Brandon Vogt on Jesus in His Most Distressing Disguise

"The Christian Church has a long history of saints who helped the poor, sick, and dying. And like so many others Blessed Teresa of Calcutta (Mother Teresa) devoted herself to this vital work. But what sets her apart is the way she not only served people in need, but dignified them. This makes her a model for the first major theme of Catholic social teaching, the life and dignity of the human person.

"From the time of her birth in 1910, Agnes Bojaxhiu (Mother Teresa) was trained to respect the dignity of others, even those society ignores. Each weeknight Agnes' mother invited poor people into their home for dinner and conversation. She especially welcomed women in distress: old widows with no caretakers, homeless women with no roof, and unwed mothers shunned by family and friends. Agnes’ brother later commented that, '[Our mother] never allowed any of the many poor people who came to our door to leave empty handed. When we would look at her strangely, she would say, 'Keep in mind that even those who are not our blood relatives, even if they are poor, are still our brethren.''

A recent post from Brandon Vogt offered a reflection on Mother Teresa's recognizing Jesus in each person with whom she came in contact.

To access this complete post, please visit:

Word on Fire: Jesus in His Most Distressing Disguise (5 SEP 14)