Inspiration, Indian food, and an invitation to serve.

September fifth can bring all three of these things to you and your children if you pause to remember St. Teresa of Calcutta on her feast day.

Saint Teresa of Calcutta is perhaps one of the most well-known modern saints, and her feast day is a delight to celebrate with children.

Inspiration

• Start out by reading a brief biography about St. Teresa of Calcutta and chatting with your children about how she inspires them to make humble acts of love.
• Offer your children a coloring page of St. Teresa and pause to explain the significance of Saint Teresa of Calucutta’s three-striped sari. Discuss how the Sisters of Charity take vows of poverty, obedience, and chastity and how we, even if not Sisters of Charity, might simplify our lives and live with hearts of service.
• Print a coloring page of the Saint Teresa of Calcutta, formerly Blessed Mother Teresa, and chat with your children about the communion of saints, steps to sainthood, and related ideas. Recall people you know who are part of the Church Triumphant, those who are the Church Militant, and those who are the Church Suffering with a simple Communion of Saints activity. Perhaps chat about how St. Teresa of Calcutta suffered a “painful night” of the soul when part of the Church Suffering, but now shares in the glory of God as part of the Church Triumphant. Then, chat about how we can each be seek to be saints.

photo credit: traininghappyhearts.blogspot.com

Indian Food

• Although St. Teresa of Calcutta was not born in India, she followed a mission within a mission and began life-changing work there. As you recall and celebrate St. Teresa of Calcutta enjoy an Indian meal. If Indian is not your thing, consider a simple meal of waffles with blueberries and whip cream. Either way, you can enjoy faith through food with your children on St. Teresa of Calcutta’s feast day.

Mother Teresa accompanied by children at her mission in Calcutta, India 05/12/1980 (Getty)

An Invitation to Serve

• With younger children – or anyone, really, watch Lukas Storyteller – St. Mother Teresa and the Love to Others. Key into the idea that, “If we want peace in the world, we must start at home,” and have each person share an idea for creating more peace at home. Then, act on it. Also highlight howSt. Teresa of Calcutta called us to treat others as if they are Jesus, pause to pray that we might borrow Jesus’ heart to be light and love for others, then share ideas for how we might do this and head out to make those ideas reality.

Surely, as your children and you remember St. Teresa of Calcutta – her willingness to follow God’s call to her, her humility, her being able to serve the poorest of the poor with such great love even as she faced her on interior struggles – you will be inspired to live your vocation with purpose and make living the Works of Mercy a conscious choice in days ahead.

Saint Teresa of Calcutta, pray for us.

Author: Martianne Stanger