Heart of Joy, the Transforming Power of Self-Giving

by y

Heart of Joy gathers together Mother Teresa's thoughts on such themes as hunger for God, the generosity of the poor, the temptations of comfort, the love of God, total self-giving, and the privilege of suffering with Christ. It is a book that will bring you closer to the secret of Mother Teresa, to the source of her happiness, her energy, and her dedication. Most of all, it will inspire you to abandon your life more fully to God, to know the joy that comes from giving yourself to him and saying yes to whatever He asks.

Genres: Catholic, Religion

Mass Market Paperback

First published July 1, 1987

Reviews

[Manny · Rating 3 out of 5]

Heart of Joy is a collection of Mother Teresa’s speeches, talks to her religious sisters, and one published article all taken from the mid 1970s. The fact that most of the speeches are so close together in time creates some repetition. I doubt Mother Teresa had a book in mind when she made the speeches, but nonetheless this is an engaging read, a spiritually satisfying read, and an insightful read.

One of the more interesting themes of the book is how the future saint expands the definition of poverty. As people know, Mother was famous and won the Nobel Peace Prize for her care and attention to “the poorest of the poor.” Now the poorest of the poor in 1970’s India must be way beyond my experience of poverty, where mass numbers of people are homeless, starving, and deathly ill, all abandoned to the gutters. Her efforts which are linked to her seeing the Christ in all individuals are inspiring, but her expanded notion of poverty is striking to the core because it addresses the poverty that is not linked to material possessions. The poverty she identifies is a poverty of values in well off nations. Neglect of the elderly, the decision to abort a child, the abandonment of family, the insensitivity to others, these are a poverty just as debilitating as a poverty of material.

Most of the speeches appear to be extemporaneous and reflect that Mother Teresa is more of a doer than a systematic thinker. The sections where she address her sisters seem to collect aphorisms, precepts, and axioms from the future saint, presented in random order which has the effect of a collage. While no single piece of a collage creates a portrait, the sum total of the collage draws a portrait of the future saint through her thoughts and values. We see what makes her tick: her devotion to the poor, her tireless and ceaseless work, her merging with Christ and seeing Christ in the suffering. We see how she puts her faith into action. The central point of her message, if I may draw that conclusion, is by this quote: “Do not turn your back on the poor because the poor are Christ,” and as I’ve said the poor are more than those that lack means.

I enjoyed this book. The sections with anecdotes and aphorisms serve as good devotional reading. I gave the rating a three because the book is kind of slim and at times repetitive. But if you want a short read on understanding what motivates Mother Teresa and an unfiltered portrait through her own words and thoughts, this is a fine book.

[Kerstin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a collection of speeches and quotes from St. Teresa of Calcutta. In these the themes of her deep spirituality that she lived every day reveal themselves bit by bit. For her, "Faith is love in action, and love in action is service." But this should not be misconstrued as mere social work, for the work with the poorest of the poor was, and is continued by the Missionaries of Charity, rooted in Christ and in the Eucharist. The encounter with Christ in the Eucharist leads to recognizing Christ in the poor. And not just the materially poor. She was very concerned about the spiritually poor as well, especially in the secularist West.

" In today's world there are many sorrows, and I feel that most of those sorrows come from the family. There is ever less unity in the family, less prayer, and less fellowship. And there is less time together."

"There are so many sorrows in today's world! These sorrows are due to hunger, to dislodging, to all kinds of illness. I am convinced that the greatest of all sorrows is to feel alone, to feel unwanted, deprived of all affection. It consists on not having anyone, in having gotten to the point of forgetting what human contact is, what human love is, what it means to be wanted, to be loved, to have a family."

Mother Teresa's spirituality is a spirituality of connection, of community.

"Our Eucharistic union with Christ has to bear fruit because Jesus said, "I am the vine, you are the branches" (Jn 15:5) The fruit is borne by the branch, not by the vine. Hence the great responsibility you and I have since the fruit depends on the union of the branch and the vine. I would like the fifteenth chapter of John's Gospel to become our life."

The only drawback to this book is the editing. Even the editor himself admits, "Some...may find [these pages] somewhat disordered and repetitious." The justification for this structure is met with the question, "Would you prefer a very ordered book or an authentic book?" To me that's beside the point. Some of these repetitions become needless filler, and one gets the sense they serve as a cataloguing of quotes instead of presenting the unique insights borne of her vocation.

[Irene · Rating 3 out of 5]

This collection of talks by St. Teresa of Calcutta was heavily edited. Most were presented as a collection of brief thoughts on a handful of topics. As a result, it came across as so many repetitious pious platitudes. I do not think it did St. Teresa justice.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful, inspiring, challenging.

[Colleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

The editing can throw you off a little, but it is such a great companion for Adoration or reflection. Really great words of wisdom in here.

[Clement · Rating 4 out of 5]

Every year I try to read at least one book by or about Mother Teresa, not because I'm looking for something new but, because I know that my heart, like a little forgetful child, desperately needs the repitition, the reminder, of the simple lessons of Mother Teresa's Christlike love toward the poor. Heart of Joy is not my favorite collection of Mother Teresa's teachings and many of the stories shared in it have appeared elsewhere in other larger compilations of Mother Teresa's words but, it served its purpose of helping remind and realign my heart with Christ's heart for the poor. One new highlight from Heart of Joy is a list of "the means of being humble" that she shares with her sisters in the Missionaries of Charity. Mother Teresa's list, a profoundly relevant one for our current age of social media oversaturation, is as follows:

- speak as little as possible about oneself
- take care of one's personal matters
- avoid curiosity
- do not meddle in the affairs of others
- accept contradictions with good humor
- do not focus on the faults of others
- accept reproach, even if undeserved
- yield to the will of others
- accept insults and abuse
- accent feeling uncared for, forgotten, despised
- be courteous and sensitive, even if someone provokes you
- do not try to be admired and loved
- do not hide behind one's own dignity
- yield in arguments, even if one is right
- always choose what is most difficult

A quick self-examination easily and immediately reveals a deep need in my heart and life for improvement on all points. Thankfully there is grace and, in grace, change.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book. Even though it is rather short, it took me awhile to read it because it is a book that requires contemplation. Mother Teresa's words are filled with wisdom, now I just need to put them into practice in my life!

[Evette Holloway · Rating 5 out of 5]

A tiny woman from meager means and region withstood the test of time, temptation, abjection, and no hope within sight for the poor and downcast that she countlessly cared for and did with a constant prayer of hope and true unconditional love!!

[Alice · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good Lenten read. Mother Theresa challenges us to allow ourselves to be "broken" (as Christ was broken) to meet the needs of others. I would have rated it higher except for the scattered format (it's not a book, but a collection of addresses and writings).

[Elise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful thoughts from a remarkable woman, challenging us to see Christ hidden under the likeness of all we encounter. To continuously feed on the Eucharist. To offer to all love that understands. To find joy in service, obedience, and poverty. Amen.

[Angie]

That true (and only true) happiness comes from being selfless and giving. If we don't give of ourselves, what we can, when we can, what are we doing here?