Total Surrender

by Mother Teresa

Total Surrender probes beyond the popular image of Mother Teresa to the very heart of her spiritual life and vision. In her own words, Mother Teresa tells of the simple joy of following Jesus and surrendering fully to him.

Genres: Spirituality, Catholic, Nonfiction, Biography, Theology, Christian, Religion

156 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 1990

About the author

Mother 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.

Reviews

[Ramón S. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Mother Teresa. All her writings and words inspire me and lead me towards the Love of Christ and to try to love others wholeheartedly

[Lauren Wicker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Big fan of this lady. She is all in with her pursuit of Christ. She sacrifices everything and considers it a joy and privilege. She describes how certain vows like poverty help them to identify with those they serve and to not serve them out of an abundance of wealth rather an abundance of faith. With less, we have more to offer to God. The rhythms of her life are simple but profound. Prayer, service, studying, and a lot more prayer. I know I have a lot to learn from her example.

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't know if I could find adquate words for this one. Radical Christianinty to the max. When it comes to modern saints, nobody can touch Mother Teresa in my opinion. I just started reading her writings not long ago and was surprised how in tune she is with reality. She's a saint who simply lived out the gospel literally, radically, whole heartly. Convicting doesn't hardly begin to describe the effects on me, but, hopefully, by God's grace, I can use this as inspiration.

If anyone wants to know what true, hard core Christianity is, just read this. It's also a fine and current much needed positive example of Catholic Christianity.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mother Theresa was devoted to Jesus. Her work for the poor did not detract from her devotion to God. She emphasized the sisters were not supposed to be social workers but followers of Jesus.

[Jeanette · Rating 5 out of 5]

I started reading this book as I was ending my Prayer and Life Workshops (PLW) and I feel very loved and guided by Spirit in my journey. If I learned the fundamentals of cultivating a rich prayer life and intimacy with God, as well as applying my interior learning to my every day life, in PLW, this book takes me further in deepening my understanding of the need for silence and prayer as the font of all acts of love and service.

Although the notes, letters, and snippets of talks in this book were originally addressed to Mother Teresa's sisters in the Missionaries of Charity, they speak to the everyday person seeking more meaning and depth as they live out their lives in the secular world. Highly recommended!

[C. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mother Teresa is a big modern-day hero of mine. Her spirit, contemplative disposition in the chaos of apostolic work, honesty, fortitude, drive, and great love for God and His people are solid examples for me in my daily life. Sometimes I am reminded of how far away I am from perfection when I read her writings, but in the end reading them serves to keep me honest, humble and persistent in my prayer to God for His grace and Spirit.

[Wendy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A beautiful story of immense dedication. Even the most devout and saintly have their struggles and doubts. How hypocritical the catholic church reveres her now and yet did not support her and her vision for a very long time and even tried to stop her.

[Jean · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing demonstration of serving God. Something to be aspired to if you want to be available to Jesus bike read my book to shreds and am on my second copy. I've given so many copies out, I can not count.

[Wanda]

I flip through and pick a sentence at random and think about it for a day or two.

[Rae · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this Book!!!!! Mother Teresa was an amazing woman who lived her life for Jesus!!! Let us see Jesus in everyone!!!!

[Carrie Doan · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's Mother Teresa - what can I say...