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The Joy in Loving: A Guide to Daily Living with Mother Teresa
Offers a collection of reflections and insights from Mother Teresa's experiences
448 pages, Hardcover
First published March 1, 1997
83 people are currently reading
1318 people want to read
About the author
Mother Teresa
220 books2,255 followersMother Mary Teresa Bojaxhiu[6] (born Anjezë Gonxhe Bojaxhiu, Albanian: [aˈɲɛzə ˈɡɔndʒɛ bɔjaˈdʒiu]; 26 August 1910 – 5 September 1997), honoured in the Catholic Church as Saint Teresa of Calcutta,[7] was an Albanian-Indian[4] Roman Catholic nun and missionary.[8] She was born in Skopje (now the capital of North Macedonia), then part of the Kosovo Vilayet of the Ottoman Empire. After living in Skopje for eighteen years, she moved to Ireland and then to India, where she lived for most of her life.
In 1950, Teresa founded the Missionaries of Charity, a Roman Catholic religious congregation that had over 4,500 nuns and was active in 133 countries in 2012. The congregation manages homes for people who are dying of HIV/AIDS, leprosy and tuberculosis. It also runs soup kitchens, dispensaries, mobile clinics, children's and family counselling programmes, as well as orphanages and schools. Members take vows of chastity, poverty, and obedience, and also profess a fourth vow – to give "wholehearted free service to the poorest of the poor."[9]
Following her death she was beatified by Pope John Paul II and canonized by Pope Francis.
In 1950, Teresa founded the Missionaries of Charity, a Roman Catholic religious congregation that had over 4,500 nuns and was active in 133 countries in 2012. The congregation manages homes for people who are dying of HIV/AIDS, leprosy and tuberculosis. It also runs soup kitchens, dispensaries, mobile clinics, children's and family counselling programmes, as well as orphanages and schools. Members take vows of chastity, poverty, and obedience, and also profess a fourth vow – to give "wholehearted free service to the poorest of the poor."[9]
Following her death she was beatified by Pope John Paul II and canonized by Pope Francis.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
March 14, 2014
So I didn't understand, when I requested this book from Interlibrary Loan, that when the title includes "daily" it actually meant daily - as in a thought a day for 365 days. And since no library system is going to let me keep the book for a year, and I'm not going to purchase it, I decided to read it straight through as I would a book. So because of this the book isn't really 429 pages of reading as each page has paragraph of text on it containing a thought from Mother Teresa.
Mother Teresa was incredibly selfless. She heard Jesus on September 10, 1946 tell her, "I want you to serve Me among the poorest of the poor" and so she did. She didn't waver, didn't hesitate, went straight to work as Jesus asked her too. And she said several times in her life that she had not one regret for obeying the call of God so quickly. She also was quick to point out that she was nothing special and anyone could do what she was doing. That humility is exactly why she was so special.
This collection of 365 thoughts of hers on topics like prayer, abortion, serving the poor, families is very simple and very profound all at once. She seemed to possess an ability to look for the good in all things, to not pass judgement on others, to truly die to self so that Christ would be seen. And for those who claim she isn't a believer of God and didn't have a personal relationship with him I say, "pish posh." (Truth be told I have stronger words than that for those people but in the spirit of Mother Teresa I will refrain and attempt to not pass judgement on those people.) It is very clear from this collection of thoughts alone that Mother Teresa was an intimate friend of God's and walked with him closely, a very devoted disciple of Christ. I'm grateful for what she shared with the world and how she showed us the way to love as Christ.
Mother Teresa was incredibly selfless. She heard Jesus on September 10, 1946 tell her, "I want you to serve Me among the poorest of the poor" and so she did. She didn't waver, didn't hesitate, went straight to work as Jesus asked her too. And she said several times in her life that she had not one regret for obeying the call of God so quickly. She also was quick to point out that she was nothing special and anyone could do what she was doing. That humility is exactly why she was so special.
This collection of 365 thoughts of hers on topics like prayer, abortion, serving the poor, families is very simple and very profound all at once. She seemed to possess an ability to look for the good in all things, to not pass judgement on others, to truly die to self so that Christ would be seen. And for those who claim she isn't a believer of God and didn't have a personal relationship with him I say, "pish posh." (Truth be told I have stronger words than that for those people but in the spirit of Mother Teresa I will refrain and attempt to not pass judgement on those people.) It is very clear from this collection of thoughts alone that Mother Teresa was an intimate friend of God's and walked with him closely, a very devoted disciple of Christ. I'm grateful for what she shared with the world and how she showed us the way to love as Christ.
