QUOTATION: Temptation

When temptation comes, remember the three things:

1. I don’t want it. The devil cannot touch you. You are safe.
2. Be busy—as long as you know and say, “I don’t want it,” you are all right.
3. Turn to Mary. This is something very precious for her to give to Jesus.

--Mother Teresa of Calcutta, A Call to Mercy

QUOTATION: Worldly Poverty, Wealth in Christ

To the world, it’s seem foolish that we delight in poor food, that we relish rough and insipid bulgur (wheat); possess only three sets of habits made of coarse cloth or old soutanes (cassocks) mend and patch them, take great care of them and refuse to have extra; enjoy walking in any shape and color of shoes; bathe with just a bucket of water in small bathing rooms; sweat and perspire but refuse to have a fan; go hungry and thirsty but refuse to eat in the houses of the people; refuse to have radios or gramophones, which could be relaxing to the racked nerves after the whole day’s hard toil; walk distances in the rain and hot summer sun, or go cycling, travel by second-class tram, or third class overcrowded trains; sleep on hard beds, giving up soft and thick mattresses which would be soothing to the aching bodies after the whole day’s hard work; kneel on the rough and thin carpets in the chapel, giving up soft and thick ones; delight in lying in the common wards in the hospital among the poor of Christ, when we could easily have private cabins; work like coolies at home and outside when we could easily employ servants and do only the light jobs; relish cleaning the toilets and dirt as though that was the most beautiful job in the world and call it a tribute to God. To some we are wasting our precious life and burying our talents. Yes, our lives are utterly wasted if we use only the light of reason. Our life has no meaning unless we look at Christ in his poverty. Our beautiful work with and for the poor is a privilege and a gift for us. I think that if we go to the poor with that love, with only the desire to give God to them, to bring the joy of Christ (which is our strength) into their homes, if they look at us and see Jesus and his love and compassion in us, I think the world will soon be full of peace and love.

--Mother Teresa of Calcutta, No Greater Love.

QUOTATION: Basic Training

There are those who assert that the medical training of the Missionaries of Charity is too rudimentary for people who care for the seriously ill. I know that. Our medical training is limited, but we try to offer assistance and care to those who, in most cases, have no one to give them even the most basic medical care. 

--Mother Teresa of Calcutta, No Greater Love

QUOTATION: Charity

In the world today there are those whose struggle is for justice and human rights. We have no time for this because we are in daily and continuous contact with people who are starving for a piece of bread and for some affection. Should I devote myself to the struggle for justice when the most needy people would die right in front of me for lack of a glass of milk?

--Mother Teresa of Calcutta, No Greater Love.

QUOTATION: Self-Knowledge

Knowledge of self is very necessary for confession. This is why the saints could say they were wicked criminals. They saw God and then saw themselves, and they saw the difference.

--Mother Teresa of Calcutta, No Greater Love.

QUOTATION: Advice for Politicians

Someone asked me what advice I had for politicians. I don’t like to get involved in politics, but my answer just popped out, “They should spend time on their knees. I think that would help them to become statesmen.”

--Mother Teresa of Calcutta, No Greater Love

QUOTATION: Leave the Fruits to God

Do not pursue spectacular deeds. We must deliberately renounce all desires to see the fruit of our labour, doing all we can as best we can, leaving the rest in the hands of God.

--Mother Teresa of Calcutta, No Greater Love

QUOTATION: Finding the Poor

I want you to go and find the poor in your homes. Above all, your love has to start there. I want you to be the good news to those around you. I want you to be concerned about your next-door neighbour. Do you know who your neighbour is?

--Mother Teresa of Calcutta, No Greater Love

QUOTATION: See What Love Can Do!

One day I picked up a man from the gutter. His body was covered with worms. I brought him to our house, and what did this man say? He did not curse. He did not blame anyone. He just said, “I’ve lived like an animal in the street, but I am going to die like an angel, loved and cared for!” It took us three hours to clean him. Finally, the man looked up at the sister and said, “Sister, I am going home to God.” And then he died. I’ve never seen such a radiant smile on a human face as the one I saw on that man’s face. He went home to God. See what love can do!

--Mother Teresa of Calcutta, No Greater Love

QUOTATION: Knowledge of Self

Knowledge of the self is also a safeguard against pride, especially when you are tempted in life. The greatest mistake is to think you are too strong to fall into temptation.

--Mother Teresa of Calcutta, No Greater Love

QUOTATION: Doing Our Duty

We shall not waste our time in looking for extraordinary experiences in our life of contemplation but live by pure faith, ever watchful and ready for His coming by doing our day-to-day duties with extraordinary love and devotion.

--Mother Teresa of Calcutta, No Greater Love

QUOTATION: The Light of Christ

If we do not radiate the light of Christ around us, the sense of the darkness that prevails in the world will increase.

--Mother Teresa of Calcutta, No Greater Love

QUOTATION: Prayer

If you face God in prayer and silence, God will speak to you.

--Mother Teresa of Calcutta, No Greater Love.

QUOTATION: Prayer

Our prayers should be burning words coming forth from the furnace of hearts filled with love.

--Mother Teresa of Calcutta, No Greater Love

QUOTATION: Prayer

If you want to pray better, you must pray more.

--Mother Teresa of Calcutta, No Greater Love

QUOTATION: Prayer

Perfect prayer does not consist in many words, but in the fervour of the desire which raises the heart to Jesus.

--Mother Teresa of Calcutta, No Greater Love

QUOTATION: Sharing the Faith

A Hindu gentleman once asked me, very big high official: "Aren't you anxious to convert us all?" And I said, "Naturally, the treasure that I have, Jesus, naturally, I want to share it with you, but conversion has to come from Him. Mine is to help you do works of love, and then through these works of love naturally you come face to face with God, and it is between you that that treasure, His love, is exchanged. And then you are either converted, you accept God in your life, or you don't.

--Mother Teresa of Calcutta, Where There is Love, There is God, Brian Kolodiejchuk, M.C., Ed.

QUOTATION: The Poor

We talk much about the poor, but very little to the poor.

--Mother Teresa of Calcutta, Where There is Love, There is God, Brian Kolodiejchuk, M.C., Ed.

QUOTATION: Sinners

We are not sinless, but we must be sinners without sin.

--Mother Teresa of Calcutta, Where There is Love, There is God, Brian Kolodiejchuk, M.C., Ed.

QUOTATION: Problems

I never call difficulties "problems." I always say, "gift of God," because it is always much easier to take a gift than to take a problem.

--Mother Teresa of Calcutta, Where There is Love, There is God, Brian Kolodiejchuk, M.C., Ed.