by Suor Glenda MC

The superior at Nirmal Hriday (Home of the pure heart), the first hospice founded by the blessed, talks about her experience. The facility provides treatment, peace and Christ's love to the poorest of the poor. A volunteer remembers telling Mother Teresa that she found Jesus in the house of the dying.

Mumbai (AsiaNews) - The Year of Faith is a "time of grace" and "an immense gift" to "renew our love for our spouse Jesus whom we touch each day in the Eucharist and in the dying destitute at Nirmal Hriday," said Sister Glenda as she spoke about the Year announced by Benedict XVI. She heads the hospice founded by Mother Teresa in 1962. In 60 years, the home has received, treated and loved 87,000 sick and dying people thanks to the help provided by volunteers from different national, cultural and social backgrounds. Sister Glenda's thoughts follow.

The Year of Faith is an immense gift to us to spread the joy of Jesus everywhere and to all, especially to the dying destitute here at in Nirmal Hriday, the Home of Pure Heart where we serve the poorest of the poor. Our vocation is not the work, but belonging to Jesus so that through our mission, we may "bring souls to God and God to souls".

Sixty years ago, Mother Teresa opened the doors to the Nirmal Hriday, putting into practice her motto of "Love in Action". In the 60 years since its inception, more than 87,000 sick and dying people have been cared for and loved at the Nirmal Hriday by bringing peace and love of Christ to the loveless, uncared for, abandoned dying destitute who have been treated with dignity in the last moments of their lives.

This Year of Faith brings manifold graces and blessings not only for our residents but also for the hundreds of volunteers who come from many countries to share in the service of the poor in our homes. They come from all walks of life with very different expectations. These young people are invited to participate in the Holy Mass in the morning and after their service where they have touched Jesus in the poor, they are also invited to participate in our Adoration and prayers.  It is beautiful to see these volunteers from different cultures and nations, united by God's merciful love for them, filling them with the Spirit to share with Missionaries of Charity, in the humble works of love to the poorest of the poor. Love brings union with Jesus and others. One day a young woman approached Mother Teresa beaming with joy. "I have found Jesus in the home for the dying," she said.

At Kalighat, we speak to the dying destitute of Jesus. To those who desire to know Him more, we announce the Good News, and to those who are not so keen, we proclaim His Love through our works of love.  This Year of Faith is for us, Missionaries of Charity, a time of Grace, a time to renew our Love for our Spouse Jesus whom we touch each day in the Eucharist and in the dying destitute at Nirmal Hriday. Jesus in the Eucharist and Jesus in the poor are but one love.  Blessed Mother had said: "We are contemplatives in the heart of the world because we are 24 hours per day with Jesus."

(Nirmala Carvalho contributed to this article)

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