June 17, 2021
“Humility is the mother of all virtues; purity, charity and obedience. It is being humble that our love becomes real, devoted and ardent. If you are humble nothing will touch you, neither praise nor disgrace, because you know what you are. If you are blamed you will not be discouraged. If they call you a saint you will not put yourself on a pedestal.”
363
“If you have not the experience, ask. There is no shame in asking, but do not pretend you know when you don’t.” 318
“These are the few ways we can practice humility:
To speak as little as possible of ones self.
To mind ones own business.
Not to want to manage other peoples affairs.
To avoid curiosity.
To accept contradictions and correction cheerfully.
To pass over the mistakes of others.
To accept insults and injuries.
To accept being slighted, forgotten and disliked.
To be kind and gentle even under provocation.
Never to stand on one’s dignity.
To choose always the hardest.”
406
363
“If you have not the experience, ask. There is no shame in asking, but do not pretend you know when you don’t.” 318
“These are the few ways we can practice humility:
To speak as little as possible of ones self.
To mind ones own business.
Not to want to manage other peoples affairs.
To avoid curiosity.
To accept contradictions and correction cheerfully.
To pass over the mistakes of others.
To accept insults and injuries.
To accept being slighted, forgotten and disliked.
To be kind and gentle even under provocation.
Never to stand on one’s dignity.
To choose always the hardest.”
406
March 29, 2018
I easily could have marked the whole book. This is a book of daily quotes/ devotions. Excellent.
August 6, 2011
Maravilloso testimonio de vida, una mujer que ilusiona y nos enseña el verdadero amor desde la fe, lo trascendental y lo maravilloso del ser humano cuando deja actuar al espíritu santo. Una obra didáctica,pedagógica, doctrinal y motivacional. No debe de faltar en ningún hogar.
June 10, 2009
"Let anyone who comes to you go away feeling better and happier!" -Mother Theresa. Her daily thoughts are inspirational to me. A wonderful read that I took in all at once instead of a day at a time.
June 23, 2010
my treasure
February 3, 2019
I write book review for myself. Sometimes I found that I don't remember the title of the book I just read recently and embarrassed. My book review is just to remind me what I read, what I think of the book or what I learned from the book.
I already know a lot of about Mother Teresa and her teachings. Mother Teresa, The Joy in Loving is not such an eye opener for me. Still I got consolation, sometimes, I hear admonition.
Mother Teresa emphasizes,
Prayer comes first, because it brings us the grace of Go to love and do acts of love. She wishes to lead all mankind in prayer. (I heard from somewhere Mother Teresa prayed four hours a day.)
How do we learn to pray? By praying.
If you want to pray better, you must pray more. The more you pray the easier it becomes.
The small raising of the mind to Him is prayer. (All day long)
I love you God
I trust you
I believe in You
I need you now.
Use your tongue for the good of others.
Thoughtfulness is the beginning of sanctity.
God is the friend of silence.
If God does not grant the means, that shows He does not want you to do that particular work.
If He wants it done, He will give you the means. Therefor do not worry.
Holiness is the acceptance of the will of God.
The greatest suffering is being lonely, feeling unloved, having no one... I saw a man sitting alone down a street in London and looked so terribly lonely. When I walked up too him and took his hand and shook it, he exclaimed: 'Oh, after so long, this is the first time I've felt the warmth of a human hand.'
One should centre his mind and heart, his life and activity on God and see him in every human sufferer.
Nakedness is the loss of human dignity, the loss, of the beautiful virtue of purity which is so misused
nowadays.
To listen, when nobody else wants to listen, is a very beautiful thing.
God loves a cheerful giver. He gives most who gives with joy. The best way to show your gratitude to God and people is to accept everything with joy.
We have to give until it hurts.
What we need in our love is the continuity to love the One we love.
I am a little pencil in God's hand. He does the thinking. He does the writing, and sometimes it is really hard because it is a broken pencil and He has to sharpen it a little more.
It is not how much you do, but how much love you put into action.
Keep on filling the lamp with all these little drops of love.
It is the same action whether you are singing and dancing and we are rubbing and scrubbing. You are filling the world with the love God has given you.
We can only love one person at a time---serve one person at a time.
Every work of love done with a full heart brings people closer to God.
Joy is infectious.
Violence is caused by our attitude when we categorize people so and so. If we smile when we meet each other, it would help more than anything.
The prayer Mother Teresa wants us to do
Mary, mother of Jesus, be a mother of us, that we, like you may be pure in heart,
that we, like you, love Jesus, that we, like you, serve the poorest for we are all poor.
First let us love our neighbors and so fulfill God's desire that we become carriers of
His love and compassion.
