Every year on September 5, the International Day of Charity commemorates Mother Teresa’s death. Mother Teresa died on September 5, 1997, at the age of 87, and was known for her dedication to the poor. Mother Teresa’s followers around the world, including those in the Philippines, will mark the 24th anniversary of her death on Sunday (September 5).
Mother Teresa was given a state funeral after her death by the government in recognition of her services to India’s poor of all faiths. In 2003, Pope John Paul II declared her a saint. On the eve of her death anniversary, September 4, 2016, Pope Francis canonised her.
Mother Teresa, dubbed the “living saint” during her lifetime, founded the Missionaries of Charity in 1950, which has since spread to many countries.
The United Nations issued a commemorative stamp honouring Mother Teresa on August 12 of this year. One of Mother Teresa’s most famous quotes appears on the right side of the stamp: “Not all of us can do great things.” But we can make a big difference by doing small things with a lot of love.”
The International Day of Charity has a long and illustrious history.
In 2012, the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed the International Day of Charity. This day was also endorsed by Hungarian civil society, as well as the Hungarian parliament and government.
The Importance of International Charity Day
During the United Nations Sustainable Development Summit in 2015, the idea of an International Day of Charity was conceived as a way to help bridge the gap between the rich and poor, as well as to provide financial assistance to poor countries in order to meet the world’s sustainable development goals by 2030. The International Day of Charity was established on September 5 to commemorate Mother Teresa’s death anniversary.
Mother Teresa’s devotees gather at her gravesite in Kolkata every year on her death anniversary for special thanksgiving masses and prayers, as well as to offer flowers, candles, and sing hymns.
