Mother Teresa was a Catholic nun and missionary who dedicated her life to serving the poor and sick in India. Over the course of her life, ...
Mother Teresa was a Catholic nun and missionary who dedicated her life to serving the poor and sick in India. Over the course of her life, she received numerous awards and honors for her work, including the Nobel Peace Prize, India's highest civilian honor, and the United States Presidential Medal of Freedom. In this essay, we will examine the awards Mother Teresa received, in the order in which she received them.
The Padma Shri Award (1962)
The Padma Shri is one of the highest civilian honors in India, and it is awarded for distinguished service in various fields. Mother Teresa was awarded the Padma Shri in 1962, for her work in the slums of Kolkata (then Calcutta). This was the first major recognition she received for her humanitarian work.
The Pope John XXIII Peace Prize (1971)
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In 1971, Mother Teresa received the Pope John XXIII Peace Prize, which is awarded by the Catholic organization Pax Christi International. The award recognized her work with the poor and sick in India, as well as her efforts to promote peace and non-violence.
The Nobel Peace Prize (1979)
Perhaps the most famous award that Mother Teresa received was the Nobel Peace Prize, which she was awarded in 1979. The award recognized her lifetime of work serving the poorest of the poor in India, and her commitment to promoting peace and understanding across religious and cultural divides. In her acceptance speech, she said, "The greatest destroyer of peace is abortion, because if a mother can kill her own child, what is left for me to kill you and you to kill me? There is nothing between."
The Order of Merit (1983)
The Order of Merit is one of the highest honors that can be awarded to a British citizen, and it is also given to individuals from other Commonwealth countries. Mother Teresa was awarded the Order of Merit in 1983, in recognition of her "outstanding service to the world community." She was only the second person from India to receive the honor.
The Presidential Medal of Freedom (1985)
In 1985, Mother Teresa was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by the President of the United States, Ronald Reagan. The award recognized her lifelong commitment to serving the poor and sick, and her efforts to promote peace and understanding around the world. At the award ceremony, Reagan said, "Mother Teresa is the embodiment of love and compassion. She has dedicated her life to helping others, and her selflessness and kindness serve as an inspiration to all."
The Congressional Gold Medal (1997)
The Congressional Gold Medal is the highest civilian award that can be given by the United States Congress. In 1997, Mother Teresa was posthumously awarded the Congressional Gold Medal in recognition of her "outstanding and enduring contributions to humanity." The award was presented to her Missionaries of Charity organization, which she founded in 1950 to serve the poorest of the poor.
The Beatification of Mother Teresa (2003)
In 2003, Mother Teresa was beatified by the Catholic Church, which is the first step toward sainthood. Beatification is an acknowledgement by the Church that a person has lived a life of heroic virtue, and that they are worthy of veneration. Mother Teresa was beatified by Pope John Paul II in a ceremony in Rome, and she was given the title "Blessed Teresa of Calcutta."
The Canonization of Mother Teresa (2016)
In 2016, Mother Teresa was canonized by the Catholic Church, which means that she was officially recognized as a saint. Canonization is the final step in the process of sainthood, and it requires evidence of two miracles attributed.
