Mother Teresa--historical context

Historical Context—Mother Teresa:

1910 was an unstable year in Albania. However, it was a momentous year for the Bojaxhiu family. On August 25^th this Catholic Albanian family, was celebrating the birth of a healthy baby daughter—Agnes (soon to be known as Mother Teresa). This time period was one of disorder and frustration for Albanian nationalists who by the beginning of the twentieth century had a visibly developed sense of their own cultural identity but lacked an independent state. This was primarily because for so long Albania had been used as “a buffer between the interests of Austria-Hungary and those of the Slavs in the Balkans.” Since Catholic Albanians were a significantly smaller part of the Albanian population, they clung tightly to their faith.

Despite the national conflicts that surrounded the Bojaxhiu family, most accounts of Agnes’ childhood describe it as comfortable and somewhat prosperous (it appeared that her parents were relatively successful). Nikola Bojaxhiu, Agnes’ father, was known as a generous local benefactor. He is often referenced as having continuously encouraged his children to be generous and compassionate to those less fortunate then themselves. For him, maintaining those characteristics was as important as working hard in school. Furthermore, historians have recalled one of his most poignant words of advice to his children as being: “never forget whose children you are and from what background you come.” Seen to have motivated her initial charity work, these invaluable words clearly became salient with Mother Teresa. Since Catholics were a clear minority, the church was an important point of emphasis for the Bojaxhiu family, and it provided them with a keen sense of cultural and religious identity.

Agnes and her family lived in the city of Skopje, and since it was not on any borders, this area was spared from the street slaughter that many other Balkan towns had to experience during the Great War. However, being enclosed by the severity of fighting, people dwelling in Skopje would not completely avoid the strife. In fact, during an interview conducted with one of Mother Teresa’s siblings, Lazar Bojaxhiu, he stated that:

“The suffering of our family started when the Yugoslavs and Albanians were fighting for Kosova and the other provinces of Albania in which was the City of Skopje. Our father…was very active in politics and the Albanian National question. He tried very hard to obtain the national rights of Albanians, with all his heart he tried to keep the Albanian territories in Yugoslavia together with Albania. When Yugoslavia took over the territories the family was persecuted and my father poisoned.”

The life of the Bojaxhiu children was recorded as changing dramatically after the death of their father. While such personal and national pain may have fractured other families, this family proceeded and strengthened its faith. While politics and the future of Albania had been the dominating topic in family conversations (a common trend of the time), church liturgy and relevant missionary activity became central to family discussions. With the loss of the male breadwinner, this family was certainly poor, but they still continued to provide hospitality to those who were poorer. Reflecting on her earlier life, Mother Teresa admitted that at the time, she thought the other people regularly sharing meals in her house were distant relatives. However, she later learned that her mother was often feeding and clothing complete strangers. With such faith embedded within her family dynamic, it is easily understood how Mother Teresa admitted that from the age of twelve she was aware of a desire to devote her life to God.

References:
- Mother Teresa: A complete Authorized Biography by: Kathryn Spink

- Faith and Compassion: The Life and Work of Mother Teresa by: Ragu Rai, Navin Chawla