Shedding new light on Mother Teresa of Calcutta

(Vatican Radio) On the 15th anniversary of her death, we shine the spotlight on Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta, one of the world’s best known and loved religious figures. Throughout her long life she was revered for her holiness and her compassion towards the poorest of the poor and was known as the Saint of the Gutters. She received numerous awards for her work including the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979.

Vatican Radio's Susy Hodges spoke to Father Brian Kolodiejchiuk, a missionaries of Charity Father, who worked closely with Mother Teresa for 20 years. He's also the editor of two books about her letters and teaching, the first of which revealed how she spent many decades struggling with doubts about her faith and the existence of God. Father Brian is also the postulator for her sainthood cause.

Father Brian is convinced that these surprising revelations about Mother Teresa’s spiritual darkness or torment make her even more "saintly and heroic." He also spoke about how Mother Teresa's exceptional compassion for others extended far beyond the poorest of the poor in developing nations to encompass the many lonely and unwanted people living in the West.

Listen to this report by Susy Hodges that includes various sound clips of Mother Teresa speaking (in English) about faith and her vocation and hear her eloquant and moving description of a visit she made to an old peoples' home in London where she was struck by the terrible loneliness of the inmates. It also includes the extended interview with Father Kolodiejchiuk who shares with us his memories of Mother Teresa whom he says is a "more complex figure" than many people assume.
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