In 1976, I had the privilege of being invited by Father Michael Scanlan to come to the now Franciscan University of Steubenville to help build, strengthen, and secure a living faith environment on campus. As part of that process, Father Michael invited Mother Teresa of Calcutta to be the commencement speaker at graduation in 1979. Father asked me if I would be willing to be her hostess for the day. It proved to be a life-changing day for me.
As I took Mother to and from the Pittsburgh Airport and accompanied her to various events, meals, etc., we had remarkable periods of time just to be together as we waited for events to begin. Over cups of tea we shared, I was struck by her humility, her other-centeredness, her love for the poor, and her total “given-ness” to the ministry God had asked of her.
At one point, I asked her: “What is it like for you when you speak at banquets and other fundraising events and see our wealth and our waste?” She smiled and very softly answered, “Sometimes when I see those huge platters of meat being passed down the tables, I think of “my children” scrambling under a table for a single grain of dropped rice.” She paused, and then waved her hand back and forth in front of her eyes and said, “But Jesus has told us never to judge, so I do not judge.”
Later that day, her commencement address was based on the “old” Baltimore Catechism question, “Who made you and why did God make you?” The answer is, “God made us to know Him, to love Him, to serve Him in this world and to be happy with Him in the next.” Her whole speech was based on that question and that answer. It was a short commencement speech, but it was powerful in its impact. I know, for certain, of one student’s life being totally turned around by her address—and it was a conversion that lasted!
During one of the last conversations we had that day, as I prepared to take her to the airport, we shared this interchange: I said, “Mother, I deeply admire you and the work you are doing. I feel that what I am doing is so small in comparison.” At that moment, she “grabbed” both of my upper arms and actually shook me for a moment, and then she said this: “Sister, I am doing what you cannot do; you are doing what I cannot do. Together, we are the Body of Christ!” The top of her head came just to my shoulders, but I will never forget the look in her eyes as she fixed her gaze on me.
Never, from that time, did I ever question what God was asking of me; never, since that time, have I ever wished, not even for a moment, to be doing something else. May God be praised, Who raises up living saints (sometimes with a capital “S”)—people whose lives are so given to Christ, they become real channels of God’s grace. May St. Teresa of Calcutta’s witness inspire each of us to love Christ and to follow Him wherever He leads!
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Beautiful, Sr. Ann
What you do sister is certainly no “small” thing!
I liked the part about doing enough because sometimes I feel like others are doing so much more than me. Mothers response gave me some comfort.
St. Theresa of Calcuta visited our island years ago in 1985. Her sister are working here’s. Yesterday a thanksgiving service was held in her honour. Beautiful and touching. I am convinced that all sisters and priest have chosen the better life of service to God .God bless them all . St. Theresa of Calcutta pray for them and us
Thank you for sharing Sr. Anne. That was beautiful and comforting as we serve the Lord in our ministries.
Blessed to read your profound encounter with Mother Teresa, especially her grabbing you and looking into your eyes and correcting your inadequate perception. Karin and I appreciated too rare moments with you while in Steuben ville. You are a gift to the Church.
We were there! What a wonderful blessing! Hi St. Betsy 😁
Yes. We were there.
What a life-changing day, for me, as well. I often retell this story of Mother Teresa in our school. I was involved with working the sound system that day. I asked her if I could go to Calcutta with her. She told me she was working to share Jesus in her backyard and that I should do that in mine. She said, “when you’ve touched everyone there, told them about Jesus, I should call her and she would send me a ticket to Calcutta. She gave me her number. Wise woman that she was, she knew if I were honest, I’d never call her. Although it remains a goal for life, I know now, 40+ years later, I could never touch everybody in my backyard because the backyard is our community. It is a limitless ministry. My thanks, Sister, for touching my life once again with words of wisdom, encouragement and personal revival. Robin Greco Wright