Sr. Molly Fernandes sfn –
“The spirit of the Lord is upon me, because God has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; to proclaim liberty to the captives; to set the oppressed free; to heal the broken hearted and to proclaim the year of the Lord” Lk. 4:18
The manifesto of Jesus quoted above in Lk 4: 18 invites his followers to emulate and act after the model of Christ. It is being his witnesses as we do we have radical personalities whom we have seen, touched and reflected on… to name a few St. Alphonsa, St. Joseph Vaz, and most revered and favourite one Mother Teresa.
A delightful experience of having sat in that place and pray; to participate in the Eucharist and then dine at the table for breakfast… nostalgic! Which place do you think I’m talking about? Oh, yes, it’s the Loreto Convent at Kolkata. It wasn’t a dream that I dreamt! But bonus! Though staying at an unknown place, yet the Spirit of the Lord led me. ‘I was moved and touched, the Loreto’! As many times I use to say to one of our sisters – “hey, this is not Loreto’s, but ‘holy family…” Certainly, fortunate was I to have a taste of it!! whilst on a pilgrimage (Mother Teresa’) at Kolkata. Memoirs!
The visits to the Mother house of Missionaries of Charity, Sishu Bhavan and Nirmal Hriday, left us speechless. The holiness of the place surrounds you! The sisters, they are so approachable; the faithful are treated with love and attention. Hospitality is the norm! The inmate’s happiness was seen on their faces, a simple smile. The little kids were nurtured with tender love and affection.
We observed how the sisters were on their toes…attending to visitors, calls, inmates and their duties. When I entered the chapel to pray, I saw a sister sitting and praying. Without any disturbance we slowly knelt to pray. As we turned back to move out we were shocked! It wasn’t an sister praying but that was a life-size statue of Mother Teresa at prayer!!! Unique and wonderful! The sisters experience her presence while at prayer. The simple room of Mother even standing outside of it gives you goose bumps. Yes, gives you bliss when stood outside to pray. The quiet, ‘Be still and know…’
It is said what you eat you become. As a youth Agnes (mother Teresa) read many books on the life of saints. She was drawn to life of holiness and led her way at 18 to join the Loreto, placing a piece of paper with all humility in the hand of the Sister which said: in your mercy accept my wish to join your order. Because one day I want to be a great missionary and work for the sake of Jesus crucified. She passed all the tests; ordeals; overcame all hurdles because she was thirsty. Thirsty to win souls; thirsty to quench the varied thirsts of the suffering humanity especially what she saw while at Loreto, as a teacher and principal of a high school. While she was there she was horrified by the sight of so many sick and dying people on the streets. She knew that it was wrong and she was determined to do something about it.
Show me the way; teach me your paths must have been her cry. And according to the plan of God in 1946 Mother travelled to Darjeeling for a retreat. It was on that journey that she realized what her true calling was: “I heard the call to give up all and follow Christ into the slums to serve him among the poorest of the poor.”
When she left Loreto, she had no income and no way to obtain food and supplies other than begging. She was often tempted to return to convent life, but relied on her determination and faith to get through it. One of her first projects was to teach the children of the poor, drawing on her experience with teaching the children of the rich. She didn’t have any equipment or books, but she taught them to read and write by writing in the dirt with sticks. While promoting literacy, she taught the children basic hygiene. She visited their families, inquiring about their needs.
One aspect of her life is a motivating source to endure with patience is her experience of spiritual dryness. St Paul instructs: be patient in tribulation.. (Rom12:12). No one ever dreamt that she could endure it for more than four decades! Is this not faithfulness and in her own words: “God has not called me to be SUCCESSFUL…He called me to be FAITHFUL”. This darkness consoled her to understand, that she was partaking in the Passion of Christ. This endured perseverance was observed on her face and anyone who encountered her was never the same.
A Mentor was she, a Teacher, a Mother and a Guide. She became the spring – whose waters never went dry to quench the thirst of the oppressed, the downtrodden, the neglected, the thrown away; those thirsty for love, without caste or creed; who never feared to challenge whoever they turned out to be. For the Spirit of the Lord was upon her because God had anointed her to quench the thirst of the thirsty humanity and making the words of Jesus on the cross her own: “I Thirst”, she triumphed! Challenging us to heal the broken hearted! Are we ready to hear the cry, I Thirst?