145. Mother Teresa

Today marks what would have been Mother Teresa's 100th birthday.  Born Agnes Gonxhe Bojaxhiu, Mother Teresa was known as a humanitarian and advocate for the poor and helpless.  She was inspired at a very young age by stories of missionaires and their service to the less fortunate. 

On 10 September 1946, Teresa experienced what she later described as "the call within the call" while traveling to the Loreto convent in Darjeeling from Calcutta for her annual retreat. "I was to leave the convent and help the poor while living among them. It was an order. To fail would have been to break the faith." (from Clucas, Joan Graff. (1988). Mother Teresa. New York. Chelsea House Publications, pp. 35. ISBN 1-55546-855-1).

I could go on and on listing facts and stories about Mother Teresa which led up to her beatification after her death... but I think that anyone/everyone that reads about her life and dedication to the less fortunate will find their own internal inspiration. 

One of my favorite quotes by Mother Teresa reads: "Let no one ever come away from you, without coming away better and happier."