Mother Teresa

In the opinions of many, living in a third world country, with no personal possessions, among the dying and needy would, in no way, be considered successful. Mother Teresa was an Albanian Catholic nun who founded the Missionaries of Charity in Calcutta, India. She spent over 45 years working with the poor, sick, and orphaned people of India. She gave up all she had and moved to such a destitute area in order to help all of the people she could. As most, she experienced doubts when she first began her patronage, writing in her diary:

"Our Lord wants me to be a free nun covered with the poverty of the cross. Today I learned a good lesson. The poverty of the poor must be so hard for them. While looking for a home I walked and walked till my arms and legs ached. I thought how much they must ache in body and soul, looking for a home, food and health. Then the comfort of Loreto [her former order] came to tempt me. 'You have only to say the word and all that will be yours again,' the Tempter kept on saying ... Of free choice, my God, and out of love for you, I desire to remain and do whatever be your Holy will in my regard. I did not let a single tear come."

Mother Teresa used her faith in God and strong will power to overcome her ambiguities. She later came to win the Noble Peace Prize in 1979 and India's most prestigious award, the Bharat Ratna in 1980. After her death in 1997, she was beatified by Pope John Paul II and given the title Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta. In the eyes of God, she was one of the most successful people in the world.