30
DAYS with
SAINT TERESA OF CALCUTTA
Words of Courage and Love
by Gwen Costello
PHILIPPINES
30 DAYS WITH SAINT TERESA OF CALCUTTA Words of Courage and Love Copyright © 2016 by Gwen Costello Published by Twenty-Third Publications A Division of Bayard 1 Montauk Avenue, Suite 200 New London, CT 06320 USA All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner without written permission of the publisher. Published and distributed by Paulines Publishing House Daughters of St. Paul 2650 F.B. Harrison Street 1300 Pasay City, Philippines E-mail: edpph@paulines.ph Website: www.paulines.ph Cover design: Ann Marie Nemenzo, FSP 2nd printing 2016 ISBN 978-971-590-821-4
at the service of the Gospel and culture
introduction
D
uring her life, Mother Teresa of Calcutta was universally recognized as a “living saint.” Now, Pope Francis has made it official; she is Saint Teresa of Calcutta. Not because she founded a religious community (Missionaries of Charity), and not because she received numerous humanitarian awards, including Pope John XXIII’s Peace Prize, the Nobel Peace Prize, and the Medal of Freedom, and not because she was the confidant of popes and bishops, and not even because she did extraordinary things for the poor, the sick, and the dying on the streets of Calcutta and the world. Why then? Because she, like Thérèse of Lisieux before her, saw the value of doing little things with great love. She helped one person at a time, act by act, day by day. For much of her life, she did not (by her own admission) have profound spiritual experiences; quite the contrary. Yet, her way was a simple way and her words offer a simple spirituality. Here in this little book, I invite you to ponder the words of this humble saint and let them take hold of you.
1 w h er e s trength lies “Be faithful in small things because it is in them that your strength lies.”
Scripture Scripture Blessed the pure purein inheart, heart,for forthey theyshall shallsee see Blessed are the God. Matthew 5:8 God. Matthew 5:8 Prayer Prayer Great and and loving Great loving God, God,you youask asksosolittle littleofofus;us;only only that we be faithful in the small tasks that we be faithful in the small tasksofofour ourdaily daily lives. Through Through our lives. our daily dailyfidelity fidelityininour ourhomes, homes, neighborhoods, and workplaces, you neighborhoods, and workplaces, youcall callusustoto greatness. Give us, O God, purity of heart and greatness. Give us, O God, purity of heart and vision so that we might see you in the small and vision so that we might see you in the small and ordinary—and thus be strengthened.
ordinary—and thus be strengthened. Action
Action Today I will try to focus on the little things that Today I will God calls metry to to do,focus and Ion willthe trylittle to dothings them that well.
God calls me to do, and I will try to do them well.
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18 t h e w orst povert y “Loneliness and the feeling of being unwanted is the most terrible poverty.”
Scripture Scripture
II give new commandment, commandment,that thatyou youlove love give you you aa new one one another. Just as I have you,also youshould also another. Just as I have lovedloved you, you should one another. John 13:34 love onelove another. John 13:34 Prayer Prayer don’t often think II don’t thinkabout aboutthe theloneliness lonelinessofofothothers, ers, dear God; I don’t really recognize those who dear God; I don’t really recognize those who feel unwanted. Help me to be more conscious of feel unwanted. Help me to be more conscious the signs of loneliness or of actions that point to of the signs of loneliness or of actions that point feelings of alienation. Open my heart moremore widely to feelings of alienation. Open my heart to the needs and longings of others, especially widely to the needs and longings of others, my family members.
especially my family members. Action
Action I will openly share my love for family members Iand willfriends openlytoday, shareand my Ilove family members will for openly share words of and friends today, and I will openly share praise with my coworkers and neighbors. words
of praise with my coworkers and neighbors.
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29 h a p p y to do it “The miracle is not that we do this work, but that we are happy to do it.”
Scripture Scripture Blessed the poor poorin inspirit, spirit,for fortheirs theirsisisthe thekingBlessed are the dom of heaven. Matthew 5:3 kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:3 Prayer Prayer Christ Jesus, Jesus, teach Christ teach me mehow howtotobe behappy happyininmy work as parent, coworker, and neighbor to everymy work as parent, coworker, and neighbor one I meet. Teach me how to be your disciple, to everyone I meet. Teach me how to be yourto be poor in so that I might goodseek of disciple, tospirit, be poor in spirit, so seek that Ithe might others before my own. May I see each new day as the good of others before my own. May I see each another opportunity to be light for others and a new day as another opportunity to be light for bearer of joy.
others and a bearer of joy. Action
Action Today I will recall that Christ is inviting me to be Today that Christ is inviting to be happy Iinwill my recall work—and I will try my best me to be happy happy.in my work—and I will try my best to be
happy.
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30 eno ugh said “There should be less talk; a preaching point is not a meeting point. Take a broom and clean someone’s house. That says enough.”
Scripture Scripture Here the servant servantofofthe theLord; Lord;letletit itbebewith with Here am I, the me according to your word. Luke 1:38 me according to your word. Luke 1:38 Pray Pray Loving Loving God, God, may may my myactions actionsthis thisday dayspeak speaklouder than my words. May I take up my broom louder than my words. May I take up myhappily—ashappily—as Saint TeresaSaint did, as Marydid, yourasmother broom Teresa Mary did. Give me the courage and the humility to the do your mother did. Give me the courage and the ordinary tasks of life with love and patience. humility to do the ordinary tasks of life with love May I serve others, especially my family members and patience. May I serve others, especially my and coworkers, with gentleness and compassion. family members and coworkers, with gentleness May I find great joy in simply “cleaning someone’s and compassion. May I find great joy in simply house.”
“cleaning someone’s house.” Act
Act I will try to “speak” through acts of love and serIvice willtoday—as try to “speak” acts lovedid. and Saint through Teresa did, asof Mary
service today—as Saint Teresa did, as Mary did. 32 34