All for Jesus

Details: 19 February 2010

A wonderful collection of the writings of Blessed Mother Teresa has been compiled by Father Brian Kolodiejchuk M.C., entitled “Mother Teresa, Come Be My Light.” It contains her private writings, letters and correspondences, many of which were to her spiritual directors and other members of the clergy. Frequently did she request they be destroyed but thankfully, they have been preserved so we can gain a glimpse into the soul of this great contemporary light that lived among the poorest of the poor.

Her desire to help Jesus in the poor first appeared as a 12-year-old girl. This was one of the earliest and striking signs of her intense love of God, since most 12-year-old boys and girls do not have at the top of their “to do” list helping the poor and needy as a missionary. That said, her decision to enter the religious life as a nun came six years later as she admitted that until the age of 18 she “did not want to be a nun.”

She entered the Loreto order in Ireland and chose the name Teresa after St. Teresa of Lisieux. After boarding a ship bound for India she wrote a beautiful poem catching some of her sentiments. In it she wrote, “I’m leaving my old friends, Forsaking family and home, My heart draws me onward, To Serve my Christ … In return, I only ask of Thee, O most kind Father of us all: Let me save at least one soul – One you already know.” Little did she realize she would eventually baptize tens of thousands of souls and be responsible for saving innumerable sons and daughters of the Most High God.

On May 24, 1937 Gonxha Agnes Bojaxhiu became “Mother Teresa” as she professed her final vows as a member of the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary (otherwise known as the Loreto Sisters). Shortly after this she wrote the following in a letter to Father Jambrekovic: “Everything is for Jesus; so like that everything is beautiful, even though it is difficult.”

Remember, this was written before she started the Missionaries of Charity. This phrase described her entire life and work for the poor including offering up her feelings of desolation. Her life was beautiful because it was lived and spent entirely for Jesus.

Let us consider making this phrase a springboard and point of meditation for our Lenten prayers, works, joys, sufferings, thoughts, words, deeds, and acts of penance, because if we do them all and entirely for Jesus, they will become beautiful even though some of them will be difficult.

In my February Via Satoris letter I asked this question- “How can I adequately express my gratitude to our generous monthly Via Satoris members who are vital to Catholic Social Services since Jesus said, “The poor you always have with you (Jn 12:8)?” I now ask it in an even broader sense; how can I thank all of our benefactors for your spiritual, material, and financial support which allows us to help poor and needy individuals and families across southern Nebraska?

Please be assured of my prayers and penances for you which will be done with joy because like Blessed Mother Teresa, you are doing it all and entirely for Jesus!