Mother Teresa: a biography

LEADING BY EXAMPLE
As the number of foundations grew, Mother Teresa’s schedule became
more hectic. Because she kept close watch on the order, leading by exam-
ple, it was important that she visit every motherhouse she could to check
on the day-to-day goings on. For instance, she believed that the sisters
must not waste any donations because others had sacrificed in order that
they have them. Medicine and food were to be distributed as soon as pos-
sible to prevent spoilage. She asked that the priests who assisted in the
spiritual welfare of the sisters not interfere in the internal affairs of the
houses, particularly when it came to observing their vows of poverty. At
no time should a congregation raise its standard of living; this meant
going without simple things such as curtains for the motherhouse or bed-
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spreads, which were invariably given away. Donations of washing ma-
chines, carpets, or other creature comforts were also given away. As
Mother Teresa continually reminded her sisters, the poor did without and
so must they.
She wrote to each house as often as possible offering advice, wisdom,
and comfort to her growing number of sisters. She wrote to parents thank-
ing them for their daughters who had given their lives in service to God.
She reminded her nuns to be cheerful and smile, as God needed and loved
those who gave of themselves cheerfully. A cheerful disposition also at-
tracted those who might be seeking a vocation with the Missionaries of
Charity. She shared news of her travels, her visits with dignitaries, and hu-
morous incidents that had occurred.
Even as she was becoming more well known, Mother Teresa remained
as unobtrusive as possible. She commonly slept in the luggage racks of
third-class train compartments or shared a seat on a train or a bus between
the wife of a farmer and some livestock. On those occasions when she had
a seat to herself, she made the most of it, using the time for reflection,
often writing small notes or letters to her sisters and benefactors.
Yet, she declined the offers of regular income that were beginning to
arise more frequently. She emphasized repeatedly that fund-raising was
not her work, fearing that the Missionaries of Charity would become a
business rather than a labor of love. She squarely placed her life and that
of her congregations in God’s hands, fully trusting that Providence would
provide for her needs in helping the poor. Her rejections of some dona-
tions were on the face of it astounding, yet completely in character. Once
she rejected an offer from New York City’s Cardinal Terence Cooke,
which would provide $500 a month for each Sister working in Harlem,
asking him if he believed that God was going to be bankrupt in New York
City.