Memories about Mother Teresa in Baton Rouge ... a Pic Story ... and Songs
YouTube: Mother Teresa CD Song, “I Want You To Smile"
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6GOTsDSt_gc&feature=youtu.be
YouTube: Blessed Mother Teresa, “Beatitudes - I Must Die"
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g58dfXXUPPQ&t=4s
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“Who can say,'“No!' to Mother Teresa?” - the late Bishop Stanley Ott
About 20 years ago at an Anniversary gathering I attended for the Baton Rouge Catholic Charities, I will never forget hearing Fr. Fred Kammer, SJ, J.D., its former CEO, share that quote from the late Bishop Ott.
This pertained to how plans had been made during Bishop Ott's tenure to move some of Catholic Charities to part of the St. Agnes campus … but this changed after Mother Teresa had taken a tour of that same area with the late episcopal leader and had asked for and received permission to start a homeless shelter for women and children at that location … subsequently, it was opened in 1985.
Fr. Kammer had noted that subsequent to Mother Teresa's Baton Rouge visit, he had gotten word that Catholic Charities was no longer going to be moving to the St. Agnes area … so he asked the late Bishop Ott what had happened … thus, the response noted that all of us can surely relate to: “Who can say, 'No!' to Mother Teresa?”
So many people have fond memories of Mother Teresa … my wife and I recall when she came to New Orleans in October 1984 and had an audience with her at the UNO Assembly Center.
I was inspired by Mother Teresa in so many ways … her love for the poor, the unborn and people of all faith and non-faith walks … and she taught all of us how to do this simply in whatever state of life we are in by such loving examples.
Richard, one of my friends, shared a cool photograph with me depicting his Daughter, Dawn, with Mother Teresa in 1985 when the saint was at St. Agnes in Baton Rouge … this poem was inspired by the pic that had been taken by Marie Contanstin:
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A very cool black and white picture sits on my desk and is so alluring, ya know!
Dawn, a very young todler, is seen smiling with an effervescent glow!
She's looking directly at a Nun
Whose face shines resplendent like the Sun / Son
There's so much that the pic really doesn't show!
I wrote a song once about this holy gal who was so petite
Based upon the Matt 5: 1 – 12, her largess everyone would meet
She reached out to all in need
To the poorest of the poorest, indeed
It was really you and me, so incomplete
She's been Blessed by the Lord and the Church as well
All of us knew that only time would tell
Like us 'Yats love, she'd be honored among the Saints
And give true meaning to all of us 'Aints
Teaching us so much how to steer from hell
Her lowliness has certainly humbled my lofty way
All faiths and walks of life give tribute to her every day
May we follow her simple and caring Love
In Peace, like the Gentle & Guiding Dove
Mother Teresa of Calcutta, to God, through you, we surely pray!
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Last Year, I was inspired to write and record another song for Mother Teresa re: her authentic joy that she demonstrated all through her life despite what we found out after her death was noted as some very tough periods of depression and "Dark Nights of the Soul." Thus, the song is entitled, "I Want You To Smile!"
While most folks will certainly acknowledge her holiness, many don't recall her great sense of humor.
Here's one example from when she was 86 and had confided to Prince Michael of Greece that she loved to laugh and shared this:
"The other day, I dreamed that I was at the gates of heaven, and St. Peter said to me, 'Go back to earth ... there are no slums up here!'"
With the current turmoil in the Roman Catholic Church hierarchy and the dire needs for holistic reforms, Mother Teresa is still pleading for us to simply follow Micah 6:8: "Do Justice, Love Mercy and Walk Humbly with Our God!"
Mother (St.) Teresa of Calcutta (Kolkata), was canonized a Saint by Pope Francis on September 4, 2016 in Rome. The Missionaries of Charity, her Order, have an active ministry to the homeless in Baton Rouge at St. Agnes Catholic Church.
Because we have an opportunity to choose our attitude and focus our intentions in the present moment, the world and our own personal lives are a reflection of our thoughts. It is our 360 degree review on how we think. Put simply, our job is to fully
YouTube: Mother Teresa CD Song, “I Want You To Smile"
