Mother Teresa: A Complete Authorized Biography

by Kathryn Spink

During her lifetime, Mother Teresa resisted having her full biography written. Then, in 1991, realizing that accounts of her life and work could inspire others, she gave Kathryn Spink, who had long been intimately involved with the work of Mother Teresa and her order and co-workers around the world, permission to proceed with a complete biography on the understanding that it would not be finished until after her death. Here, now, is the complete story of Mother Teresa of Calcutta, founder of the Missionaries of Charity and winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, a woman regarded by millions as a contemporary saint for her dedication to serving the poorest of the poor. From her childhood in Balkans as a member of a remarkably openhearted and religious family to her work in India, from attending the victims of war-torn Beirut to pleading with George Bush and Saddam Hussein to choose peace over war. Mother Teresa was driven by an absolute faith. She consistently claimed that she was simply responding to Christ's boundless love for her and for all of humanity. When People magazine interviewed Kathryn Spink for their cover story on Mother Teresa 's death, Spink told "What one has to understand about Mother Teresa is that she sees Christ in every person she encounters." Clad in her white peasant sari with blue edging, Mother Teresa brought to the world a great and living lesson in joyful and selfless love.

Genres: Biography, Nonfiction, Religion, Christianity, Biography Memoir, History, Christian

306 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1997

About the author

Kathryn Spink is the author of several book on the work of Mother Teresa and her coworkers, as well as other inspiring contemporary figures, including Brother Roger of Taize and Bede Griffiths.

Reviews

[Keegan Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

I decided to take a focused approach to learning about people I've heard about all my life but knew very little about. I'm starting with Mother Teresa (soon to be followed by Gandhi and Mao Zedong). The biography is good, but the woman is incredible! I'm still in her early years in India. I am inspired by her dedicated choice to be committed to the work of God. She says, "Holiness is not the luxury of the few. It is a simple duty for you and for me." Mother Teresa's life leads me to believe that if she can do SO much for God, I can certainly do at least a little more than I am doing. First order of business: Make adjustments to my attitude. I suspect reading more about Mother Teresa will put my whiny-ness, materialistic tendencies, and negativity in perspective, too.

...All right, here's the truth: I am inspired by Mother Theresa, especially by her wisdom and compassion, but I tired of this book because it's so impersonal. It's hard to see who she really is. She only allowed it to be written with the hope that it would draw people closer to God; because of that she didn't give very much personal information to her biographer. It's an interesting concept, but I think more personal information would have added to my appreciation for divinity. In the end, I didn't finish the book.

[lp · Rating 2 out of 5]

Mother Teresa was so extreme in her devotion to the poor that reading about her made me feel like two cents. I actually wasn't enjoying the book that much for awhile, it was basically: M.T. opens a church. M.T. chooses to sleep in a pile of dirt for two years. M.T. battles the Vatican to get her way. Repeat. But I felt like a beeyotch if I couldn't even READ a book about M.T. Like, she could sleep in a pile of dirt so the least I can do is read about it. In that sense, I suggest that NOBODY PICKS UP THIS BOOK. It is cursed in that way, the second you touch it you will feel guilt to finish it, no matter how torturous it may be. Or maybe that's just me. I wouldn't risk it. The funny thing is, Mother Teresa wasn't even all that religious. I mean, she said she was, and she said she did it all for God. But really this was a book about a woman who was fanatical in her drive to sacrifice everything for the poor. Everything. If she hadn't been brought up Catholic, she would just be some crazy lady sleeping in the dirt touching the untouchables, I swear. (But still being AWESOME. I don't mean to belittle her.) But she really butted heads with the Catholic Church, and I hate to say this, but the things about the Catholic Church she clung to seemed to be just out of convenience. Like abortion. She was totally against abortion. This part puzzled me:

The other day, I picked up a bundle from the street. It looked like a bundle of clothes that somebody had left there, but it was a child. Then I looked: legs, hands, everything was crippled. No wonder someone had left it like that. But how can a mother who did that face God/ But one thing I can tell you; the mother -- a poor woman -- left the child like that, but she did not kill the child, and this is something that we have to learn from our women, the love for the child.

