USD Magazine Fall 2016

The Road to Sainthood From Albania to India and far beyond, Mother Teresa’s journey included a brief stop at the University of San Diego he process leading up to the beatification of Mother Teresa of Calcutta was the shortest in modern history. In early 1999 — less than two years after her death — Pope John Paul II waived the normal five-year waiting period and allowed the immediate opening of her canonization cause. In 2003, he beatified the Albanian-born nun, one of the most iconic Catholic figures of the 20th century and recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize. In December 2015, Pope Francis announced her impending sainthood after recognizing a second miracle attributed to her. On Sept. 4, 2016, as USD Magazine goes to press, Pope Francis celebrated her canonization in Rome at a joyous event that was expected to draw the largest crowd to the Vatican during this Holy Year of Mercy. “Mother Teresa is an important counterpoint to the current culture, which is frequently referred to as a throwaway culture. She valued every person and the dignity of every person, particularly those who were the outcasts of society,” says Center for Catholic Thought and Culture Director Jeffrey Burns. “The poorest of the poor, the untouchables, those that other groups would not acknowledge, became the center of her ministry. She recognized that they are beloved of God. Her role was simply to channel that love to these people who had been forgotten by society. That’s really the most important lesson of her life, to call us back to the unity of all of us.” One of several special events that marked Mother Teresa’s canonization, on Sept. 25, 2016, Founders Chapel was the site of the debut of a musical composition in her honor, composed by Thomas Bough. Additionally, University Ministry offered a “Spirituality is Served” community dinner; one of the primary themes was Mother Teresa, the canonization process and a reflection on the spiritual heroes in our lives. On May 31, 1988, Mother Teresa brought to the University of San Diego her “simple message, that in serving the poor, we serve God.” Following is the cover story that ran, nearly three decades ago, in what was then known as U Magazine . T

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