Mother Teresa Museum Test Prep App
Catholic nun, humanitarian — Founder of the Missionaries of Charity, Nobel Peace Prize 1979, Saint (2016)
Righteousness Hall
Mother Teresa — India (1910–1997)
Mother Teresa was a Catholic nun, humanitarian, and founder of the Missionaries of Charity, an organization dedicated to serving the poor, the sick, and the destitute. Through her lifelong commitment to helping the most vulnerable members of society, she became one of the most recognized symbols of compassion, charity, and selfless service in the twentieth century. Working primarily in Kolkata (formerly Calcutta), Mother Teresa devoted her life to caring for people suffering from poverty, illness, and abandonment. Her work focused especially on those who had been neglected or rejected by society. Through the expansion of the Missionaries of Charity, her humanitarian efforts eventually reached many countries around the world.
Historical Context & Missionaries of Charity
Mother Teresa established the order of nuns devoted to serving the poorest of the poor, the sick, and the dying in Kolkata.
She opened a hospice where people dying on the streets could receive care, dignity, and compassion in their final days.
Mother Teresa received the Nobel Peace Prize for her humanitarian work, recognizing her efforts to bring help to suffering humanity.
The Roman Catholic Church declared her a saint, honoring her lifelong dedication to the poor and vulnerable.
Righteous Act: Caring for the Dying and Abandoned
Mother Teresa’s most significant contribution was her effort to care for individuals abandoned due to illness or poverty. She established Nirmal Hriday, a hospice where people who were dying on the streets could receive medical assistance, food, and emotional support — and above all, dignity and compassion in their final days. She believed that even when a person could not be cured, they deserved to be treated with respect and love. Her work brought global attention to the suffering of the poor and inspired countless others to engage in humanitarian service.
Legacy: Global Icon of Compassion
Mother Teresa became one of the most widely recognized humanitarian figures in the world. Her work through the Missionaries of Charity expanded to more than 100 countries, providing assistance to people suffering from poverty, illness, and social exclusion. In 1979, she received the Nobel Peace Prize. After her death in 1997, she was canonized as a saint by the Roman Catholic Church in 2016. Her life continues to inspire people around the world to practice compassion, charity, and service to humanity.