I guess I just have a hard time seeing how this is a good thing. How every baby born, under every single circumstance, is a blessing. That doesn't seem realistic to me. M.T.'s answer to all this is, "do not abort children. Give them to me. I will care for every single one." And she meant it. But really, Mamma T? Are you nuts?

An interesting character entered the scene: Brother Andrew, the co-founder of the Missionary Brothers of Charity, the male branch of M.T.'s organization. He seemed like a cool dude, a bit more down to earth than M.T. I mean, M.T. was down to earth in the sense of like, she didn't take 5 hours to get ready in the morning and didn't insist that her belt matched her shoes. But she was so outrageous it's like in her obsession with being low-maintenance, she was extremely high-maintenance. Brother Andrew actually ended up getting booted -- hate to spoil the surprise -- because he drank too much. But come on... he was doing a TON OF good shit. I say, let him have his party.

Interesting character #2: Princess Diana, who died a few days before M.T. and had similar missions. I wonder what M.T. really thought about Di. There's some funky juxtaposition going on there, with those two. But I haven't figured out what it is yet.

I'll stop blabbering now. Surely you are totally unmotivated to read the book now. Go get drunk, instead!

[Joe · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is probably the most complete biography of Mother Teresa that I have read. The book author neatly summarizes her early life, covering aspects of her family and upbringing and then provides great detail of her religious, missionary and charitable activities. While there is a lot of detail about what she did and where she went, the spiritual aspects and impact that she made is missing. It seems to be more of an encyclopedic version of what she did, rather than why and how she did it. The numbers of people helped, the locations of the houses and activities she participated in are helpful to understand her impact, but there is very little insight or analysis into the heart and mind of Mother Teresa.

[Amy Meek · Rating 1 out of 5]

I never actually finished this one. I got to about 65%. It was quite a slog and there was a lot of unexplained Catholic jargon. Paragraphs were really long. Dates went back and forth without much rhyme or reason.

There was clearly a lot of research done, I got a few good tidbits but it was more like reading a list of things she had done rather than getting to know her as a woman (though I can appreciate how hard that would have been). IMO some heavy editing on this would have made it a more approachable book.

[Devin Thorpe · Rating 5 out of 5]

First, I should note that in rating this book five stars, I really intend to rate Mother Teresa five stars. The biography was certainly well researched and well written. I couldn't help but think, however, that there were telling anecdotes missing from the book. I didn't ever feel like I was in the slums with her; the author kept me outside looking in, trying to get a glimpse of the real Mother Teresa in action.

The Life of Mother Teresa is unparalleled since Jesus Christ himself walked on the earth. What's more, she has created a society, the Missionaries of Charity, that perpetuates her kindness to the poorest of the poor around the world.

I certainly find myself wanting to learn more about her.

When I finished the book, I felt genuinely uncomfortable and had to spend some time thinking about why that was. Ultimately, I think I felt that way because I recognized that I am neither as good a person as Mother Teresa nor likely to become such.

I will have to find my own rhythm for leaving my own mark on the world.

[Leah · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is the worst book I have ever read. The author does not know how to form a sentence correctly and is averse to using commas. It was a very confusing, slow, dry, boring read, and it was not written chronologically. Wading through this book was a complete and utter waste of time.

[Janelle Sweet · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book did a great job on giving the details of Mother Teresa’s life and mission. At times it is dry because of all of the details and facts that came one after another in close progression, but it was informative.

[Jeff Hickman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m amazed at the woman Mother Teresa was. The impact of her one life is mind-boggling. If you’re interested in her then this is an informative read. The subject matter is so appealing it almost didn’t matter to me how well it was written.

[Mary Sanchez · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was afraid this biography, filled with details on the founding of the Missionaries of Charity, would be a boring slog through religious minutiae. I was wrong! This was a fascinating account of Mother Teresa’s life, and nothing about her life wad dull! Spoiler alert! She is truly interceding for us now in heaven. Saint Mother Teresa of Calcutta, pray for us!

[Crystal · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 star book, 10 star human

[Nicholas Poveda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some of the sentences in this book could have used some extra editing and thus led to some confusion, but overall the story of Mother Teresa was easy to follow.

[Olga · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mother Teresa's life and times is pure inspiration from her early calling till her death. She knew in her heart that God granted her the task to devote herself to Him and yet she struggled until that becomes clear. Once it was, her existence was offered as a sacrifice to the Poor. She didn't care about activism but to comfort Christ's thirst through the poor.

