to prevent them from being exploited by commercial interests. It is diffi-
cult to say what the future holds for the order; like many other religious
orders, the changing climate of the times often forces changes if a reli-
gious group hopes to survive. There may be changes in the way the com-
munity lives or is administered. There may even be a subtle shift in how
best to help the poor, but, as Sister Nirmala comes from a contemplative
background—as opposed to a medical or social work emphasis—the di-
rection of the Missionaries of Charity is carried out as Mother Teresa had
originally envisioned it.THE LEGACY OF MOTHER TERESA
When asked to explain the Missionaries of Charity, Mother Teresa
once remarked, “We are first of all religious; we are not social workers, not
teachers, not nurses or doctors, we are religious sisters. We serve Jesus in
the poor.”^14 With that statement, Mother Teresa made clear the mission
of the order and to the best of her abilities lived her life following that
simple premise.
Still, there is no question that for the last 20 years of her life Mother
Teresa and her work were at times seriously misunderstood. She inspired
many people not through powerful speeches or magnificent works but be-
cause she exemplified a way, imperfect as it was at times, of using the
power of love to heal and save. As journalist Mary Poplin pointed out, the
key to understanding Mother Teresa and the Missionaries of Charity is
the sacredness with which they treat all people and their humble way of
carrying out their work. To the Missionaries of Charity, Jesus is present in
everyone they meet whether it is a young volunteer from New Jersey or an
old Muslim woman starved and half-eaten by rats and worms, or the de-
formed infant just born and left in a garbage heap. Christ is present in ev-
eryone, but most especially in the poorest of the poor. From the very
beginning, Mother Teresa and her order reached out to treat each person
they encountered as they would Jesus Christ. Thus, they performed each
task for the benefit of the poor as they would do it for Christ. In other
words, it is Jesus’ diapers they wash, his meals they prepare, his ailing body
they tend, and his hand being held.
On closer inspection, Mother Teresa appeared a contradiction, a walk-
ing paradox, and later, a woman out of step with the times. But that as-
sessment dismisses her and her work much too easily. Mary Poplin, the
journalist who volunteered for the Missionaries of Charity, tried to ex-
plain her understanding of Mother Teresa:
“THE MOST OBEDIENT WOMAN IN THE CHURCH” 139