--Madeleine Glaser
Anne Sebba's biography, Mother Teresa: Beyond the Image, tells the story of her life as a missionary and the political, social, and historical impact of her work as head of The Missionaries of Charity. Structured in two major sections, Part I narrates her life chronologically. Part II discusses pro and con criticisms of her work as they relate to her philosophy and methods. The story begins in 1910 in Albania and outlines Mother Teresa's formative years and her journey from that of a nun of the Loreto Order to her final years in Calcutta as head of the Missionaries of Charity and her death in 1997.
As in all biographies, difficulties arise when one tries to describe the vision of the story, since the vision must be the person's accomplishments and impact on the world. Sebba writes a sterling, first rate account of Mother Teresa's life, researching through extensive travel and interviews with the person of Mother Teresa herself and countless others who knew her and worked with her. Mother Teresa's vision of her life was to serve Christ by ministering to the poor, the dying, and the hopelessly ill wherever the needy cried out for help. She heard those cries and responded first in India.
The strength of this book lies in its ability to inform the world about the life of one woman who recognized her mission as that of service to the poor and who tremendously affected the lives of many who stood with her as workers for Christ. Testimonies came from people who witnessed the same conditions as the Missionaries of Charity and returned to their homes feeling that the best that was possible to give was the goal of Mother Teresa. These testimonies speak of the universal impact of her work. She once told her workers, "Touch them, wash them, feed them, . . . . Give Christ to the world, don't keep him to yourself, and in doing so use your hands" (Sebba 157). The testimony of her life shows how she gave Christ to the world through her missionary endeavors.
Sebba includes controversial reports from those who do not share Mother Teresa's vision. Biography should first ring truthfully and fairly and secondly should in no way tarnish the reputation of a virtuous person. This poses a formidable task, for all influential people in their humanity go about their lives doing what they know how to do best. They do not think about how people will judge them, since second guessing the legacy you leave is not in the nature of great minds. Criticisms, although well-meaning in purpose and intent, can and do become unfair in treatment. For example, when negative criticisms arise, the whole story needs telling. Recounting selected circumstances adversely affects reader opinion, a method that leads to cloudy judgment.
Christian missionaries seek to share the Gospel of Christ to those they serve and to love as Christ loves. The distinction between a moral philosophy of philanthropy and a Christian imperative of sharing Christ with the world by loving the unloved needs to be addressed in this context. Criticisms often came from those who judged the philanthropic aspects of her work and the lack of efficiency in the organization. Not a fair criticism of The Missionaries of Charity or of Mother Teresa.
Sebba contrasts negative criticisms with more positive accounts, but the question has been raised about Mother Teresa's methods, and this intimates harsh judgment of a woman who spent her entire life in service to mankind. In so doing, the author injects bias into the work. That is what hurts this story. Not that exploring methods employed by others would hurt the legacy of Mother Teresa, but rather that particular type of analysis belongs in something other than biography. Negative yet true comments about a person's life are entirely justifiable, but only when fully analyzed and explored. Better to leave criticisms out of a biography than to gloss over events and circumstances. I doubt that any author can do justice to such an expansive topic in less than 300 pages.
Mother Teresa knew that she was a sinful human being and needed God's forgiveness. That is why she went to confession every day. The scope of her biography should focus on what she accomplished, not how other people have done it better or more efficiently. The key to her philosophy is found in a book which was published in 1975 and from which the royalties went entirely to benefit the Missionaries of Charity. She said, "All of us are but His instruments, who do our little bit and pass by" (Mother Teresa 45). This testifies to her humility and reliance on God to accomplish the final result, whether to aid and comfort the dying or to uphold the sanctity of life.
In summary, Sebba's biography challenges the reader to glean wonderful kernels about a humble servant of God. This story appeals to those who want to learn more about Mother Teresa's work among the poor and needy and the legacy she left for the missionaries who continue in this important and necessary work for the Kingdom of God. Her work speaks for itself and needs no defense beyond that.
Works Cited:
Mother Teresa. A Gift for God: Prayers and Meditations. San Francisco: Harper Collins, 1996.
Sebba, Anne. Mother Teresa: Beyond the Image. New York: Doubleday, 1997.
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