If you are humble, nothing will touch you.
We must be happy that our faults are known as they are.
For knowledge of God give love, and knowledge of self gives humility.
These are the few ways we can practice humility:
To speak as little as possible of one's self.
To mind one's own business.
Not to want manage other people's affairs. To avoid curiosity
To accent contradictions and correction cheerfully.
To pass over the mistakes of others.
To accept insults and injuries, being slighted, forgotten and disliked.
To be kind and gentle even under provocation.
Never to stand on one's dignity.
To choose always the hardest.
What is our daily bread? It is peace and love.
I already know a lot of about Mother Teresa and her teachings. Mother Teresa, The Joy in Loving is not such an eye opener for me. Still I got consolation, sometimes, I hear admonition.
Mother Teresa emphasizes,
Prayer comes first, because it brings us the grace of Go to love and do acts of love. She wishes to lead all mankind in prayer. (I heard from somewhere Mother Teresa prayed four hours a day.)
How do we learn to pray? By praying.
If you want to pray better, you must pray more. The more you pray the easier it becomes.
The small raising of the mind to Him is prayer. (All day long)
I love you God
I trust you
I believe in You
I need you now.
Use your tongue for the good of others.
Thoughtfulness is the beginning of sanctity.
God is the friend of silence.
If God does not grant the means, that shows He does not want you to do that particular work.
If He wants it done, He will give you the means. Therefor do not worry.
Holiness is the acceptance of the will of God.
The greatest suffering is being lonely, feeling unloved, having no one... I saw a man sitting alone down a street in London and looked so terribly lonely. When I walked up too him and took his hand and shook it, he exclaimed: 'Oh, after so long, this is the first time I've felt the warmth of a human hand.'
One should centre his mind and heart, his life and activity on God and see him in every human sufferer.
Nakedness is the loss of human dignity, the loss, of the beautiful virtue of purity which is so misused
nowadays.
To listen, when nobody else wants to listen, is a very beautiful thing.
God loves a cheerful giver. He gives most who gives with joy. The best way to show your gratitude to God and people is to accept everything with joy.
We have to give until it hurts.
What we need in our love is the continuity to love the One we love.
I am a little pencil in God's hand. He does the thinking. He does the writing, and sometimes it is really hard because it is a broken pencil and He has to sharpen it a little more.
It is not how much you do, but how much love you put into action.
Keep on filling the lamp with all these little drops of love.
It is the same action whether you are singing and dancing and we are rubbing and scrubbing. You are filling the world with the love God has given you.
We can only love one person at a time---serve one person at a time.
Every work of love done with a full heart brings people closer to God.
Joy is infectious.
Violence is caused by our attitude when we categorize people so and so. If we smile when we meet each other, it would help more than anything.
The prayer Mother Teresa wants us to do
Mary, mother of Jesus, be a mother of us, that we, like you may be pure in heart,
that we, like you, love Jesus, that we, like you, serve the poorest for we are all poor.
First let us love our neighbors and so fulfill God's desire that we become carriers of
His love and compassion.
If you are humble, nothing will touch you.
We must be happy that our faults are known as they are.
For knowledge of God give love, and knowledge of self gives humility.
These are the few ways we can practice humility:
To speak as little as possible of one's self.
To mind one's own business.
Not to want manage other people's affairs. To avoid curiosity
To accent contradictions and correction cheerfully.
To pass over the mistakes of others.
To accept insults and injuries, being slighted, forgotten and disliked.
To be kind and gentle even under provocation.
Never to stand on one's dignity.
To choose always the hardest.
What is our daily bread? It is peace and love.
November 20, 2017
Although I don't always agree with her theologically, Mother Teresa is one of the best examples of someone showing Christ-like love to those in need that the world has ever seen. This book offers her little tidbits of wisdom on how to fulfill God's greatest commandments, to love the Lord your God with all your heart and soul and strength and mind, and to love your neighbor as yourself.
December 31, 2021
Wonderful daily collection of the wise words of Mother Teresa for each day of the year, plus an index grouping her quotes by topic. I loved her focus on love and kindness, not just to the poor, but to everyone around her, challenging us as Believers in Christ to spread God's love to everyone, not just people we already like, or know, or think deserves love. Everyone deserves love.
January 2, 2019
Such fantastic and inspirational reading material. I wish I would have known in advance that this was a day-to-day book, so I could have started at the new year and read a page a day until the end of the year.
April 23, 2019
I'm not Catholic, but that doesn't mean I can't appreciate the nuggets of wisdom that Mother Teresa shares in this book. I think it's safe to say that there haven't been many people in the world who understand charity and love as much as she did.
