Mother Teresa remembered on 99th birthday

It was a day of inspiration and witness for many as the country Wednesday remembered Mother Teresa on her 99th birthday.

Special prayers were organised at the headquarters of the Missionaries of Charity where nuns, co–workers, volunteers, friends and reporters gathered to commemorate the anniversary.

Everyone prayed and remembered Mother Teresa, her life for the poor, sick and helpless, said Sister Mary Prema, superior general of the Missionaries of Charity.

"Mother Teresa opened her heart to love all people. She continues to inspire us all to open our eyes to see the dignity of a child of God in the poor and to bring peace and joy to them through our humble services," Sister Prema said.

A year of programmes has been launched to celebrate the birth centenary of the humanitarian icon who was popularly known as the 'Saint of the Gutter'.

"Next year, on this day, we will commemorate the centenary of Mother Teresa's birth. Our sincere endeavour to be channels of God's love and peace to the poor will be the best gift we all can prepare for," Prema said.

Albanian born Mother Teresa came to India in 1929 at the age of 18 and took up teaching and became an Indian citizen in 1948.

In 1950 she established the Missionaries of Charity, which currently has over 4,800 nuns and 757 branches in 145 nations.

For over 45 years the Catholic nun ministered to the poor, sick, orphaned, and dying, for which she won a Noble Peace Prize in 1979. She also won India's highest civilian honor, the Bharat Ratna, in 1980.

Mother Teresa died at the age of 87 on September 5, 1997. She was beatified by Pope John Paul II and given the title Blessed Teresa of Kolkata in 2003.