Mother Teresa

[Mother Teresa ]
Year: 
1992
Public: 
Publisher: 
Element Books
Year of publication: 
1996
Pages: 
231
Moral assessment: 
Type: Thought
Nothing inappropriate.
Requires prior general knowledge of the subject.
Readers with knowledgeable about the subject matter.
Contains doctrinal errors of some importance.
Whilst not being explicitly against the faith, the general approach or its main points are ambiguous or opposed to the Church’s teachings.
Incompatible with Catholic doctrine.
Literary quality: 
Recommendable: 
Transmits values: 
Sexual content: 
Violent content: 
Vulgar or obscene language: 
Ideas that contradict Church teaching: 
The rating of the different categories comes from the opinion of Delibris' collaborators

There are dozens of biographies of Mother Teresa of Calcutta, however this one is special because of the sources used by the author, an Indian civil servant who managed to be a close friend and collaborator of hers for 25 years regardless of the fact that he did not share her faith. Chawla had access to documents and first hand testimonies and most important was the full collaboration, information and encouragement of Mother Teresa herself who always had time for him, even if in some points of view they did not agree. It took him 5 years to write it because he was looking for opportunities to have personal conversations with her, for example, the trips he made for his mission. 

It is a book full of tenderness and strength. It consists of 11 chapters focusing mainly on the work of the Missionaries of Charity: schools, clinics, homes for abandoned children, for those affected by leprosy, the destitute and the dying. The author is Hindu and penetrates into the heart of Mother Teresa and discovers her secret: a deep faith in Christ whom she sees in all the people she cares for and the Eucharist that was always her support.

The last chapter is very nice because he calls her the most powerful woman in the world because, besides entering at any time the office of the Prime Minister of Bengal - a Marxist and atheist with whom she has in common the love for the poor -, she has influence on many presidents, princes and great personalities, although she avoids politics completely. In less than 40 years the mission took root in all the cities and towns of India as well as in more than 100 other countries. Its founder was convinced that her life was unimportant and that she lived completely in communion with God.

Author: Marcela Navarro Hernández , Mexico
Update on: May 2024

Other review

Moral Assessment: 

A sensitive, perceptive biography written with Mother Teresa's full cooperation and encouragement. Describes Mother’s mission of faith and the principles that guide her. Navin Chawla is not a christian. Altough, deeply influenced by Mother Teresa, he wrote her bestselling biography (translated in 14 languages). Because of her influence, he has set up two NGO’s which provide free medicines to leprosy patients, and free vocational training to healthy children of leprosy parents. Substantial royalties of this book have been donated to the cause of leprosy.

For a non-christian person it is remarkable his understanding of the faith that moved Mother Teresa, whom admires deeply. Nevertheless he confesses he does not understand -although he respects- why Mother is against contraception.

C.A. (India, 2015)