Missionaries of Charity: Difference between revisions

| headquarters = 54/a Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose Road, Kolkata 700016, India

| leader_title = Superior general

| name = Missionaries of Charity

| native_name = ''Congregatio Missionariarum a Caritate''

In [[Phoenix, Arizona]], the sisters' accommodation for 40 homeless men is funded by a clothier, featured in [[British Vogue|Vogue]], who grew up within a few blocks of Mother Teresa's original home for the dying destitute in [[Kalighat]], Calcutta.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Pax Philomena — local clothing brand with ties to Mother Teresa — spreads joy|url=https://azbigmedia.com/lifestyle/pax-philomena-local-clothing-brand-with-ties-to-mother-teresa-spreads-joy/|last=Blufish|date=2020-05-14|website=AZ Big Media|language=en-US|access-date=2020-05-15}}</ref>

Mother Teresa's sisters were particularly hard hit by the 2020 outbreak of COVID-19, as in places they continued to distribute food and minister to the poor who had been affected.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Sister of Mother Teresa dies from coronavirus giving food to the infected|url=http://www.asianews.it/news-en/Sister-of-Mother-Teresa-dies-from-coronavirus-giving-food-to-the-infected-49745.html|last=AsiaNews.it|website=www.asianews.it|access-date=2020-05-15}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Officials say ministries of priests and religious during COVID-19 crisis highlight importance of World Day of Prayer for Vocations|url=https://cathstan.org/news/local/officials-say-ministries-of-priests-and-religious-during-covid-19-crisis-highlight-importance-of-world-day-of-prayer-for-vocations|website=Catholic Standard|language=en|access-date=2020-05-15}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Nun from Mother Teresa’s order dies of coronavirus in UK|url=https://aleteia.org/2020/04/06/nun-from-mother-teresas-order-dies-of-coronavirus-in-swansea-england/|last=Caldwell|first=Zelda|date=2020-04-06|website=Aleteia — Catholic Spirituality, Lifestyle, World News, and Culture|language=en|access-date=2020-05-15}}</ref>

==Becoming a Missionary of Charity==

It takes nine years to become a full-fledged Missionary of Charity. An initial short-term "come-and-see" period is available. Those considered possible candidates by the Congregation may enter Aspirancy, focused on learning English (which is the community language) for those who are not from [[English language|English-speaking]] countries and religious studies. It is followed by [[Postulancy]] (introduction into the study of [[Bible|Scripture]], the Constitutions of the Society, [[History of Christianity|Church history]], and [[theology]]). If found suitable, they enter the Novitiate, the beginning of the religious life. [[Novice]]s wear white cotton habits with a girdle, and white saris without the three blue stripes. In the first year (called canonical), they undertake more religious study and learn about life as a Missionary of Charity, the second year is more focused on practical training for the mission life. After two years, they take temporary vows for one year, which are renewed annually, for five years in total.  They also receive a metal crucifix and a [[sari]] whose three blue stripes stand for their vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience.<ref name=":0" /> In the sixth year, they travel to [[Rome]], Kolkata or Washington D.C. for "Tertianship", further religious study, at the end of which they make their final profession.

==Criticism==

{{main|Criticism of Mother Teresa}}

A British former volunteer at the Home, Robin Fox (now editor of the British medical journal ''[[The Lancet]]'') objected that syringes were rinsed in cold water and reused; that inmates were given cold baths; and that aspirin was administered to people with terminal cancer.<ref name=Fox>{{cite journal |author=Fox, Robin |title=Mother Teresa's care for the dying |journal=The Lancet |volume=344 |issue=8925 |pages=807–808 |year=1994 |doi=10.1016/S0140-6736(94)92353-1}}</ref> Fox also noted, however, that the residents were "eating heartily and doing well", and that the sisters and volunteers focused on cleanliness, tending wounds and sores, and providing loving kindness.<ref>Loudon, Mary (6 January 1996). "The Missionary Position: Mother Teresa in Theory and Practice, Book Review", ''[[BMJ]]'' vol. 312, no. 7022, 6 January 1996, pp.64–5. Retrieved December 30, 2011. She claimed in her review that Fox had seen those practices; but he made no reference to them in his article</ref> The controversy remains due to the charity's not sterilizing needles and failing to make proper diagnoses, as put by Dr. Jack Preger, "If one wants to give love, understanding and care, one uses sterile needles."<ref name="hin2019">{{cite web |last1=Krishnan |first1=Madhuvanti S. |title=Healing touch |url=https://www.thehindu.com/children/healing-touch/article17515324.ece |website=The Hindu |access-date=9 June 2019}}</ref>

== References ==

*[http://www.mcbrothers.org Missionaries of Charity Brothers (active branch)]

*[http://nobelprize.org/peace/laureates/1979/teresa-bio.html Mother Teresa biography] at the [[Nobel Prize]] foundation site has some information on the history and activities of the Missionaries of Charity.

*[http://www.ewtn.com/library/PRIESTS/NIRMALA.HTM Eternal Word Television Network]—History of the order and bio of Sister Nirmala

*[https://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/letters/2000/documents/hf_jp-ii_let_20001017_missionaries-charity_en.html Letter by Pope John Paul II on the 50th anniversary of the order in 2000]

* [http://www.wimklerkx.nl/EN/PROJECTS/TV.html Teresa's volunteers]—Photo document on volunteers working at Nirmal Hriday in Calcutta, by photographer Wim Klerkx, 1998

* [https://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/26/world/asia/26iht-26calcutta.8073173.html "Volunteering for Mother Teresa's Missionaries of Charity", ''New York Times''] -one volunteer's experience]

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