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The mystical experiences of Mother Teresa, from Calcutta, the origin of her work

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ROME, November 29, 2002 (ZENIT.org).- The work of Mother Teresa of Calcutta is impossible to understand without the mystical phenomena she experienced when she took on the sari and took to the streets to care for the poor among the poor, origin of the foundation of the Missionaries of Charity.

 

These locutions and visions were revealed by the nun of Albanian origin in a letter addressed to Monsignor Ferdinand Périer, archbishop of Calcutta, through her spiritual director, Father Celeste Van Exem, s.j.

 

The passages of the letter, dated December 3, 1947, in which a moving inner struggle is revealed, and at the same time the vision of everything that would later become his work, have now been published by Father Brian Kolodiejchuk, m.c. , postulator of the cause of beatification, in an article that appeared in Zenit (November 28 and 29) and on the new website dedicated to the cause (http://www.motherteresacause.info).

 

Mother Teresa of Calcutta in those years worked as a religious of the Sisters of Loreto, in Calcutta, but in her prayer Christ asked her to go out into the streets to announce to the abandoned people of India, and especially, the

Girls.

«How could I do it? –the nun asks herself in hours of spiritual combat–. I have been and am very happy as a nun of Loreto. Leaving what I have loved and exposing myself to new work and suffering, which will be great, being the laughing stock of so many, especially religious, deliberately adhering to and choosing the hard things of an Indian-style life, loneliness and ignominy, uncertainty, and all because Jesus wants it, because something is calling me to leave everything and gather some companions to live his life, to do his work in India.

 

In her prayers and particularly in her Communions, Jesus constantly asks her, as she herself explains in her letter addressed to the spiritual father and the archbishop: «Will you refuse? When it came to your soul I did not think about myself, but I gave myself freely for you on the Cross and now, what do you do? Will you refuse? I wish for Indian nuns, victims of my love.

 

«My dear Jesus – answers Mary Teresa, as she was known by her religious name at that time –, what you ask of me is beyond my strength. I can barely understand half the things you want. I am unworthy. I am a sinner. I’m weak. Go, Jesus, and look for a soul more worthy and generous than me.

 

«Are you afraid now to take one more step for me, your Husband, for souls? –Christ asks them–. Is your generosity cooling? Am I second to you? You have not died for souls. That’s why you don’t care what happens to them.»

 

 

«Your vocation is to love and suffer and save souls and, by taking this step, you will fulfill the desire of my Heart for you – Christ insists in the locution. You will dress in simple Indian dresses, or better, as my Mother dressed, simple and poor. Your current habit is holy because it is my symbol. Your sari will be holy because it will be My symbol.

 

«Jesus, my Jesus, don’t let him deceive me. If it is You who desires it, give me proof of it; If not, let [this thought] leave my soul. I trust you blindly. Will you let my soul be lost? I’m so scared, Jesus. “I am very afraid,” responds the future Nobel Prize winner.

 

 

«Don’t let him deceive me. “I’m so scared,” she repeats insistently. This fear makes me see how much I love myself. I am afraid of the suffering that will come with living an Indian-style life, dressing like them, eating like them, sleeping like them, living with them without ever being able to follow my will at all. To what extent comfort has taken possession of my heart.

 

Christ reassures her by foreshadowing what the future would be like: «I wish for Indian nuns, Missionaries of Charity, to be my fire of love among the poor, the sick, the dying, the little children. I want you to bring me closer to the poor and the sisters who will offer their lives as victims of my love will bring me these souls. You are, I know, the most incapable, weak and sinful person, but, precisely because you are that, I wish to use you for my glory. Will you refuse?

 

«Little one, give me souls – Jesus insists –. Give me the souls of the poor little street children. If you only knew how it hurts, if you only knew, to see these poor children stained with sin. I wish the purity of your love. If only you would respond and bring me these souls. Tear them out of the hands of the evil one. If only you knew how many little ones fall into sin every day. There are many nuns to take care of the rich and well-off people, but for the poorest, mine, there is absolutely no one. I desire them, I love them. Will you refuse?

 

A few weeks passed. On January 6, 1948, Archbishop Périer called Mother Teresa and told her: «You may proceed.»

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