"…I know that I join countless others
across the world in giving thanks to God for the many contributions Mother
Teresa has made to the Church and to the human family. Mother Teresa spent
her life with the Lord, especially serving Him in the poor. She must be
especially happy to meet Him not now face to face. Her life’s work is assured
through her sisters, the Missionaries of Charity, to whom I offer my deepest
sympathy – especially to the sisters who serve St. Malachy Parish on Chicago’s
West Side. The simplicity of her lifestyle and the singlemindness of her
dedication will serve as an example for generations to come. Believing
in the power of God’s grace which transformed her life, each of us –relying
on the same grace—can do what she has done."
"We are here to grieve the loss of a precious
jewel, a glorious crown and a golden heart in the Church."
"All the life of this great woman was
the bright incarnation of service to the high humanitarian ideals of goodness,
compassion, selflessness and faith. Mother Teresa will always remain in
the hearts and minds of Russians as a friend of our country, ready to render
help at any moment."
Fr. Andrew Apostoli, CFR, Yonkers, NY re-counted his first meeting with Mother Teresa in New York. Fr. Andrew has given retreats for the Missionaries of Charity contemplative sisters in the South Bronx on several occasions. On our first meeting, Mother Teresa gave me a rosary and commented that "the Blessed Mother is all over the world bringing people to Her Son." She told me a story stating, "whenever I need a special favor, I do an Express Novena. An Express Novena is 9 Memorares in a row. In 1983, one of our Superior sisters had gotten sick in Eastern Berlin, and Mother Teresa had to appoint a replacement that could handle the Communist government. The sister that they appointed as the successor for Eastern Berlin needed a Visa. Mother Teresa gathered her nuns and started praying the Express Novena (9 Memorare’s). On the 8th Memorare, the phone rang, it was a Communist official stating that it would be 6 months until they would receive the Visa. After the 9th prayer, Mother Teresa started the novena again. On the 8th Memorare the second time, the telephone rang this time, it was a Communist official who stated you will have your Visa immediately!" Mother Teresa had a tremendous love for Our Lady. She had great courage and once stated to me that "I never refused God anything". "When she walked into the room to greet
me, I felt that I was indeed meeting a saint."
"In an age when superlatives are used
with abandon to describe the contributions of public figures, it is a testimony
to Mother Teresa’s greatness that no same person would give her the status
as the world’s most giving human being. But perhaps most of all, she will
be remembered as someone who never sought the honor she so sincerely earned."
"The passing of Mother Teresa is a
moment of joy because of her holiness. She was always with the dying and
the poor, so rather than bringing mourning it brings joy. We are happy
to offer her to God: Here is such a lovely soul."
The world marveled "at the commitment
of this extraordinary woman."
"A loss to the entire humanity. She
will be deeply missed in our efforts to build international peace, and
a just, caring and equitable world order."
"Mother Teresa imitated Christ and
her life was a lesson in love. As she personally tended the sick and the
dying in Calcutta's slums, she helped people there and beyond see the material
and spiritual poverty that confronts modern society. She taught all --
from youth groups to governments -- through piety and charm, wisdom and
simplicity. As small and soft-spoken as she was, her reach was large and
her message heard around the world. She saw Jesus in everyone -- from the
child in the womb, to the sick and vulnerable, especially those afflicted
with AIDS, to the aged and dying abandoned in the streets of Calcutta.
She urged people everywhere to reach beyond themselves to heal those hurting
about them. Mother Teresa transcended cultures and politics as she spoke
of God's call to love and assist the poor. She had a profound realization
that anyone she was with -- immigrant, alien, president or prime minister,
was first of all a Child of God and intrinsically worthy of respect. Her
life will stand as a reminder to all of us that we are called to care for
one another and especially that we are called to respect and aid the poorest
among us. God blesses the world with wonderful treasures -- certainly Mother
Teresa has been one of the finest of our century."
"Mother Teresa's life proved that the only real revolution in human affairs flows from service to others and self-sacrifice out of love for Jesus Christ. She was a champion of the unwanted, from the outcast of Calcutta to the unwanted unborn of America. She was the genius of the little way of doing great things. Above all, she was in every sense a woman of the Gospel: strong in forgiving, tender to the poor, in love with Jesus Christ, and a servant of His Church. May God welcome her into eternal light and joy, and may the work of her sisters here in Colorado and around the world thrive on the legacy of mercy and Christian love she leaves with us." Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, Archdiocese of Denver "An example of selfless devotion to
charity. I hope she can be a good example to all charity workers and philanthropists."
"A rare and unique individual who lived
long for higher purposes. Her life-long devotion to the care of the poor,
the sick and the disadvantaged was one of the highest examples of service
to humanity."
The Chairman of the Nobel Peace Prize panel, Francis Sejersted, said Mother Teresa stood out "as an example of true self-sacrifice in humanitarian work." She was awarded the prize in 1979. In a memorial Mass celebrating the life of Mother Teresa at St. Patrick Cathedral in New York on Monday, Cardinal John O’Connor spoke of the life of this devote nun who gave her life "fighting for the weakest of the weak, the poorest of the poor." On ministering to the poor Mother Teresa wrote, "Without suffering, our work would just be social work." O’Connor added, "Only by being one with them can we redeem them." Rudolph Giuliani, Mayor of NYC, shared with Mass attendees his thanks "for having had Mother Teresa among us." On a lighter note, Mayor Giuliani commented that he and former Mayor Ed Koch never said no when Mother Teresa asked the city [New York] for help. "We knew she knew better than us what’s good for our people," Giuliani said. "If she wanted parking spaces, we gave her parking spaces." Albania on Saturday declared three
days of mourning next week to honor Mother Teresa, who was of Albanian
descent. The red flag bearing the black double-headed eagle would fly at
half-staff from Saturday through to the end of the national mourning period.
