Pope Francis has officially added the feast of St. Teresa of Calcutta, celebrated annually on Sept. 5, to the Catholic Church’s liturgical calendar as an optional memorial, recognizing her enduring legacy of compassion and service. The Vatican’s Feb. 11 decree highlights St. Teresa’s global impact, noting how her name continues to inspire and offer hope to countless people facing life’s struggles.
Known around the world as Mother Teresa, the Albanian-born founder of the Missionaries of Charity dedicated her life to serving the impoverished in Calcutta, India. Her canonization in 2016 by Pope Francis cemented her status as a symbol of mercy and the Gospel in action. Now, with her feast day enshrined in the Church’s liturgical calendar, her work and witness will be commemorated with specific prayers and readings during Mass and the Liturgy of the Hours.
The new optional memorial, ranked third in the Church’s classification of feast days, offers a choice for local communities to celebrate St. Teresa’s life and spirituality. The readings for the day focus on themes of service, humility, and mercy, with a special emphasis on the words of Christ: “Whatever you have done to the very least of my brothers and sisters you have done also to me” (Mt 25:40).
Cardinal Arthur Roche, prefect of the Dicastery for Divine Worship, underscored St. Teresa’s radical living of the Gospel, noting her commitment to the poorest of the poor and her embodiment of mercy. Her devotion to Christ’s cry, “I thirst,” and her lifelong service to those in need will continue to serve as a model for Catholics worldwide, calling them to a life of love, sacrifice, and dignity.
