Skip to content
NorthFactsFacts first, Canada's reference desk
People

Mother Teresa

What is mother teresa?

· James MacDonald

Key facts

Birth name Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu[3]
Born 26 August 1910[2]
Birthplace Skopje[2]
Died 5 September 1997[2]
Founded Missionaries of Charity[3]
Canonized 4 September 2016[3]

Mother Teresa was a Roman Catholic nun and missionary who founded the Missionaries of Charity and devoted her life to serving the poor in Calcutta, India. She was born Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu in 1910 in Skopje and was canonized as a saint in 2016.

Context

Mother Teresa was born in Skopje in the Ottoman Empire, and her birthplace is sometimes referred to as Macedonia or North Macedonia in modern sources [3]. She took the name Teresa after entering religious life, and is also known as Saint Teresa of Calcutta [3]. Her death place is sometimes given as Calcutta or Kolkata [1]. She was canonized on 4 September 2016 [3].

Documented claims

  • Mother Teresa founded the Missionaries of Charity, a Roman Catholic congregation dedicated to helping the poor, especially the destitute of India. [3]
  • She received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979 for her work in bringing help to suffering humanity. [1]

Questions and answers

What is Mother Teresa most famous for?

She is famous for founding the Missionaries of Charity and dedicating her life to serving the poorest people in Calcutta, India [3].

Why did Mother Teresa not marry?

As a Roman Catholic nun, she took religious vows and devoted herself to her faith and missionary work rather than marriage [3].

When was Mother Teresa canonized?

She was canonized on 4 September 2016 [3].

Sources

  1. Mother Teresa | Of Calcutta, Born, Died, Real Name ... — britannica.com (retrieved August 3, 2026)
  2. Mother Teresa of Calcutta — libguides.rockhurst.edu (retrieved August 3, 2026)
  3. Saint Teresa – facts about Mother Teresa - Glow Blogs — blogs.glowscotland.org.uk (retrieved August 3, 2026)

Sources last checked August 3, 2026. · More in People