January 29, 2019
A quote for everyday! Mother Teresa was an amazing woman and this collection of quotes is the perfect book to have in your library to go back to again and again. I'm glad I finally got my own copy!
August 29, 2020
This is a book of daily thoughts and reminders to question yourself, make you think so that you can live a better life and let God in so you can love others
Read
September 11, 2020An inspiring book by Mother Teresa.
Read more Read about quotes said by Mother Teresa.
Read more Read about quotes said by Mother Teresa.
October 16, 2021
daily meditations - perfect. (gift from Norma)
January 1, 2024
The Love of Mother Teresa
None of these sayings are deeply philosophical. What shines forth are her love for all people and her humility in accepting of life’s challenges.
None of these sayings are deeply philosophical. What shines forth are her love for all people and her humility in accepting of life’s challenges.
May 4, 2016
I love this compilation of notes and thoughts from Mother Teresa, to those she came in contact with and even about herself. Though she did not write this as a daily devotional I must day by reading a page or two a day will change the way you think and see things.
I just love the anecdotes and her life experiences shared making each word so authentic and practical taking me down a path of what true poverty is all about; No life of Love; I'm speaking of a life long walk according to 1st Corinthians chapter 13. A message that true love is unlimited and is diffusive of itself in the power of Christ.
Though I am not of the Catholic faith I have found a women of great wisdom laced with the beauty of humility giving me a treasure of knowledge I will feed upon for sometime to come!
I just love the anecdotes and her life experiences shared making each word so authentic and practical taking me down a path of what true poverty is all about; No life of Love; I'm speaking of a life long walk according to 1st Corinthians chapter 13. A message that true love is unlimited and is diffusive of itself in the power of Christ.
Though I am not of the Catholic faith I have found a women of great wisdom laced with the beauty of humility giving me a treasure of knowledge I will feed upon for sometime to come!
November 17, 2008
Who doesn't love Mother Teresa? She is one of the women that inspire me and I believe that as an adovocate for children, children should know about her. She has many quotes and stories that children would be interested in. I would encourage posting them around the room from time to time and having a picture book in the reading corner of her working with children (I do own). This is a great book for educators because it recognizes the sacrifices that are made and honors them. This book can act as a daily refresher for stressful days that are sure to come as a teacher.
March 10, 2009
This book is nice if you want to read a little bit everyday for reflection or meditation - Compiled by Jaya Chaliha & Edward Le Joly, each page offers a quote from Mother Teresa. I also found the Introduction of the Life and Work of Mother Teresa to be amazing - I know so much more of this religous icon as a result of this read.
April 21, 2010
Some thought provoking quotes on loneliness and the merits of giving time and love instead of (or in addition to) just money. A very Catholic approach to sexuality and abortion, to the point of preoccupation. Either way, I would have liked to get more in-depth, so I guess I'll need to pick up some of Mother Teresa's full length works.
August 31, 2011
This book consists of partial quotes from Mother Teresa. There is one for every day of the year. Most of the quotes mean very little - they are trite in the way that some deep quotes sometimes are.
Hard to dislike Mother Teresa but don't pick this book up expecting anything deep or especially meaningful.
Hard to dislike Mother Teresa but don't pick this book up expecting anything deep or especially meaningful.
September 17, 2013
This book had some really great quotes in it that helped our book club group talk about our own experiences, helped us to look at our own lives, and motivated us to be a bit better. All in all it was really good. Learning a bit about Mother Teresa in the beginning of the book made me want to learn more about her and her story.
January 21, 2008
Mother Teresa is such an inspiration to me. Reading her words and hearing about her story of faith and charity really humbles me. If you have not read about Mother Teresa's story...this is a must read.
November 19, 2011
What a remarkable woman. Although she took her vows early in life, she did not receive her "calling" to serve the destitute until she was 40 years old. Each of her entries contains a pearl. What a amazing and inspirational woman!
February 7, 2013
Mother Teresa is known for her simple but true sayings. She is direct but with love. She truly followed Jesus' calling and tried to live her life as He would want all of us to live: with love, patience and forgiveness.
January 10, 2014
Beautiful words from mother theresa. Not so much a "sit down and read through" type book....just have it on your nightstand and pick up and read when you need some encouraging words of love and wisdom.
January 28, 2017
This is a book that could be read daily, or in one sitting. The introduction is a great personal letter from a priest that new her well. The rest of the book has a page per day with a comment, quote, prayer, or advice that will be invaluable to anyone.
January 19, 2008
A must read. It really puts life in perspective/what really matters.
March 26, 2008
Each day of the year has a quotation from Mother Teresa.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews