Mother Teresa became Blessed Teresa of Calcutta on October 19, 2003 as she was beautified by Pope John Paul II in Peter’s Square. "The venerable servant of God, Teresa of Calcutta, from this moment on will be called blessed," the Pope said at the October 19th beautification Mass. "We honor in her one of the most relevant personalities of our age. Let us accept her message and follow her example." In his homily, Pope John Paul further said "Her life is a testimony to the dignity and the privilege of humble servce," he said. "Her greatness lies in her ability to give without counting the cost, to give 'until it hurts.'" The founder of the Missionaries of Charity died of cardiac arrest September 5, 1997, in Calcutta, India. Pope John Paul gave permission, 15 months later, for her beautification process to begin, even though Church rules require a waiting period of five years. She won the 1979 Nobel Peace Prize, and three months before her death was awarded the U.S. Congressional Gold Medal. Mother Teresa was born August 26, 1910 in Skopje, Macedonia to Albanian parents. [ Back to Terre's Place ] [ Mother Teresa ] [ Chronological Events ] [ Other Links ]