Kolkata: The year-long birth centenary
celebrations of Mother Teresa began on Thursday with a solemn mass
here where Pope Benedict XVI exhorted her order, the
Missionaries of Charity, to draw inspiration from her in
serving the poor, the sick and the abandoned.
"I am confident that this year will be for the Church
and the world an occasion of joyful gratitude to God for the
inestimable gift that Mother Teresa was in her lifetime and
continues to be through the affectionate and tireless work for
you, her spiritual children," the Pope said in a message to
MoC superior-general Sr Prema.
The Pope said Teresa exemplified the message of St
John "...if God loves us, we ought also to love one another.
God abides in us and his love is perfected in us."
"I encourage you to draw constantly from the
spirituality and example of Mother Teresa and in her
footsteps, to take up Christ`s invitation: `Come be my
light`," he said.
The early morning mass at the first-floor chapel of
Mother House was attended by Cardinal Telesphore Placidus
Toppo of Ranchi besides 60 priests.
Toppo said Mother Teresa`s life was driven by a
passion to build lives through forgiveness, healing, giving
them respect and through making them true human beings in the
image and likeness of God.
"That is precisely why she wanted to come to India and
become a Loreto sister. That is what she did through her
teaching and forming girls of character in the school, the
cardinal said.
He also said that before the Church became more
conscious of its ecological duty, Mother Teresa realised her
duty towards nature and wanted it to be included in her life.
"Her insistence on poverty in life is (also) a fine
illustration of this," he said.
Archbishop of Kolkata Lucas Sirkar, Bishop of Baruipur
Salvadore Lobo, Archbishop Emeritus Henry D`Souza were present
as also Fr Brian Kolodeijchuk, the postulator for the cause of
Teresa`s sainthood. Balloons and pigeons were released after
the mass.
PTI
