Mother Teresa, named Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu was born on August 26, 1910. Her commitment to helping humanity is known and admired all around the world. Mother Teresa dedicated her life to caring for the poorest people in India. She became a nun at 18. From a young age, she made it her mission to aid those that needed it the most. She has been awarded a Nobel Peace Prize for her exceptional help to the world. Today we celebrate the anniversary of her birthday!
Fast Facts
Full Name:
Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu
Nickname:
Mother Teresa
Birth date:
August 26, 1910
Death date:
September 05, 1997
Age:
87 years
Zodiac Sign:
Virgo
Height:
4' 11.8"
Net Worth:
$100.0 million
Background
The woman known as Mother Mary Teresa Bojaxhiu was born in 1910 in Skopje, North Macedonia. Her parents were Roman Catholics and she was raised as such. From a young age, Mother Teresa became fascinated by the stories of missionaries helping those in need around the world. By age 12, she had already decided to dedicate her life to the Roman Catholic religion and to be a missionary. When she turned 18, she decided to become a nun. Mother Teresa moved to Ireland. She joined the Sisters of Loreto at Loreto Abbey and there, she learned to speak English.In 1929, Mother Teresa traveled from Ireland to India to teach at a girls’ school. It was 1946 when Mother Teresa’s life would change forever. She took a train ride from Calcutta to Darjeeling, and on that ride, she received what she expressed as “a call within a call.” She found her life’s purpose; to help disadvantaged people living in the slums of Calcutta. This led to her becoming one of the greatest missionaries of all time. In 1950, Mother Teresa founded a religious congregation, the Missionaries of Charity. Members of the congregation take a vow of chastity, poverty, and obedience. Today, the Missionaries of Charity have over 5,000 nuns and volunteers helping in 133 countries around the world. The congregation offers homes for those dying of H.I.V./AIDS, leprosy, and tuberculosis; it also runs soup kitchens, schools for abandoned children, mobile clinics, and provides services to the communities.In 1979, Mother Teresa received the Nobel Peace Prize for her work and services to the world. Mother Teresa died on September 5, 1997, at age 87. In 2016, Pope Francis recognized Mother Teresa as a saint.
Career timeline
Mother Teresa moved to Ireland to become a nun.
Mother Teresa moved to India, sounding her true purpose, and helping the disadvantaged.
She founded a religious congregation aimed to help the ill and poor.
Mother Teresa was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.
She was recognized as a Saint this year.
Mother Teresa FAQs
What is Mother Teresa most famous for?
She is most famous for dedicating her life to taking care of the poor people of Calcutta.
What were Mother Teresa's two miracles?
A woman in India whose stomach tumor disappeared and a man in Brazil that came back from a coma. These examples are considered her miracles.
Why did Mother Teresa win a Nobel Peace Prize?
She won a Nobel Peace Prize for “her work for bringing help to suffering humanity.”
5 Surprising Facts
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Her real name
Mother Teresa born name was Anjezë (Agnes) Gonxhe Bojaxhiu.
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She never saw her family
After moving to Ireland, Mother Teresa never saw her family again.
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White and blue sari
She wore her famous white and blue sari for the first time in August 1948.
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She was portrayed by Megan Fox
In the movie “How To Lose Friends and Alienate People,” Megan Fox played the part of Mother Teresa in the fictional “Teresa: the Making of a Saint,”
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Her real name meaning
Gonxhe means ‘rosebud’ and ‘little flower’ in Albanian.
Why We Love Mother Teresa
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She assisted the poorest
Mother Teresa made it her mission to help the poor and the ill. She assisted those from disadvantaged backgrounds. The religious leader touched thousands of lives.
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She is an inspiration
Numerous people around the world followed the example led by Mother Teresa. Many of them became missionaries or volunteers, helping the poor and needy.
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Her help came from the heart
She has a famous quote, “It is not how much we do, but how much love we put in doing it. That makes all the difference.” The members of her congregation take the vow to give "wholehearted free service to the poorest of the poor.
Mother Teresa’s birthday dates
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | August 26 | Saturday |
| 2024 | August 26 | Monday |
| 2025 | August 26 | Tuesday |
| 2026 | August 26 | Wednesday |
| 2027 | August 26 | Thursday |