Many would critise her for not making looong sermons about God's love but theory wasn't her point. She was able to realise there was need for HER to be God's instrument who would demonstrate His love... which way else than feeding the poorest of the poor and giving love to the unloved? A demonstrated Love powerful enough to save souls.

Will we be God's pencils in a suffering world or we will be stubbornly congratulating ourselves for our faulse-self-created holiness inside churches?

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book and I'm glad I read it, though at times it was a bit slow. I gained a greater appreciation for Mother Teresa. I was truly impressed by the example of her sweet mother. It read: "The family table continued to be a gathering place for the poor for whom she cared with a gentle warmth. Years later Lazar would recall questioning his mother as to who the people were who shared his meals were. 'Some of them are our relations,' was the response, 'but all of them are our people.' No one ever left empty-handed."
Mother Teresa helped so many people, but I appreciated her dedication to help individuals. She said "We all have a duty to serve God where we feel called," she maintained, "I feel called to help individuals, not to interest myself in structures or institutions. I do not feel like judging or condemning." We would all do well to emulate this woman.

[Amanda Hernandez · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was not exactly what I expected. I was hoping for more about her childhood and beginning of her life that lead to the very public later life she led. This book is truly inspiring and shows her life from where she was born to after she died. I understand her charities she established and things she set up are a big part of who she was, but I was hoping for more about her as a person and what she went through as a authorized biography rather than pages and pages of information about who was within her organizations and who led each one and who approved them and where they were and so on and so on. It was mostly beautiful and touching I just wish there was more of her.

[Graham Cammock · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have never been so impressed by a single human being on this planet as I have by Saint Mother Teresa of Calcutta. I have never been so impressed by a group of human beings as I have been by the sisters, brothers, Fathers and Co-Workers in Mother Teresa’s congregation of the Missionaries of Charity etc. I have never been so impressed by a religion in my life than I have been by the Roman Catholic Church. I cannot describe to you the immeasurable love and goodness of Saint Mother Teresa of Calcutta, only that you have to read this jaw dropping book. Mother Teresa puts us all to deep shame. In fact, Mother Teresa even puts other Saints to shame! Love. Peace. Faith. Charity. Amen.

[Alysha Gaskins · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this. I think we all know Mother Teresa as a heavenly saint. But this book puts it such a diverse light. It showed that she was just as human and made people angry because of how she refused to back down. She didn't change her beliefs in things regardless of how society would see it. Her passion drives her to make such a difference. The only thing I didn't not like is how the author continuously messes up the time line.

[Elizabeth · Rating 2 out of 5]

Great and inspirational learning about her; didn't much like the writing

[Kathy Marler · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was interesting to know about Mother Teresa and her extrodinary humanitarian service.

[Joseph Schum · Rating 3 out of 5]

It took me about a year of picking it up and putting it down to finish it. Having met Mother in 1982 while she was in the US, she has been a part of my life’s story. With a renewing of my faith these last five years and the enthusiasm of people when they heard that I met her and she touched my hand, I felt compelled to read this. It was given to me based partly on all these moments. It was a bit sloggish for me.

A lot of facts and timeline review with a few really powerful prayers and holy moments and thoughts interspersed. There were just too few inspirational moments. I think writing about Mother even in a cooperative state would be hard. For all her great works she was guarded about her personal challenges and fears. This would’ve been very helpful , to see this side of her. In some ways though, it matched her years of dry prayer and period of waiting to hear God.

[Brenda · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Mother Teresa was one incredible person! (I give her a 5). I learned a lot about her life and what she did. So admirable! I'm glad I read this book about Mother Teresa and the Missionaries of Charity and the Co Workers that she established around the world. But I found the book itself to be rather tedious - too matter of fact. It wasn't a book to sit and enjoy - had to be read a bit at a time. It was full of facts and figures and dates and places. I guess I wanted to feel more of the emotion of her daily life, of her interactions with the other missionaries, of how her religious fervor affected the people she served, etc. I read the 1997 edition. I don't know what changes were made in the revised edtion.

