Blessed Mother Teresa’s Advice on ‘Securing Heaven’

Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta, who dedicated her life to serving Christ by ministering to the poorest of the poor, shared the following advice in her book “No Greater Love”:

“One thing will always secure heaven for us: the acts of charity and kindness with which we have filled our lives. We will never know how much good just a simple smile can do. We tell people how kind, forgiving, and understanding God is, but are we the living proof? Can they really see this kindness, this forgiveness, this understanding alive in us?

“Let us be very sincere in our dealings with each other and have the courage to accept each other as we are. Do not be surprised or become preoccupied at each other’s failure; rather see and find the good in each other, for each one of us is created in the image of God. Keep in mind that our community is not composed of those who are already saints, but of those trying to become saints. Therefore, let us be extremely patient with each other’s faults and failures.”