"Mary is our mother, the cause of our joy. 
Being a mother, 
I have never had difficulty 
in talking with Mary and feeling close to her."

~Blessed Mother Teresa~

 

When the Congregation of the Missionaries of Charity had just been established, we urgently needed a building for the Congregation's Motherhouse. To get it, I promised the Virgin to pray 85,000 Memorares.

Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to your protection, implored your help, or sought your intercession was left unaided. Inspired by this confidence, I fly to you, O virgin of virgins, my Mother. To you I come, before you I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in your mercy, hear and answer me. Amen.

There were not too many of us yet. How were we gong to take care of our debt? I came up with a solution: to bring together all the children and the sick we were taking care of in Nirmal Hriday and Shishu Bhavan. I taught them the prayer and we all promised to pray it.

The building did not take long to become ours.

Let us ask our Lady, in a very special way:

Mary, mother of Jesus, be a mother to each of us,
that we, like you, may be pure in heart,
that we, like you, love Jesus;

that we, like you, serve the poorest for we are all poor.
First let us love our neighbors and
so fulfill God's desire that we become carriers
of His love and compassion.

~Blessed Mother Teresa~