Condolence books would be opened in all Albanian embassies.
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"Mother Teresa marked the history
of our century with courage. She served all human beings by promoting their
dignity and respect, and made those who had been defeated by life feel
the tenderness of God.''
Pope John Paul II "This is very difficult for me to talk
about even by way of a written statement. The day I became a bishop I became
very close to Mother Teresa. She visited with me many times in New
York, in Rome and elsewhere. I celebrated Mass more frequently for her
than I can remember. The world has lost a saint on earth, but gained an
extraordinary powerful intercessor in heaven. I never knew anyone quite
like Mother Teresa. I will find myself feeling a deep sense of personal
loss for a long time. I am grateful for Mother Teresa’s successor, Sister
Nirmala, with whom I have established a close relationship. I know
that she and all of the Missionary Sisters of Charity will continue to
carry out the indescribable work that this one saintly woman has initiated.
I do not have to pray ‘may she rest in peace’; I am convinced that she
is already in glory."
"It is a time of both sadness and joy for all our sisters. It is a time of sadness because we have lost a loved one who supported us in our desire to serve the Lord Jesus…We are joyful in the knowledge that Mother is with Our Heavenly Father." Sister Noreen, Superior at the Missionaries of Charity, Newark, NJ. "The Catholic Church in our day, and especially in our corner of it here in Newark, has been enriched by the life of Mother Teresa. He stated that Mother Teresa was "a devoted religious daughter of the Church and an extraordinary missionary with tremendous zeal and energy. The witness of her life has been a model of simplicity, piety and charity." Archbishop Theodore McCarrick, Archdiocese of Newark "The sisters indicated that they were comforted by the fact that Mother Teresa had died between the ‘first Friday’ feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the ‘first Saturday’ feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary." Michael Hurley, spokesman for the Archdiocese of Newark, NJ ``A heartfelt concern for the poor, the downtrodden and the rejected'' during a special Mass yesterday. ``She saw Jesus Christ in every single person,'' the cardinal said. ``We must carry on her work.'' Anthony Cardinal Bevilacqua, Archdiocese of Philadelphia "This evening, there is less love,
less compassion, less light in the world. She leaves us a strong message,
which has no borders and which goes beyond faith: helping, listening, solidarity."
"She helped the poorest of the poor,
gave them courage to live and the feeling of their worth, Mother Teresa
will remain unforgotten and be an example after her death."
"Just over two years ago, the Archdiocese
of Atlanta, and all the citizens (of Atlanta) had the rare opportunity
to enjoy a visit from Mother Teresa. Today, on the occasion of her passing
into eternal life, we are moved to remember the impact of those few hours
she spent with us then, and how her words still resound in our hearts today.
Mother’s good works will always be remembered -- everyone must know and
admit that -- but more deeply still, we will remember the love that shone
from within her heart -- love that was fueled by absolute dedication to
Jesus Christ, His Church, and His command that we should love one another.
Not long ago, she expressed once more the simple fundamental axiom of Christian
life: ‘Let us keep the joy of loving in our hearts and share this joy with
all we meet.’ Mother Teresa certainly lived up to these words, and by her
actions, taught their meaning to the whole world. She will long remain
an inspiration to those who would serve the poor, and we bless God the
Father for having shared the gift of Mother’s life with us all."
"She is the United Nations. She is
peace in the world."
"This beautiful Mother Teresa has opened
for mankind the portals of heaven and shown us the Heart of God. Jesus
is saying to her, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father. I was hungry and you
gave me to eat. I was thirsty and you gave me to drink. I was alone, forsaken,
sick, abandon, poor, heartbroken, and desolate and you took me in. What
you did to the least of these My Brethren, you did to me.’ Mother Teresa
had a Mother’s heart, great and strong, and courageous enough to embrace
the whole world. She will not soon be forgotten. Her reward will be great
in Heaven. We pray for her and for those who follow her, that her work
may go on. She has done something beautiful for God."
"The news of Mother Teresa’s death is sad news: we shall miss her, with her warmth of spirit, her ability to talk about God and the prayer life which brings God so close to us. We shall miss her unique witness of care for the neediest of the needy for the love of God. At the same time we give thanks to God for the wonderful memories Mother Teresa leaves us: her commitment to daily prayer, her building up of a worldwide network of religious sisters, brothers and priests who offer direct care to the suffering poor and homeless. In a special way we in Baltimore we are grateful to God for the ministry to those dying of AIDS carried out by the Missionaries of Charity in the Gift of Hope residence located here in St. Wenceslaus Parish. Several years ago in Rome I had the privilege of working closely with her for the month-long meeting of the World Synod on the Consecrated Life, which brought together Catholic Church leaders, religious women and men, and delegates from other Christian churches to discuss at length the meaning of lives consecrated to God through vows. Mother Teresa was assigned to the same English language discussion group as I, and all of us were impressed and touched by the depths of her convictions and the high spiritual quality of the insights which she shared with us. Mother Teresa leaves to all the world a legacy of faith and love and of concern for the poorest of the poor in the name of Jesus." Cardinal Keeler, Archdiocese of Baltimore "The humanity of the world has lost
its mother."
Prime Minister Inder Kumar Gujral called her "an apostle of peace and love." "Mother Teresa never ceased to remind
us that the greatest poverty of all is to live and to die unloved and unwanted.
She demonstrated that love 'one person at a time'."
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