“A life not lived for others is not a life” (St. Teresa of Kolkata).

My favorite volunteer experience brought me to a village outside of Tegucigalpa, Honduras, in a small orphanage where children are raised with unconditional love, despite the poverty surrounding them. In the week and a half or so I spent working on construction projects, painting, and spending time with the children, I felt my own heart was overflowing with love, joy, and gratitude. It was the first time in my life I truly understood the virtue of charity. There is a beautiful truth found in serving others, especially the poor and vulnerable: As Mother Teresa (St. Teresa of Kolkata) said, “Each one of them is Jesus in disguise.”

The Virtue of Charity

What comes to mind when you hear the word “charity”? Most of us think of nonprofit organizations, philanthropy, volunteerism, and efforts toward creating peace in our world.

But, is there a deeper meaning behind the word charity? What if we looked at it as a theological virtue?

The Catechism shares that charity is where “we love God above all things and our neighbor as ourselves for love of God. Charity, the form of all the virtues, ‘binds everything together in perfect harmony’ (Col 3:14)” (CCC 1844).

The virtue of charity can be a difficult one to live out as busy business leaders navigating work/life integration. Running around every day, trying to check off everything on our to-do lists, we often forget to take a second and pray—or, better yet, start our day with the Lord. We often forget to thank God for the day in front of us, to put Him above our checklists, and to love Him above all things so we can also love the people around us.

Sometimes, it can be difficult to love our neighbors due to our differing opinions, personalities, and interests. In the workplace, charity can be one of the hardest virtues to embody. It can be challenging to love people who have a variety of personalities or whom you disagree with and to will their good.

Today, we celebrate the feast day of St. Teresa of Kolkata, known throughout the world as Mother Teresa. St. Teresa not only shows us the beauty of service and putting the needs of others above our own, but she exemplifies the theological virtue of charity, showing us how to grow in love of God and neighbor.

An Example of Impeccable Charity

Mother Teresa is widely known for dedicating her life to prayer and serving the poor. In 1946, she felt a call from the Lord, who revealed to her His pain at the neglect of the poor. This call led her to establish the Missionaries of Charity, dedicated to serving the poorest of the poor in the Archdiocese of Kolkata.

This religious community grew, and people throughout the world came to know Mother Teresa as an advocate for the poor, a woman of deep faith and hope, and a hero for the people of Calcutta.

Many other Missionaries of Charity communities followed, including the Missionaries of Charity Brothers, the Co-Workers of Mother Teresa, the Sick and Suffering Co-Workers, and the Lay Missionaries of Charity. Mother Teresa went on to win a Nobel Peace Prize in 1979.

Mother Teresa passed away on September 5, 1997. At that time, according to Catholic Online, there were almost 4,000 Missionaries of Charity sisters in 123 countries around the world.

International Day of Charity

To honor St. Teresa of Kolkata and her dedication to loving the people in greatest need, the United Nations established September 5, her feast day, as the International Day of Charity in 2012.

This day was instituted in order to create a greater awareness of the importance of charity throughout the world through educational opportunities, volunteer efforts, and the promotion of the needs of marginalized and underprivileged communities. The goal of the International Day of Charity is to not only raise awareness but to also inspire stakeholders, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and wealthier nations to provide support to impoverished nations and communities and to feel inspired to volunteer.

How Can You Get Involved?

You don’t have to travel to another country to participate in the International Day of Charity. Consider becoming a volunteer with a local organization you care about or donating toward a cause you love. Nonprofits and other social impact organizations are always looking for volunteers to help with programming, outreach, and operational needs. If you have talents with specific needs they’re looking for, like social media management, fundraising, or event planning and coordination, offer your services. Your parish or diocese may also need volunteers with upcoming events or ministries.

An impactful tool to use this International Day of Charity is social media. Share the mission of your favorite nonprofits through social media to gain support, raise awareness, and create positive change. Social media can also be a great way to share with friends and family that today is an important day to spread love throughout the world.

Go home and love your family today! One way Mother Teresa shared that people can change the world is simply to love their family. Spend some time today with people you love, whether through a meal shared together, a phone call with long-distance friends or relatives, or spending quality time with others.

Probably the most important way to participate in the International Day of Charity is to pray. Pray for a stronger zeal for charity in your own life and in the lives of the people in your community. Pray for the poor and marginalized throughout the world. Pray for the people you love and for individuals whom you struggle to love sometimes. Ask God for the strength and courage to love Him above all else and to love your neighbor more than yourself. And, in true St. Teresa of Kolkata fashion, pray for the Lord to make you an instrument of His peace.

Wherever the Lord leads you today on International Day of Charity, may you have the strength, courage, and love to make a significant impact in your community. Remember to see Jesus in the people you serve and to help others with true joy in your heart.

St. Teresa of Kolkata, pray for us!

Marisa McDonald lives in Central Indiana with her husband and energetic German Shepherd pup. She is the Community Manager for a local nonprofit which connects women in the community with professional mentorship opportunities. She aspires to start her own social enterprise or non-profit some day. On weekends, you can find her hiking with her husband and dog throughout Southern Indiana, making meals and hosting family and friends, or heading to the local coffee shop for a latte. Connect with Marisa through Instagram, LinkedIn, or Facebook.