Mother Teresa's First Calling

At the age of twelve, Agnes felt the call to join the religious life. She felt that this decision was between her and God. At this point in her life, Agnes had never seen a nun, yet she still felt the call the serve God. She said "It is a private matter. It is not a vision, I've never had a vision." 8

She was physically delicate, and at times her mother would arrange for her to visit the Shrine of the Madonna of Letnice when it was not crowded. Agnes was a born organizer, and that skill was put to good use by Agnes in the years to come. 9

"What a beautiful vocation is yours — A Missionary of charity — a carrier of God’s love — we carry in our body and soul the love of an infinite thirsty God — a/Id we — you and I and all the dear Sisters and the Sick and Suffering will satiate the burning thirst —you with your an told suffering we with hard labor, but we not all the same one — “as your Father in me and 1 in you”, said Jesus." 10