Who is a saint? A saint is a charismatic person who is filled with the divine spirit dedicating his/her life to God and the people. This is consecration, this is sacrifice. A saint is most happy to do that through works of mercy and charity.

The world very spontaneously called Mother Teresa a "saint." The world witnessed her deep spirituality, a life of prayer seeking union with the Lord. Mother Teresa followed the ideals of Jesus. Of the eight Beatitudes the Mother's direct focus was on: Blessed are those who are merciful; Blessed are those who are pure in heart; Blessed are those who make peace.

These were ideals for the Mother. People are called to live on ideals; and when we are alive on ideals, we are on duty. Further, an ideal makes us live by attitude from which an action comes forth. For example, prayer is an action, prayerfulness is an attitude. Mother Teresa being endowed with the spirit of God and the attitude of prayer was spiritually driven to be a person of prayer, a person totally of and for God. And only a person whose life is deeply rooted in God and His teaching can lead a life of Beatitudes.

To lead a life of Beatitudes, Mother Teresa consecrated her life to God and humanity embracing three religious vows: Consecrated Chastity, Poverty, and Obedience. With this religious consecration as her only vocation and with the attitude of prayer, mercy, and charity, Mother Teresa was led by divine inspiration to put into action her attitude and consecration and with God's grace and providence began her works of mercy and charity among the poor, the afflicted, the orphan, the dying, the unloved, the illegitimate. This was her very embryonic but extremely revolutionary beginning.

Her universal love and charity had no border or boundary. She went to the streets, to the "bustees," to the prisoners, to the drug addicted, to those who are unwanted. She was a person with perpetual vows of chastity, poverty and obedience. These vows she embraced because of and in order to love, a love in action of charity. Thus with her chastity, poverty and obedience to the will of God and to the "will," "call," and "needs" of the suffering humanity Sister Teresa became Mother Teresa to all with her spiritual and universal motherliness.

A movement faces challenges and risks. Withstanding many trials, misunderstandings, misinterpretations, even sometimes rejections, Mother Teresa moved forward with her convictions that what she was doing was according to the plan of God. God never wants humanity to be enslaved by sin, sufferings and afflictions. Mother was very much firm in her conviction and so by God's grace she faced and overcame challenges. Thousands of calls came to her from different parts of the world to bring her charity and love to the poor.

Mother Teresa's movement of charity and her option for the poor had miraculous effects: peace and joy. According to her the fruit of prayer is faith, the fruit of faith is love, the fruit of love is peace and joy. Wherever the Mother and her Missionaries of Charity were and are, there were and are these visible fruits.

Mother Teresa came to Bangladesh, opened different houses in Dhaka city and in other towns and villages where Missionary Sisters are continuing with the tasks of charity. The nature of the Sisters' charitable works in Bangladesh are: caring for the sick and the afflicted; caring and loving the children many of whom are unwanted or found on the streets; caring and loving the mentally and physically retarded. Sisters go to the poorest of the poor. Initiated by the Mother, the whole life style of the Missionaries of Charity manifests total commitment and dedication to love and service to the poor. And in Bangladesh it is a challenging ideal, to be inspired and followed by all.

Beginning from state authorities to the least counted in the society and family we all speak from a pulpit about love and charity. We advice others using attractive words to be dedicated, to be followers of people like Mother Teresa and be in action with selfless service. But Mother's life brings us to our conscience and authentic question: how much, as heads of social, political, educational, religious institutions are we inspired by the exemplary life or lives? Do we practice what we preach from the stage?

Bangladesh needs today dedicated people who are ready to serve the poor, the sick, the unloved unconditionally, expecting no reward or recognition in return. When we, rarely though, do experience this love and service, we are attracted and amazed by that. Hopefully, still we experience in some dispensaries, schools and colleges the same love in action and service that Mother Teresa began in this world. So all the values are not lost yet.

Serving God becomes a reality by serving man. Jesus says that whatsoever we do to the least of our brothers, that we do unto Him. When we give food to the hungry, drink to the thirsty, shelter to the homeless, visit the prisoners and care for the sick, we serve God. And thereby we become worthy to enter the Kingdom of God, heaven.

As we commemorate the death of Mother Teresa, let us not only pay our tribute with flowers, but also be inspired to love and serve the poor in action wherever we are and whatever circumstance we are in. Let us be inspired by her ideals, by her life totally consecrated for God and for the poor. Let us ask a realistic question to ourselves: Do we have enough compassion and feelings for the poor and the destitute who are around us? Let us take some action-plan and implement that through selfless service.