Life With Mother Teresa: My Thirty-year Friendship With The Mother Of The Poor [Paperback]

Sebastian Vazhakala (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 31, 2004

It is not success that is important but our faithfulness.
Mother Teresa, From Part One

For thirty years, Fr. Sebastian Vazhakala worked closely with Mother Teresa, co-founding with her the Missionaries of Charity Contemplative and founding the Lay Missionaries of Charity. At her funeral, he was one of only six people given the honor of riding on the catafalque that carried her body. She has always been a mother to me, he has said, we always remained very close.

In this book, Fr. Sebastian tells not only the stories of the founding of the Contemplative and the Lay Missionaries, but also provides fresh insight into Mother Teresa who was timid and very sensitive by nature, according to the author, but who surrendered everything to God in order to serve him in the poor.

Through unedited letters, photos and anecdotes ranging from Mother Teresa s childhood in Albania to the memory loss of her later years, the reader gains a new portrait of both Mother Teresa and the inner spirit of the Missionaries of Charity. A Servant Book.

The pages of this book do not leave the reader indifferent. On the contrary, on every page there is something that is impressed upon you...until you are inspired to do something beautiful for God. Cardinal Jose Saraiva Martins, prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints

Editorial Reviews

Review

Reading Father Sebastian s book requires having the courage of committing oneself, of getting one s hands dirty...of converting oneself always and again to Christ. With humility and clarity Father Sebastian calls you to write now--immediately--your biography. There is no time to lose. In order to do this, he suggests that you too live the experience of being a small pencil in God s hands, using Mother Teresa s very effective expression. --L'Osservatore Romano

The pages of this book do not leave the reader indifferent. On the contrary, on every page there is something that is impressed upon you…until you are inspired to do something beautiful for God. --Cardinal Jose Saraiva Martins, prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints

About the Author

SEBASTIAN VAZHAKALA, M.C., was the first priest ordained as a Missionary of Charity. He is the superior general of the Missionaries of Charity Contemplative.

Product Details

• Paperback: 242 pages
• Publisher: Servant Books (October 31, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0867166223
• ISBN-13: 978-0867166224
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 4.8 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,327,264 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Mother Teresa through the Eyes of a Friend, January 12, 2005

By 

Carol Blank (USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Life With Mother Teresa: My Thirty-year Friendship With The Mother Of The Poor (Paperback)

Mother Teresa through the Eyes of a FriendThrough their work and travel, Fr. Vazhakala says he came to know Mother Teresa better than he knew his own mother, and Mother Teresa said of him, "We know each other by heart." Although the book begins with a sketch of Mother Teresa's early life, as recalled by her brother Lazar, it is not a chronological account of her life. Rather, the early sections address her initial meeting and ongoing work with Fr. Vazhakala in co-founding the Missionaries of Charity Contemplative and the Lay Missionaries of Charity. Against that backdrop, we see "Mother" at the blessing of a Leprosy Centre, ministering at a home for the dying, and in other settings that illustrate her devotion to serving the poorest of the poor and seeing Jesus in the face of every human she encountered. Each chapter contains quotations from Mother's writings and talks, such as "Do what you can, and do it now, and do it well."

The second half of Part One is devoted to the virtues of Mother Teresa with separate chapters on faith, hope, and love filled with examples. The last two sections contain copies of handwritten messages (accompanied by typed copies) from Mother to Fr. Vazhakala between 1971 and 1993, and photos of the two during their years together. A final section contains the guiding principles of the Missionaries of Charity Brothers Contemplative.

Many books of Mother Teresa's writings and speeches have been compiled, and many others written about her life, but this one is marked by special warmth because of the relationship between author and subject.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Friendship Remembered, May 8, 2005

By 

Lisa M. Hendey "Mom, Blogger, Podcaster, Author" (Fresno, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Life With Mother Teresa: My Thirty-year Friendship With The Mother Of The Poor (Paperback)

Imagine counting Mother Teresa as a friend, a "mother", a spiritual mentor and partner. This wonderful book contains the remembrances of Fr. Sebastian Vazhakala, who shared a close working relationship with Mother Teresa for thirty one years. The book shares her life in a special, very personal way. One unique feature of the book is the section containing numerous scans of hand written letters from Mother. A photo section contains many inspiring shots of Father and this incredible woman. This book leaves yet another look at Mother Teresa's wonderful legacy, from one who new her "by heart". An excellent addition to any personal library - you will be inspired!