Mother Teresa: A Biography

Greenwood Biographies

by Meg Greene

In this new biography, students will follow Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu from her humble Albanian birth to worldwide celebrity as Mother Teresa. The nun who attended to the dying and diseased in Calcutta, India, and established her Missionaries of Charity around the world is revealed to have a singular determination from a young age. As a woman in the patriarchal Catholic system, she had to prove to the hierarchy, even the Vatican, that she was capable of handling each project she proposed. Her vision to live and work among the poorest of the poor as one of them led to the founding of a new order that tended to society's outcasts. The narrative chronicles the expansion and success of the order and the eventual attention that was showered on her efforts. This increasing attention led to scrutiny and criticism of ideology, methods of care, and financing. Why did she reject better medical equipment for her patients yet receive the latest treatment and best care when she herself was ailing? Why did she take money from and try to help Charles Keating, a major player in the savings and loan scandal of the 1980s? The accusation of hypocrisy, among others, are discussed as is her controversial beatification. Readers will be challenged to consider for themselves whether Mother Teresa deserves to be sainted.

Mother Teresa is characterized as being ordinary and her life as mundane. The biography suggests that she transcended her ordinariness with a singular belief that she was called to life's work. When this work brought fame, which she never sought, she used it to further her causes. In a global age, celebrity worship allowed her to work the system. She became an icon of service and selflessness, but her human flaws remained behind the saintliness.

Genres: Biography

176 pages, Hardcover

First published August 30, 2004

Reviews

[Nitin]

From a rational point of view, I don't see any reason to justify why poverty is so much treasured in Christian faith. I find myself reluctant to agree with her philosophy and convictions but I respect her for integrity and humanitarian work which made the difference in lives of countless poor people and children. I can't help but quote, "She may be quiet, but she's a warrior and her prayers can move mountains."

[Michael Gerald]

A very readable and balanced biography of one of the greatest persons in history, the author managed to bring out both the praises and criticisms for a modern saint of our times.

Though some of Mother Teresa's methods and behavior were questionable, it cannot be denied that she and her Missionaries and Brothers of Charity did-and still do-make a difference in the lives of the poorest of the poor not just in Calcutta, but in many cities around the world. Love her or hate her, I ask you these questions:

Have you ever helped the least of our brothers and sisters with loving sincerity? Can you personally reach out and literally lend a helping hand to even one of our brothers and sisters who are in dire need of food, clothing, shelter, and care? Can you bring yourself to wash the leprous body of a dying person and make her feel some care and love that was denied to her?

Sometimes we do, sometimes we do not. But Mother Teresa arguably lived everyday of her life doing just that, serving as an inspiration and challenge to other people, Catholic and non-Catholic, to do what Jesus taught: To love one another as I love you.

[David]

Meg Greene's biography is a brief summarization of Mother Teresa's life. A very good book for students wanting to have an overview of her remarkable life. Of course due to this I would say it lacks emotions and an engrossing reveal that characterizes great books but was like a news caster giving us the daily news. But generally it is a good book.

Mother Teresa lived a truly selfless life and this was seen in her relentless and undying love for the Jesus in every suffering soul. I feel she was born for this task. No ordinary person would willfully give up comfort to take care of the poor for the most part of their lives without a form of calling behind them. She was committed to her decisions and lived a most exemplary life that the world needs more of today.

[Đã là nắng thì nắng phải chói chang]

Đúng như lời giới thiệu, cuốn sách này kể về cuộc đời của Mẹ Teresa, về những đóng góp của bà cho việc truyền giáo thiên chúa giáo, cho người nghèo, người yếu thế trong xã hội. Mình cũng biết thêm nhiều về lịch sử Ấn Độ, và văn hoá, tôn giáo.
Tuy nhiên mặc dù sách tên là Mẹ Teresa - Nguồn sáng từ trái tim, nhưng sách cho thấy không chỉ những đóng góp của mẹ, tư tưởng nhân văn, bác ái của mẹ mà còn cả các quan điểm trái chiều về mẹ, các tư tưởng bảo thủ, nhiều lúc không hợp thời, những điều mà mọi người cho là không đúng đắn, các vấn đề về kế hoạch hoá gia đình, về nạn phá thai (mẹ chủ trương phản đối việc phá thai, trong khi Ấn Độ còn nghèo, đang bị bùng nổ dân số, trẻ em không được nuôi dưỡng đầy đủ do các gia đình sinh quá nhiều con), cả về giải thưởng Nobel hoà bình của mẹ,... Mình là một người thiên về nghiên cứu nên rõ ràng mặt trái hấp dẫn mình hơn :)) Điều đó vô hình chung làm giảm cái "nguồn sáng từ trái tim" mà cuốn sách muốn truyền tải. Dù vậy mình cũng hiểu suy cho cùng ngay từ đầu tác giả đã nhấn mạnh đây là một cuốn sách lịch sử nên việc phản ánh chung thực là đương nhiên.

[Gurpreet Dhariwal]

Mother Teresa was really an angel and no doubt she had to struggle a lot while helping poor people. She definitely had the heart of gold because she never hesitated in walking extra miles to offer a helping hand. She was a visionary who knew why she was born but had to face many obstacles while fulfilling her purpose of humanity. I wish I would have met her once and let her know god resided right there in her face.

[Emad]

Mother Teresa, the renowned Catholic nun, was born Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu in Albania.
Key highlights:
- Faith and Service: Mother Teresa's unwavering commitment to serving the poor and marginalized.
- Controversy and Criticism: The debates surrounding her approach to caring for the poor and her acceptance of donations from questionable sources.
- Legacy and Impact: The enduring impact of Mother Teresa's work and the complexities of her legacy.

[Alka Singh]

One must read this book to understand the true meaning of commitment.

[Dalia El-Athamna]

Great biography

[Shaun Tan]

This is an unbiased version of Mother Teresa which portrays the humanitarian work and controversies surrounding it. Ever since MT made a decision on a train journey to serve the poor in streets of Calcultta - she had to undergo plenty of scrutiny from her peers, church, other religious factions and media. But at all times she believed in simple truth of her-religion and made her work speak for itself. And it silenced her most ardent critics. This at one hand brought her lot of fame which she had no problem with coping. And the same fame brought her plenty of funding worldwide. Not putting the funding to its best utilisation made even her modest critics unhappy.

The overall message of the book is about a person's indomitable courage. Courage with which she took to the sea of darkness and shone the lives of people through her compassionate service. Yes, there were few who pointed to controversies. But these were people standing on the shore of that dark sea and some may be in ankle deep of darkness. But if only, all the people who were touched by her compassion could voice their opinion - I bet the roar of their voice would drown the voices of her detractors.

[Abieffendi]

Since this is my first book about mother Teresa, this book i recommend for introduction about her. It is really easy to follow and understood.
Since mother Teresa was also known as controversial figure for her actions or decisions, this book also provides enough explanation from both sides.

[Sudha]

I picked this book explore the giant figure of Modern world ,Mother Teresa .The author gives a balanced account of Mother Teresa ,both her appraisals and criticism . A good read for start up in this subject .

[Hale]

Pretty plain..quite a good balance of support and criticisms surrounding MT's work.