Monday, December 6, 2010

A Brief Biography

Mother Teresa

Full Name: Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhi

Place of Birth: Skopje, Macedonia

Born: August 26, 1910

Death: September 5, 1997



History:  

Agnes did not like talking about her family but she was raised in a loving environment.  Her father, Nikola Bojaxhiu, was a businessman but died when she was only eight.  This left her mother, Dranafile Bojaxhiu, to raise her and her two siblings.   Agnes was the last of the three children. She had an older brother named Lazar and an older sister named Aga.  Her mother was a religious woman who opened up a embroidery and cloth business to support her family. 

Agnes grew up knowing about religion as it was a part of her daily life.  She prayed daily and learned quickly the true values of life.  She learned that material gains and possessions were less important than being generous to everyone. 
She visited the needy and helped her mother care for the elderly from a young age. 

Characteristics:

Agnes changed her name to Mother Teresa on May 24, 1931
Mother Teresa was a very kind woman, who put the needs of other before her own.  She was brave and was determined to stop hunger around the world.  She took care of people with serious contagious diseases with little regard for her own safety.   She was kind, generous, and selfless.  She was a hero because she dedicated her life to help others and gave up all material possessions to live like the people she cared for. Mother Teresa is viewed as a model humanitarian due to her generous nature and dedication to helping others. 

A Model Life



Throughout her life Mother Teresa endured many obstacles. First, her father died when she was of a young age, which affected her greatly.  Next, she felt that she needed to leave her convent to help the poor and live with them in poverty.  The obstacle of having little money and no material possessions was one that she chose to endure for the greater good of her fellow mankind.  However, many of the poverty-stricken people who she wished to help falsely believed that she wanted them to become Christians.  She had stones thrown at her and yet she was determined to help others despite these obstacles. 

Living the Beatitudes


 In my personal opinion, I think that Mother Teresa fits all the descriptions of the beatitudes. However, there are two specific beatitudes that I believe she fits most; “blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven…” and “blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God”.   Mother Teresa fits these two beatitudes because she gave the sick and weak strength to carry on. She made them believers of God by preaching his word to them and giving them hope of a better tomorrow. She comforted them in her arms, as they took their last breath; and ensured them that they were going to a better place; heaven. Mother Teresa dedicated her life to others by helping those who were less fortunate.  She stood up for what was right no matter what the consequences; she knew that God was by her side. She fed the hungry, clothed those of need, bathed the sick, and cared for the wounded.  These actions best represent the two beatitudes mentioned previously. 

Reflection

The knowledge I have obtained from my research showed me in order to be a true Christian of value you must make sacrifices and see the life of others as your own.  You must not do what others tell you but what your heart tells you, because when you listen to your heart you are truly listening to the word of God. 
Mother Teresa's life has inspired me to follow the beatitudes by showing me no matter how much pain and suffering you go through you shall always find happiness and strength by following the words of God.  One thing that really inspired me was when Mother Teresa helped the sick that had highly contagious diseases but she did not contract any of the diseases.  This inspired me by showing me if you are doing a deed with a pure heart, God will always protect you.
The difficulties with upholding the beatitudes in our generation are that people might take a kind gesture into a negative thought.  The challenges I may face in the beatitude "blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God",  are that others may take advantage of me.  The difficulties in our society today is that everyone is always too busy to lend a hand and those who are willing will be judged and persecuted not physically but emotionally through harsh words.  Despite the challenges that my fellow Christians and I may face in today's society, we will continue to live by the word of God.  

Famous Quotations





References

http://library.thinkquest.org/CRO212302/motherteresa.html

http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/1979/teresa-bio.html

http://www.mymacedonia.net/links/tereza.htm

http://www.worldofbiography.com/0026-Mother%20Teresa/family1.asp

http://www.ceeby.com/people/MotherTeresa.cfm

http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/motherteresa/

http://usccbmedia.blogspot.com/2010/08/mystics-for-our-time-mopther-teresa-and.html

http://www.google.ca/images?um=1&hl=e&client=safari&rls=en&biw=1025&bih=617&tbs=isch:1&aq=g10&oq_rfai=&q=mother%20teresa

http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/m/mother_teresa.html

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