Flora Cantábrica

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Mother Teresa of Calcutta, NURSE AND TEACHER

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After the novitiate, her first job was that of a nurse in a small missionary center near Calcutta, where she had been assigned. There she got to know the poverty, misery and abandonment of so many people who survived in the most extreme conditions.

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She was very happy with her work as a nurse, but the Superior changed her position, assigning her to work in a well-known and distinguished school that the Congregation had in Calcutta, called St. Mary’s, for well-to-do and upper-class girls. Some days off, she took the opportunity to visit and help her poor people, whom she always held in her mother’s heart.

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In 1935 the Superior entrusted the school of Santa Teresa to her and about it she wrote: I have taken charge of the school of Santa Teresa, which is located in Calcutta…

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When these little boys of mine saw me for the first time, they looked at each other, wondering if I was an evil spirit or a goddess.

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I immediately rolled up my sleeves, took out everything that was in the class, took water and a sponge and began to clean the pavement. This amazed them greatly. They stared at me as they had never seen a teacher start lessons with such work; above all, because in India cleaning is done by the lower castes. Seeing me happy and smiling, the girls began to help me, while the boys brought more water. After two hours, that dirty room was transformed, at least in part, into a school classroom, where everything was clean.

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When I arrived, they were beside themselves with joy. They began to jump and sing around me until I had put my hand on each one of those dirty little heads. Since that day they call me «MA» which means MOTHER. How little is needed to make simple souls happy!

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Here is another description of the meetings with the people: “Every Sunday I visit the poor in the slums of Calcutta. I can’t help you, because I don’t have anything, but I’m going to make you happy. Last time, at least twenty children were looking forward to their “Ma”. When they saw me they ran to meet me, all jumping on one leg.

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Twelve families live in that “pari” (this is the name of a row of houses). Each family has a single room two meters long by one and a half meters wide. The doors are so narrow that I can barely get through, and the ceiling is so low that you cannot stand. And to think that for such a slum, these poor people have to pay four rupees. And, if they don’t pay regularly, they are thrown out onto the street. Now I no longer marvel at the fact that my students love their school so much and that many are sick with tuberculosis.”

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A poor woman did not even once lament her misery. I was sad and, at the same time, happy, seeing that they were happy with my visit. Another told me: Oh, Ma, she’s coming again! Your smile has brought the sun to this house! On the way back, I thought: Oh God, how easily I make them happy! Give me strength to always be the light of their life, so that I can lead them to You!

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