Feast Day Fun: Blessed Teresa of Calcutta

Welcome to Feast Day Fun: Blessed Teresa of Calcutta!

Blessed Teresa is known for her virtue of compassion and for being the “icon of the Good Samaritan”, caring for the sick and the poor in India. She models for us the Scriptural Works of Mercy…meeting both the Corporal and Spiritual needs of each person she encountered.

I received a copy of You Did It to Me: A Practical Guide to Mercy in Action from Fr Michael Gaitley and it seems to offer a practical guide for all of us to tackle the Five Scriptural Works of Mercy with the same fervor as Blessed Teresa. He refers to Matthew 25:31-46 and recalls the practical insights of St Pope John Paul II, St Faustina and Pope Francis and offers Blessed Teresa and the Missionaries of Charity as a key example of living a life of mercy (p20-21).

Speaking of BOOKS, Thirsting for God is a book of 365 Daily Meditations, short stories and prayers, straight from Mother Teresa’s heart. They are short and sweet and inspire us to

surrender to Jesus
try to quench His thirst on the cross by serving others
draw closer to Him

Blessed Teresa really knew how to serve others with love for Jesus. I just really like this quote, so I made a Saint Quotebox for it.

Here is our Blessed Teresa wooden painted saint! Check out our Wooden Painted Saint Tutorialto start your own set! We’ve got lots of ways to use them as well… in board games, classic playsets, Lego, Lincoln Logs, Saints Day decorations, chore counting and piano practicing.

We thought we’d include a little refresher of the Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy, in honor of Blessed Teresa who modelled them for us so well! There are SEVEN of each and they can be listed like this: The Corporal Works of Mercy

Feed the hungry
Give drink to the thirsty
Clothe the naked
Shelter the homeless
Visit the sick
Visit the imprisoned
Bury the dead

The Spiritual Works of Mercy

Admonish the sinner
Instruct the ignorant
Counsel the doubtful
Comfort the sorrowful
Bear wrongs patiently
Forgive all injuries
Pray for the living and the dead

Here they are listed in the Catechism (CCC2447) with 6 Works in each! Do you have your own family activities, traditions, crafts or celebrations to share for this special Feast Day? Don’t forget to add it at the Celebrate the Saints Link-Up…or pick up an idea or two for your family to enjoy!