VATICAN: Saint Teresa of Calcutta Added to General Roman Calendar, to be Celebrated Annually on September 5th

Sr. Henriette Anne, FSSA

In a decree issued on December 24^th, 2024, the Dicastery for Divine Worship and Discipline of the Sacraments announced the inscription of the Optional Memorial of Saint Teresa of Calcutta, Virgin, into the General Roman Calendar, to be celebrated annually on September 5^th.

The decree, signed by Cardinal Arthur Roche, Prefect of the Dicastery, and Archbishop Vittorio Francesco Viola, O.F.M, states that the decision ion was made by Pope Francis following the widespread petition from bishops, religious orders, and associations of the faithful who stressed the impact of her spirituality, and her mission to serve “the poorest of the poor”.

“This insertion willed by the Holy Father in response to the requests of bishops, religious and associations of the faithful, and considering the influence of the spirituality of Saint Teresa of Calcutta throughout the world, wished to propose her an outstanding witness to hope for those who had been discarded in life”.

“Pope Francis, accepting the petitions and desires of Pastors, Religious men and women, as well as Associations of the Faithful, and considering the influence exercised by the spirituality of Saint Teresa in different parts of the world, has decreed that the name of Saint Teresa of Calcutta, Virgin, shall be inscribed in the General Roman Calendar and her Optional Memorial shall be celebrated by all on 5 September every year”.

Reflecting on the life of St. Teresa, the decree points out that “she dedicated herself completely to satiate the thirst of Jesus Christ for love and souls, serving him amongst the poorest of the poor. Filled with the love of God, she radiated that same love in equal measure to others”.

From the Decree, the Bishop’s Conferences are tasked with translating and publishing the necessary liturgical text, including; First Reading from Isaish 58: 6-22, Psalm 33, with the refrain, Lord at all times”., Gospel of Mathew from 25: 31-46, that passage that includes Jesus’ words; “whatever you have done to the very list of my brothers and sisters, you have also done to me, and office of the reading is a letter from Saint Teresa to Father Joseph Neuner 1960.

In the decree, the Prefect points out that Pope Francis at the Eucharistic celebration during the right of canonization of the Saint Teresa of Calcutta described her as a generous conduit of divine Mercy, which like salt which gives flavor to everything, and light which illumines the darkness, pervaded all that she undertook.

“In his homily at the Eucharistic Celebration, during which the Rite of Canonization of Saint Teresa of Calcutta took place (4 September 2016), Pope Francis pointed to her as a generous conduit of divine mercy which, like salt which gives flavor to everything, and light which illumines the darkness, pervaded all that she undertook”.