The Saint of Gutters

Anjezë Gonxhe Bojaxhiu, better known as Mother Teresa of Calcutta or as the saint of the gutters,
dedicated 51 years of her life to the poorest of the poor. She founded a religious congregation that
continued her work after her death. Short in stature, but with a huge heart, Mother Teresa had an
inspiring smile on her face marked by the sun and fatigue.
Teresa of Calcutta was born in Albania on August 27, 1910. Her family belonged to the Albanian
minority who lived in the south of the old Yugoslavia. Professing the Catholic faith, at the age of 18
she gave her life to God as a religious. Her dream was to work as a missionary with the poor in
India. Seventeen years later, while traveling by train, she heard an inner call: "Come, be my light!" -
it was Jesus speaking to her heart to bring hope and relief to the forgotten people of the world, the
poor who lived on the outskirts of Calcutta, India.
From then on, she started her work alone, teaching children to read and write, teaching hygiene
habits and caring for their wounds. She received nursing training. She also told children about the
love of God.
There is an episode told by some of her biographers in which Mother Teresa left early in the
morning towards a dump. Upon arriving, she began to look for something among the cow manure
that was dumped there. She found an abandoned baby and started first aid. The journalist who
accompanied her even told her to leave the baby, as there was no more hope, but she refused and
replied: 'It is Christ who hides in this little child'. A few minutes later, the baby cried, showing signs
of life, and was taken away for care.
Mother Teresa's life was never easy. Despite praying every day for about two hours, she spent much
of her life without feeling the consolations of God, but she went through what some call a dark
night of the spirit - a spiritual dryness in which God purifies those he loves.
She received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979, as well as numerous recognitions from authorities and
public figures around the world. But she was also slandered and persecuted by some atheists.