the Mother House is buzzing with thousands of visitors who wish to pay homage to the Mother. THE WEEK caught up with Sister M. Lysa, assistant superior general of the Missionaries of Charity, a congregation established by the Mother. Here are the excerpts:
What does the canonisation of the Mother mean to the Missionaries of Charity?
We feel privileged and grateful that the Mother is being recognised by the Church as a saint. She will now be held as a model for others to follow. Many will be drawn to share God's words of love for the poorest of the poor.
How does the Missionaries of Charity plan to channelise the sainthood for Mother towards needless and downtrodden people of the society whom the Mother served?
We encourage the poor to turn to Saint Teresa of Calcutta as their mother, who will intercede with God for them. She is hope to the poor. The Mother's canonisation inspires us to renew our dedication and commitment to be God's love, His presence and His compassion for the poorest of the poor.
Around the world, Christianity, particularly poor people, is being attacked. What role does the Missionaries of Charity play?
We reach out to the poorest of the poor regardless of their caste, creed or religion. Our role as Missionaries of Charity is to provide bread for the hungry, drink for the thirsty, clothing for the naked, shelter for the homeless, tender care for the sick and dying, and being God's love to the unwanted and unloved. To each one, we restore their dignity as a child of God.
Kolkata, once again, has come under the spotlight. Every year the number of orphans begging on the streets is rising. Does the Missionaries of Charity believe that people of Kolkata, where the Mother spent her life, have not woken up to the ideology of the Mother yet, even after 20 years of her death?
The Mother said: "We ourselves feel that what we are doing is just a drop in the ocean. But the ocean would be less because of that missing drop. We don't have to think in numbers. We can only love one person at a time—serve one person at a time.”
The Mother also said: “What we can do, you cannot do. What you can do, we cannot do. But together we can do something beautiful for God.”
Does the Missionaries of Charity plan to create a memorial for the Mother where people could learn more about her?
We welcome all to the Mother House, where the Mother lived and died. An exhibition there features the Mother and her work. The various homes of the Missionaries of Charity in India and abroad are memorials of the Mother's mission of love.
You had worked with Mother Teresa. Could you tell us what was her last wish and has it been fulfilled yet?
The Mother's message to all was on the tenderness of God's love. She said: “God has made us in his image. He has created us for greater things, to love and to be loved. If we could remember all the time, there would be no wars, no violence and no hatred. So beautiful and so simple. Love begins at home.”
