I met the author of Mother Teresa and Me at a Catholic Writer’s Conference in August 2009, and I was very interested in reading her soon-to-be-published book about her friendship and correspondence with Mother Teresa. A copy of the book was the only item on my Christmas wish list, so of course it was the only item that my husband got me which arrived about a month late.It was well worth the wait. I found the insights into the life and ministry of Mother Teresa to be very inspiring. I also loved the story about how Donna-Marie and her family came to know the woman long referred to as a living saint. The pictures included in the book are very moving. The tenderness Mother Teresa had for children, the joy she exuded, and her deep love of God come across clearly through the photos and the excerpts of the letters she wrote to Donna-Marie over a number of years.
So many books have been written about Mother Teresa over the years, but this one has a much more intimate feel than some of the biographies about her. The letters and photos certainly contribute to this. Another element which strengthens the book’s draw and makes it easier for the reader to identify with those in the book is the bond that developed between a working wife/ mother/author/speaker and a world-renown consecrated religious woman very busy with her ministry to the poorest of the poor.
I believe the depth of this connection was made possible because each of these women shared common priorities: to love and serve God above all else, to live out the vocation each was called to in a spirit of humility and submission to the promptings of the Holy Spirit, and to engage in active ministry to care for any and all of God’s children in need. I believe Mother Teresa saw in Donna-Marie a kindred spirit and was therefore inspired to keep in touch with her over the years.
It is indeed a blessing that Donna-Marie has been led to share some of the insights, love, and compassion manifested in her own life as a result of her friendship with Mother Teresa.
You can purchase this book here.
I wrote this review of Mother Teresa and Me for the Tiber River Blogger Review program. Tiber River is the first Catholic book review site, started in 2000 to help you make informed decisions about Catholic book purchases. I receive free product samples as compensation for writing reviews for Tiber River.
