The Influence of Religion on Mother Teresa

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A person’s life can be influenced through various aspects of religion, whether it be certain beliefs and traditions or certain people throughout that person’s life. Mother Teresa, born as Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu on August 26, 1910 in Albania, had many influences through Christianity within her life and lived as a person of religion. At an early age, Agnes received a calling from God to help people, which then led to her leaving her home at the age of 18 and joining the Sisters of Loreto. Mother Teresa found meaning through her vocation and was influenced by many beliefs and teachings of the Church such as, the option for the poor and vulnerable, life and dignity of the human person and the two commandments spoken by Jesus.

A common principle that all Christians share within the Church is one of the seven Principles of Catholic Social Teaching, the option for the poor and vulnerable. This teaching states that followers of the Church have a right and responsibility to put the needs of the poor and vulnerable before their own and to create conditions for the marginalised voices to be heard. It calls upon the whole community assist those who are most vulnerable. The preferential option for the poor and vulnerable originates from many of Jesus’ teachings within the Bible, stating “whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” (Matthew 25:40) as well as “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:3). These statements state that Jesus’ mission when he appeared among man was to preach the good news of the Lord to the poor and needy and that all Christians must treat those who are poor like they would treat Jesus himself and therefore must not deny the...

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