While a college seminarian, I spent a semester studying in
Rome. Once a week, a few other students and I would walk down past the Coliseum.
And right next to the Church of St. Gregory, the same patron saint as this
church, there was and still is today a home for destitute and homeless men run
by the Missionary Sisters of Charity the Religious Order founded by St. Mother
Teresa
And at this house for the destitute, men would come off the
streets, and the dear sisters would feed them, and offer them a bed for the
night, a shower, medical care if need be.
The sisters were breathtakingly patient, gentle, and kind as
they treated these men as they would treat Jesus himself. Mother Teresa took the words of today’s
Gospel very seriously. “That which you did for the least, you did for me”.
I never met Mother Teresa , she died when I was still in high
school, but I’ve met a number of her sisters, who had met her, who were
inspired by her to give up their lives in service. And so many of those sisters
possessed this charism of charity—that is certainly Mother’s lasting legacy to
the Church.
It’s said that when anyone met Mother Teresa, they were
often shocked at the fact that no matter how busy she was and no matter how
many other people were around, when she talked to you, you felt like you were
the only person in the world. She gave you her total attention, her total love,
her total self every moment. She wasn’t looking past you to see if there was
someone more important in the room. She wasn’t checking her social media. She didn’t appear to be worrying about the other
duties she had to attend to. She wasn’t trying to get back home so she could
sit on her couch to veg-out or binge her favorite television show or get home
to get dinner going. In her presence you experienced love.
One reason she was able to do this was because she gave
Jesus her full-loving attention in her daily prayer. She would make holy hours of Eucharistic adoration daily. And because she gave Jesus her full, loving, attention in
prayer, she was able to give you her full attention. And she didn’t just give
Jesus her prayer, she gave him her service in everyone she met.
“That which you did for the least of my brethren, you did
for me”. And you’d think that after day after day, week after week, year after
year Mother and her sisters would be tired of helping people. But no. They are
among the most fulfilled joyful people I have ever met. True joy. Not just bubbly,
not just artificially cheerful, not putting on an act. When you allow love,
charity to transform you, you receive the gift of joy.
May St. Teresa's holy example of loving service, charity
for the poorest of the poor, care for the least, help us, inspire us, teach us,
and challenge us, that, like her, we may be transformed through prayer and
works of charity for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.
Let us bring our prayers to the Lord with humility and
trust.
For the Church throughout the world, that she may be a clear
sign of God’s love for the poor and forgotten, and that her members may serve
others with the selfless charity.
For all religious sisters, especially the Missionaries of
Charity, that their lives of prayer, simplicity, and loving service may be
strengthened and bear much fruit for the Kingdom of God. And for an increase in
vocations to the consecrated religious life.
For the poor, the homeless, the sick, and the dying, those
who feel unloved, forgotten, or abandoned, that through the care of Christian
hearts and hands, they may know their dignity and the love of Christ.
For those who have died, the deceased members of our families,
friends and parish, and for the forgotten and the poor who died alone, and for
all the souls in purgatory, that they may come to see God face to face
God of love and mercy, You inspired St. Teresa of Calcutta
to be a light to the world through humble service. Hear our prayers and grant
that, following her example, we may love You with undivided hearts and serve
You in our neighbor.
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