St. Teresa of Calcutta and the Oblate Connection
Mission-Unity-Dialogue
The twenty-fifth anniversary of St. Teresa’s death, Sept. 5, 1997, led one of her lawyers, Jim Towey, to publish a remarkable book on her life and his experience with her, To Love and Be Loved, A Personal Portrait of Mother Teresa. For an initial survey back on Sept. 14, 2016 of Oblates in her life, click here.
Mother Teresa absorbed missiology (the part of theological studies which examines evangelization) like a sponge, and then made sure that every Missionary of Charity knew and lived Mission, Ecumenism and Dialogue with World Religions, especially the Hinduism of India.
Southern Baptist US Senator Mark Hatfield, Anglican Princess Diana, and Methodist Hilary Clinton (who despite their difference on abortion, helped Mother establish a home in Washington, DC, for infants abandoned at birth), all found Jesus in her.
Towey quotes her directly: “I love all religions, but I am in love with my own. There is only one God and He is God to all; therefore it is important that everyone is seen as equal before God. I’ve always said we should help a Hindu become a better Hindu, a Muslim become a better Muslim, a Catholic become a better Catholic” (p. 164).
St. Teresa wanted only joyful Missionaries of Charity, and this book is suffused with that joy.
Both hardcover and softcover editions are available. A two page review in the national Jesuit journal America was published in the December, 2022 issue, pp. 58-59.
Many thanks to Charles Hurkes, OMI, for recommending this book to me even before I read the Dec. review in America.