Meeting Mother Teresa

Michelle Nott reflects on her recent experience of visiting a relic of Mother Teresa, a saint she's turned to throughout her motherhood journey. 

I checked my email and noticed one from my son’s teacher: “The students have a wonderful opportunity to venerate a relic of Mother Teresa.” My jaw dropped. Mother Teresa is one of the saints I look up to the most and now the kids and I finally would get the chance to visit her relic. And it was all happening at our home parish!   

On September 5th, we celebrate Saint Teresa of Calcutta’s feast day. This year, I was fortunate enough to spend some of that day with a first-class relic of Mother Teresa. My parish is now host to this relic as it will stay in the church.  

I am so fortunate to have gotten two opportunities to visit with her relic. One was on Friday afternoon on her feast day. I couldn’t attend school Mass with my kids due to scheduling conflicts, but I had to drop off paperwork at the parish office and had just enough time to drop in to see the relic. On Sunday at Mass, the relic was displayed again. Both times I visited her relic and asked for Mother Teresa's intercession, I left feeling a sense of peace washing over me.  

It is also consoling to me to know that I can continue to visit her relic at church any time it is open. 

Mother Teresa as my Role Model   

I was so excited to find out that my church was hosting her relic for the weekend, and then also even more excited to find out that it’s here to stay. Mother Teresa has been my friend for a while now. She has become a constant source of advice and a role model in my motherhood journey, and I would not be where I am today without her.   

When my kids are fighting at bedtime and ask for one more drink of water because they’re thirsty, I’ll be honest and say I lose my patience. But then I walk away and think of how Mother Teresa focused on Jesus’ quote, “I thirst” (John 19:28), and I turn around and bring a glass of water to whichever child needs it.   

Mother Teresa has been a friend to turn to when I was battling depression, as she also had her own struggles with feeling God’s presence but remained faithful to Him throughout.  

 She even was there for me at a doctor’s appointment during my last pregnancy! I was experiencing heart palpitations and was referred to by a cardiologist to make sure all was well. I wore a shirt with Mother Teresa on it that day. My doctor noticed my shirt and told me that she had worked with Mother Teresa for a little bit! Learning that fact about my doctor helped me feel more comfortable during a time when I was feeling worried.   

Turning to the Saints  

We can turn to the saints during difficult times in our lives or for challenges we are facing. It is always nice to have a saintly friend from whom we can ask for intercessory prayers. Mother Teresa is a great friend to have during our motherhood journey!  

I also think she is a great friend to have as we are trying to create a more inclusive and welcoming community. She always talked about the importance of treating everyone with kindness and establishing peace. During times like now where tensions are high, we can ask her to pray for us and help us become more faithful to God like she was.  

Mother Teresa saw Jesus present in everyone around her. Imagine how much better a place the world could be if we did the same.  

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Copyright 2025 Michelle Nott
Images: (top, bottom) iStockPhoto.com, licensed for use by Holy Cross Family Ministries; (center) Canva