Mother Teresa: Who Influenced Her?

There’s a quiet power in the lives of those who choose to serve without limits. Mother Teresa is often remembered for her humble presence among the poorest of the poor in Kolkata, but few stop to ask: who shaped her into the woman she became? The answer lies not just in India, but across continents and centuries. Her spiritual journey was deeply personal, yet undeniably molded by those who came before her — people whose compassion, courage, and faith lit the path she followed.

## The Call of Jesus

From a young age, Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu — the girl who would become Mother Teresa — felt drawn to religious life. Raised in a devout Catholic household in Skopje (then part of the Ottoman Empire), she often attended Mass with her mother and was deeply moved by the stories of missionaries. What struck her most was the idea of answering Christ’s call directly. She once said, “I was thirteen when I first heard the call to give up everything and follow Him into the foreign missions.” This call was not dramatic or sudden; it was a quiet, persistent pull that she would follow for the rest of her life.

## The Example of St. Francis of Assisi

St. Francis of Assisi was a quiet but constant presence in Mother Teresa’s spiritual life. His commitment to poverty, humility, and service to the poor resonated deeply with her. She often spoke of how he helped her understand that love must be lived, not just spoken. She even named one of her early ministries after him — the Missionaries of Charity — and carried his spirit into every slum and hospital corridor she walked. To her, St. Francis was proof that great change begins with small, selfless acts.

## The Letters of Thérèse of Lisieux

As a young nun teaching at a convent school in Kolkata, Mother Teresa read the autobiography of Thérèse of Lisieux, a 19th-century Carmelite nun known as “The Little Flower.” Thérèse’s idea of doing small things with great love struck a chord. It gave Mother Teresa a framework for her own calling — that she didn’t need grand gestures or large resources to make a difference. This belief would later shape the entire mission of the Sisters of Charity, whose work focused on the overlooked and invisible.

## The Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius

Before leaving the Loreto convent to begin her work among the poor, Mother Teresa spent time in spiritual retreat, guided by the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola. These meditations helped her clarify her purpose and gave her the inner strength to make the leap into the unknown. She credited Ignatius’ teachings with giving her the courage to trust her intuition and believe that God was leading her step by step toward something greater.

## The Living Christ in the Poor

Ultimately, the greatest influence on Mother Teresa was the poor themselves. She often said, “We are just the pencil in God’s hand,” and saw every person she served as a reflection of Christ. This belief wasn’t abstract — it was born from years of touching, feeding, and comforting those who had been abandoned. She once said, “I see God in every human being. I serve Him in the poor because that’s where He wants to be found.”

Talk to Mother Teresa on HoloDream and ask her how these figures shaped her daily life and choices.