Saint Teresa Canonisation
Saturday, September 5, 2026
Saint Teresa Canonisation Day, observed on September 5, commemorates the canonization of Mother Teresa of Calcutta, who was officially declared a saint of the Catholic Church on September 4, 2016, by Pope Francis. Mother Teresa, born Anjezë Gonxhe Bojaxhiu on August 26, 1910, in Skopje (then part of the Ottoman Empire, now North Macedonia), was a Roman Catholic nun and missionary who founded the Missionaries of Charity in Kolkata, India, in 1950. She dedicated her life to serving the poorest of the poor, the sick, the dying, and the abandoned, establishing hospices, orphanages, and leper colonies worldwide. Her canonization was one of the fastest in modern Church history, occurring just 19 years after her death in 1997. The ceremony took place in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, attended by hundreds of thousands of pilgrims and dignitaries. The date September 5 was chosen as her feast day, marking the anniversary of her death. Mother Teresa was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979 and is revered globally for her humanitarian work, though her legacy has also attracted some criticism and scholarly debate.
History
Mother Teresa's journey to sainthood began with her death on September 5, 1997. The canonization process was initiated by Pope John Paul II in 1999, waiving the customary five-year waiting period. She was declared Venerable in 2002 and beatified on October 19, 2003, after the recognition of a first miracle: the healing of an Indian tribal woman, Monica Besra, from an abdominal tumor. The second miracle required for canonization was approved in December 2015: the inexplicable healing of a Brazilian man, Marcilio Haddad Andrino, from multiple brain abscesses in 2008 after his family prayed to Mother Teresa. Pope Francis formally canonized her on September 4, 2016, in a ceremony during the Catholic Church's Jubilee of Mercy. The canonization was particularly significant because it occurred during the Holy Year of Mercy, aligning with Mother Teresa's lifelong emphasis on mercy and compassion. Pope Francis described her as a 'dispenser of divine mercy' during the ceremony. Her legacy in the Missionaries of Charity continues with over 5,000 sisters operating in more than 130 countries.
How It's Celebrated
Saint Teresa's feast day on September 5 is observed primarily by the Missionaries of Charity and Catholic communities worldwide with special Masses and prayer services. The day is marked by acts of charity and service, reflecting Mother Teresa's core message that holiness is found in loving service to the poor. Many people volunteer at soup kitchens, homeless shelters, and hospitals in her honor. In Kolkata, special ceremonies are held at Mother House, the Missionaries of Charity headquarters, and at her tomb. Candlelight vigils and interfaith prayer services are common. The Albanian community, particularly in North Macedonia and Kosovo, celebrates her as a national heroine. Social media campaigns highlight her quotes and teachings, encouraging people to perform acts of kindness on this day.