[Smooth Herman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well worth a read but I found the middle to be disjointed at times, jumping between decades and only touching on extremely short stories each time. Perhaps this was a conscious choice of the author. The first and last parts read more or less chronologically. The last chapter particularly provided a sequence of her final trips.

I found it odd that the author specifically did not mention Christopher Hitchens despite two references to him as ‘that man.’ Furthermore, she introduced his works on another Teresa out of order; the documentary came first and then the book. And the author just glossed over it without any sort of detail.

The ending of the book reminded me that Princess Diana and Mother Teresa had passed away around the same time.

Mother Teresa was such a wonderful person.

[Becca · Rating 5 out of 5]

profound insight into the life and work of Mother Theresa

I am so glad I read this book. As a Christian chaplain, spiritual director and friend, I think I have found a patron saint. Although I am not catholic I see in Mother Theresa all that I hope to embody in my clinical practice and personal life. She has added a dimension of servant-heartedness to Jesus through her spiritual and practical connection with “i thirst” that I had not thought of before. Thank you Ms Spink for articulating and sharing Mother Theresa’s life with us. I sense the sensitivity to her heart in this book, and I hope that many others, Protestant, Muslim, Hindu, Sikh, Zoroastrian… anyone really will be further encouraged by Mother Theresa’s example

[Brian · Rating 3 out of 5]

A decent look at the life of one of the world's most cherished figures. Mother Teresa felt God's call on her life to serve the poor of Calcutta and, in turn, the world. This is the incredible story of the beginnings of her work and that of the Missionaries of Charity up to her death.

I think the fact that this was a "completely authorized" biography hinders it. This had Mother Teresa's personal stamp of approval. As such, it does not go into the deep spiritual conflict which she felt, and is, therefore, not a complete picture of a much beloved nun. This may have been addressed in the revised and updated edition.

Still, a good look for someone wanting to get familiar with the work of Mother Teresa.

[Blsaldana · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Certainly it seemed that there was in Mother Teresa something which people of a wide variety of faiths could value and to which they could respond." That is exactly how I felt reading this biography of a woman I had heard of but never really got to know much about all she did, how she did it and the impact she had in the world. I am truly amazed and glad I kept this book in my shelf for years. Picked it and dusted if off after reading Martin Luther's biography. Two giants of faith who God used to transform and show the world that God is the same yesterday, today and always, seeking those who will surrender their all.

[Joan Barrie-Daigle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book gave great insight into the resolve of this beautiful woman of God. She stayed true to the Lord to the very end. Her determination to serve the poorest of the poor all over the world came to fruition as she established houses all over to be served by her sisters.
The adversity she faced, criticism and suffering she walked through was very inspiring. She truly was a living Saint.
I loved this book and highly recommend.

[judy m · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have always thought Mother Teresa was a fascinating person. I still do. It is amazing what she was able to accomplish! The world is a better place because of her and people like her. Her strong faith and trust in God shows that with God all things are possible. My only criticism of this book is that it felt like I was reading an encyclopedia. It was full of knowledge and very detailed but unfortunately at times it was a dry read.

[Carlos A Gi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Extraordinary biography of a Saint

This book wonderfully written is a testimony of how a soul can literally change the world by giving herself up and take care of the poorest of the poor.
I had never realized the degree of poverty and misery that exist in the world until I read this wonderful book and how a loving person can make a difference to this in need.
A life changing document that inspires us to give a little of ourselves to others.

[Carolyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting to learn more about this special woman. She learned how to help people when they were so weak, oversaw their nurturing including teaching them self-reliance skills, and so much more. She was a hero by a life of doing the small and simple things. She truly glorified God, and with her light helped draw so many others to serve Christ. Very inspiring woman.

[Shammy Narayanan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book makes an earnest attempt to take us deep into thought process of the Mother , her conviction her unquestionable allegiance to the church , her commitment to serve the poorest of the poor. By covering even the controversies author had done a comprehensive job in highlighting all aspects of her life . A good read for any open mind with a genuine interest to know about this Ma

[Dianne Ragland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mother Teresa

This book inspired me to think about children who are hungry and sick and have little opportunity to achieve educationally. I don't know how many children are without enough food and without necessities . Mother Teresa chose to live a life of poverty in order to reach children in India. Her life is an inspiration!