Mother Teresa’s daily routine revolved around prayer and contemplation. She used to wake up at 4:30 am every day and spend an hour in deep meditation and prayer, known as adoration. She would then attend Mass and receive Holy Communion, which was the highlight of her day. Mother Teresa would often say that the Eucharist was her strength, her joy, and her comfort.
Mother Teresa believed that prayer was the most powerful weapon in our spiritual arsenal. She said, “Prayer is not asking. Prayer is putting oneself in the hands of God, at His disposition, and listening to His voice in the depth of our hearts.” For her, prayer was not just a ritual, but a way of life, a continuous conversation with God. She prayed not only for herself but for the whole world, especially for those who were suffering the most.
Mother Teresa used to pray the Rosary every day, a devotion that she inherited from her . The Rosary is a form of meditative prayer that consists of repeating a series of prayers while contemplating different mysteries from the life of Jesus and Mary. Mother Teresa considered the Rosary as a powerful spiritual weapon that could defeat even the greatest evils of the world. She once said, “If you ever feel distressed during your day, call upon our Lady, just say this simple prayer: ‘Mary, Mother of Jesus, please be a mother to me now.’ I must admit, this prayer has never failed me.”
Mother Teresa also had a special devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, a devotion that she learned from the Jesuits who had taught her in her youth. The Sacred Heart represents the unconditional love and mercy of Jesus Christ towards humanity, and Mother Teresa found solace and strength in contemplating its mystery. She used to keep a picture of the Sacred Heart in her pocket, and every time she faced a difficult situation, she would touch it and say a short prayer to Jesus.
Mother Teresa’s prayer life was not limited to personal devotions, but it extended to the Missionaries of Charity and the people they served. She used to gather her every day for a time of community prayer, where they would praise God for His goodness and ask for His help in their daily tasks. Moreover, Mother Teresa believed that the poor and the sick were “Christ in disguise,” and therefore, she saw her work as a direct expression of her love for God. She prayed for every person she encountered, and she encouraged her sisters to do the same.
In conclusion, Mother Teresa’s life was a testimony to the power of prayer. She believed that prayer was the key that opened the door to God’s grace and that it was the wellspring of all her actions. Through her deep devotion to prayer and her unwavering trust in God, she was able to touch countless lives, inspire millions of people, and leave an indelible mark on the world. Mother Teresa’s prayer life is a model for all of us who seek to follow Christ and serve our and sisters.