Mother Teresa's 107th birth anniversary: West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee pays special tribute to the saint

It was the 107th birth anniversary of Saint Teresa of Calcutta, better known as Mother Teresa and the auspicious day has been celebrated with much grandeur and zeal on Saturday across the city.

Mother Teresa, born on 26 August 1910 was an Albanian-Indian Roman Catholic nun and missionary. She was born in Skopje and after spending 18 years in Macedonia she moved to Ireland and then to India, where she lived for most of her life.

Every year the global headquarters of the Missionaries of Charity (MoC), established by Mother Teresa in the year 1950 attracts a huge crowd and candles are lit at her grave at Mother House.

This year too Mother's grave was decorated with flowers as the sisters led by the MoC Superior General Sister Prema and other eminent persons sang hymns, read from the Bible and recalled her celebrated life.

Sunita Kumar, who was close to Mother Teresa, also attended the programme and placed wreath on her grave.

"We always feel her presence. She is with us all the time, in all the works for the people," Sunita Was quoted while interacting with PTI.

Also Read: Pakistan's ‘Mother Teresa' laid to rest with full state honours

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has also taken to micro-blogging site Twitter to pay a special tribute to the holy saint.

"Peace begins with a smile. Homage to @StTeresaOfCal, Mother to many of us, on her birth anniversary," Mamata wrote.

“Peace begins with a smile.” Homage to @StTeresaOfCal, Mother to many of us, on her birth anniversary.

— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) August 25, 2017

A large number of people, including school children and residents of the various homes run by the MoC, congregated at the Mother House, which wore a festive look.

A special prayer card for the faithful read, "We thank you (Lord Jesus) for the gift of Blessed Teresa of Calcutta, who was elevated to Sainthood in 2016."
Similar programmes were organised at other homes run by the Missionaries of Charity.

She was the recipient of numerous honours including the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979 and the Bharat Ratna in 1980. In 2003, she was beatified as "Blessed Teresa of Calcutta".

Also Read: Pakistan's Mother Teresa Ruth Pfau passes away

Teresa breathed her last on September 5, 1997, less than a month after her 86th birthday.

(With PTI inputs)