The exhibit, titled “Mother Teresa: Life, Spirituality and Message,” chronicles the contemporary saint’s life from childhood to canonization. More than 60 panels, accompanied by photos and copies of documents from the Missionaries of Charity archives, tell her story and highlight her spirituality and message of radical love for God and neighbor.The exhibit, which will open August 19, will also include a first-class relic of Mother Teresa that will be available for veneration alongside the Shrine’s permanent St. John Paul II blood relic.

Father Brian Kolodiejchuk, Director of the Mother Teresa Institute and Postulator for Mother Teresa’s Cause for Canonization, has invited the Shrine to host the exhibit. Father Kolodiejchuk, who knew of the deep friendship between these saints, viewed the Shrine as a fitting location to highlight the mission of this saint. 

He said, “These two great saints were both ardent missionaries with extraordinary love and compassion for others. They both brought the good news of the ‘surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus’ to all nations. Through the witness of their lives, we are urged to be tireless missionary disciples, to spread the light of God’s love to others, especially the poorest and the neediest.” 

The temporary exhibit will include panels that display photos and biographical information on Mother Teresa’sbirth, family life, entry into religious life as a Sister of Loreto, the beginnings of the Missionaries of Charity, and the founding of the MC Fathers. Relics of Mother Teresa will include her Sari, handkerchief, rosary, a statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and original writings (including personal notes and letters to MC Brothers and Sisters). Additional artifacts include copies of Mother Teresa’s baptismal certificate, vow paper, original Constitutions, as well as duplicates of the Pope John XXIII Peace Prize, Nobel Peace Prize, and Honorary Doctorate from Harvard University.

Mr. Anthony Picarello, Executive Director of the St. John Paul II National Shrine, said, “We are privileged tooffer our pilgrims an opportunity to learn about this ‘Mother of the poor,’ who, in the words of St. John Paul II,‘leaves an eloquent example for everyone, believer and non-believer. She leaves us the witness of God’s love, which she accepted, and which transformed her life into a total gift to her brothers and sisters.’” By highlighting the profound Christian discipleship of St. Teresa of Calcutta, the Shrine hopes to spread the light of God’s love to others, especially as she served “Jesus under the distressing disguise of the poorest of the poor,” and thus help tobuild a civilization of love — a mission integral to the Patron of this Shrine.