The way to plan the family is natural family planning, not contraception...This (use of contraceptives) turns the attention to self and so it destroys the gift of love in him or her. In loving, the husband and wife must turn the attention to each other as happens in natural family planning, and not to self, as happens in contraception. Once that living love is destroyed by contraception, abortion follows easily . . . And abortion, which often follows from contraception, brings a people to be spiritually poor, and that is the worst poverty and the most difficult to overcome.
Mother TeresaSilence gives us a new outlook on everything. We need silence to be able to touch souls. The essential thing is not what we say but what God says to us and through us.
Mother TeresaLove has a hem to her garment that reaches to the very dust. It sweeps the stains from the streets and lanes, and because it can, it must.
Mother TeresaEach of us is merely a small instrument; all of us, after accomplishing our mission, will disappear.
Mother TeresaIt's not about how much you do, but how much love you put into what you do that counts. Life isn't worth living, unless lived for other people.
Mother TeresaThe first time I received an award, I was very surprised. I did not know whether to accept it or not. But I came to the conclusion that I should accept awards in the name of the poorest poor, as a form of homage to them. I think that basically, when awards are given to me, the existence of the poor in the world is being recognized.
Mother Teresa