Pope Francis added to the liturgical calendar of the Catholic Church, the feast of September 5 of Santa Teresa de Calcutta, as a free or optional memory.
The decree issued on February 11 by the Vatican highlights the influence of the spirituality of Santa Teresa throughout the world and highlights that his name “does not stop shining as a source of hope for so many people who seek comfort in the tribulations of the body and the spirit”.
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The general Roman calendar is the liturgical calendar of the Catholic Church, which contains the dates of the holy days and the festivities of the saints commemorated annually.
The September 5 memory of Santa Teresa de Calcuta will now appear in the calendars and liturgical texts of the Church with specific prayers and readings that will be used at the Mass and in the liturgy of the hours.
Commemorations occupy third place in the classification of holidays of the liturgical calendar of the Catholic Church. The commemoration of Santa Teresa de Calcutta will be a free commemoration, that is, its celebration is voluntary.
Popularly known as Madre Teresa, Santa Teresa de Calcutta was a Albanian sister who founded the missioners of charity. He died in 1997 at age 87, after spending most of his life at the service of the poor in Calcutta, in India. It was canonized by Pope Francis in 2016.
The decree, signed by Cardinal Arthur Roche, prefect of the Dicasterio for the divine cult and discipline of the sacraments, affirms: “Radically and proclaiming the Gospel, Santa Teresa de Calcutta is a testimony of the dignity and privilege of the privilege of the humble service. Choosing not to be only the smallest, but the servant of the little ones, she became a model of mercy and authentic icon of the good Samaritan. ”
“The cry of Jesus on the cross,” I am thirsty “(Jn 19,28), penetrated the deepest of Teresa’s soul. Therefore, his whole life dedicated himself completely to satisfy the thirst of Jesus Christ of love and souls, serving him among the poorest of the poor. Full of love of God, radiated the same love to others, ”continues the text.
The decision to add the memory of Santa Teresa de Calcuta to the Roman general calendar was approved by Pope Francis on December 24, 2024.
On February 11, the Dicastery of Liturgy published the decree and Latin texts of the new optional memorial that will be translated by the episcopal conferences to local languages and approved for publication by the Dicastery.
According to a Roche note, the first reading chosen for the Mass of September 5 in memory of Mother Teresa is taken from the passage of Isaiah 58 on the fast that pleases God. The Psalm of Mass will be 33: “I will bless the Lord at all times.”
The Gospel, he said, will be taken from San Mateo, “which, after listing the works of mercy, presents a few words, eloquently lived by Mother Teresa:« Every time you did it with one of these, my smallest brothers, You did it with me »(Mt 25, 40)”.
Translated and adapted by the ACI Press team. Originally published in CNA
Hannah Brockhaus
Hannah Brockhaus is correspondent in Rome by Catholic News Agency. He grew up in Omaha, Nebraska, and has a degree in English from the State University Truman in Missouri.