In Mother Teresa’s acceptance speech, she said,
“I accept the prize in the name of the poor.
The prize is the recognition of the poor World,”
And harkened all to the biblical texts: at our death,
What would matter would be to have helped those who were hungry,
Hungry for bread, for love and human dignity;
And to have helped those who were naked – not just
Naked of clothes, but of love and a human touch.
She said, “Our poor people don’t need our pity
And sympathy, they need our understanding love.”
She told the story of a man who was covered by maggots,
Whom they cleaned and cared for, who died knowing this:
That he was loved, with dignity, care, and a bottomless
Devotion to sharing the joy of a life lived without comforts.
June Edvenson 