Bishop of Vasai, interpreted for two saints, witnessed their language of love
Mumbai (AsiaNews) – I received the grace and the privilege of being in the presence of two saints, Mother Teresa and Brother Roger, as their interpreter.
One spoke only English and the other only French, but both spoke the language of love. They understood each other perfectly because they both spoke the language of the heart.
Their hearts beat as one for the love of Jesus and the Church. They have clearly shown how to serve the Church and the poor.
I have many memories of Mother Teresa. She continues to inspire me. Last February I consecrated and blessed a church in the name of the Blessed.
On 20 August, the Federation of Asian Bishops 'Conferences (FABC) sent me to Taizé to celebrate 100 years since the birth of its founder, Brother Roger Schutz, which is also the 10th anniversary of his death and 75th anniversary of the foundation of the community in Taizé.
I spent nine years of my life there. I was very close to Brother Roger. It is there I came to know Mother very intimately.
Brother Roger came to Vasai (Maharashtra) for my priestly ordination and then we both went to Calcutta (Kolkata) and worked for a month at the Shishu Bhavan, a centre for children set up by the Missionaries of Charity.
Mother Teresa was always with us during that month. Several other Taizé brothers were also there, in addition to a group of 30 youth from different countries.
Both Brother Roger and Mother Teresa established communities. Mother’s was immersed in serving the poorest of the poor and Brother Roger’s was immersed in the transformation of the youth of Europe.
Both Brother Roger and Mother Teresa influenced each other. Taizé’s influence was visible on Mother Teresa and continues to be visible on the Missionaries of Charity. This can be seen in the latter’s prayer – kneeling in front of the Blessed Sacrament, communicating with the Living Jesus.
Brother Roger’s and Mother Teresa’ faithfulness to Mission was in their very being. They lived for their Mission. Their dedicated love for their vocation was clearly visible. As a newly ordained priest, this made a deep and lasting impression on me.
Mother Teresa was ‘rooted’. She was not out to change the world. I recall walking with her, she holding my hand. As we walked down the narrow lanes in the poor neighbourhoods of Kolkata, crowds of poor people would come forward, to greet her devotedly, take her blessings, etc. Mother was accessible to everyone; Mother was loved by all; Mother was venerated by the people.
Mother lived a disciplined life; she had clarity of Mission; she was a person who understood clearly what Jesus wanted of her and her daughters (Missionaries of charity). She knew what was asked of her to respond to the call of Jesus, “I thirst,” as she went about satiating the Thirst of Jesus.
Mother was a simple person, but she surpassed her simplicity when she spoke of her Love for God and for the poor. She spoke like a Mystic, like one of the Great Doctors of the Church.
Mother’s writings and sayings create a hunger within me for Jesus, and I am strengthened in my vocation and love for Jesus and the Church through the prayers and intercessions of the Blessed Mother Teresa.
* Bishop of Vasai and President of the Office for Ecumenism and Interreligious Dialogue of the Federation of Asian Bishops' Conferences (FABC)
(Nirmala Carvalho contributed to this article)
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23/08/2005
