If sometimes our poor people have had to die of starvation, it is not that God didn't care for them, but because you and I didn't give, were not an instrument of love in the hands of God, to give them that bread, to give them that clothing; because we did not recognize him, when once more Christ came in distressing disguise, in the hungry man, in the lonely man, in the homeless child, and seeking for shelter.
Mother TeresaYou must give what will cost you something. This, then, is not just giving what you can live without but what you can't live without or don't want to live without, something you really like. Then your gift becomes a sacrifice, which will have value before God. Any sacrifice is useful if it is done out of love. This giving until it hurts - this sacrifice - is what I call love in action.
Mother TeresaLife isn't about the cherished moments it is also about the hard ones. Just knowing each day that you will arise with the bright shining sun in your eyes. And end with the cool breeze upon your face as you slowly reflect the day that passed by.
Mother TeresaI am not sure exactly what heaven will be like, but I know that when we die and it comes time for God to judge us, he will not ask, 'How many good things have you done in your life?' rather he will ask, 'How much love did you put into what you did?'
Mother TeresaIn the final analysis it is between you and God, it was never between you and them anyway.
Mother TeresaFor all those who make such stories which are not true, I only say God forgive all these people. I feel sorry for them because they are doing so much harm to themselves.
Mother TeresaIf I'd never have picked up the first person, I'd never have picked up the 42,000 in Calcutta.
Mother TeresaIn loving one another through our works we bring an increase of grace and a growth in divine love.
Mother TeresaGod does not demand that I be successful. God demands that I be faithful. When facing God, results are not important. Faithfulness is what is important.
Mother TeresaWe need to give Christ a chance to make use of us, to be His word and His work, to share His food and His clothing in the world today. If we do not radiate the light of Christ around us, the sense of the darkness that prevails in the world will increase.
Mother TeresaThe way to plan the family is natural family planning not contraception. In destroying the power of giving life, through contraception, a husband or wife is doing something to self, and so it destroys the gift of life in him or her
Mother TeresaLittle things are indeed little, but to be faithful in little things is a great thing.
Mother TeresaSeeking the face of God in everything, everyone, all the time, and his hand in every happening; This is what it means to be contemplative in the heart of the world. Seeing and adoring the presence of Jesus, especially in the lowly appearance of bread, and in the distressing disguise of the poor.
Mother TeresaWe have very little, so we have nothing to be preoccupied with. The more you have, the more you are occupied, the less you give. But the less you have, the more free you are.
Mother TeresaThe fullness of our heart is expressed in our eyes, in our touch, in what we write, in what we say, in the way we walk, the way we receive, the way we serve.
Mother TeresaA joyful heart is the normal result of a heart burning with love. She gives most who gives with joy.
Mother TeresaJesus wants me to tell you again...how much is the love He has for each one of you-beyond all what you can imagine...Not only He loves you, even more - He longs for you. He misses you when you don't come close. He thirsts for you. He loves you always, even when you don't feel worthy.
Mother TeresaGo out into the world today and love the people you meet. Let your presence light new light in the hearts of people.
Mother TeresaIn the West we have a tendency to be profit-oriented, where everything is measured according to the results and we get caught up in being more and more active to generate results. In the East-especially in India-I find that people are more content to just be, to just sit around under a banyan tree for half a day chatting to each other. We Westerners would probably call that wasting time. But there is value to it. Being with someone, listening without a clock and without anticipation of results, teaches us about love. The success of love is in the loving-it is not in the result of loving.
Mother TeresaThe poverty in the West is a different kind of poverty—it is not only a poverty of loneliness but also of spirituality. There’s a hunger for love, as there is a hunger for God.
Mother TeresaWe need to find God, and he cannot be found in noises and restlessness. God is the friend of silence. See how nature-trees, flowers, grass-grow in silence. Is not our mission to give God to those we walk with? Not a dead God, but a living, loving God. The more we receive in silent prayer, the more we can give in active life. 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. Words that don't give the light of Christ increase the darkness.
Mother TeresaIt is easy to be proud & harsh & selfish - so easy. But we have been created for better things.
Mother TeresaGive! Give the love you have received to those around you. You must love with your time, your hands, and your hearts. You need to share all that you have.
Mother Teresa[My mother tongue is] Albanian. But, I am equally fluent in Bengali (language of Calcutta) and English.
Mother TeresaThough we are involved in social work, our goal is to be contemplatives at the heart of the world. We are with Jesus twenty-four hours a day. We do everything for Jesus. We do it all unto Jesus.
Mother TeresaIf you try, you will find it impossible to do one great thing. You can only do many small things with great love.
Mother TeresaOne thing will always secure heaven for us-the acts of charity and kindness with which we have filled our lives. We can do no great things, only small things with great love.
Mother TeresaThere are many people who can do big things, but there are very few people who will do the small things.
Mother Teresa