Mother Teresa’s Canonization Portrait and More

September 15, 2016 - Donna-Marie Cooper O'Boyle

It was a blessing to be at the Knights of Columbus Museum in New Haven, CT just two days before Mother Teresa’s canonization in Rome, Italy. The original portrait that was used for the canonization was hung on the wall of the Museum for all to see. It had been unveiled in Washington DC just days before. Here is an article about the painting in Aleteia. And another article here about Mother Teresa and events at the Museum.

Gazing upon the beautiful portrait and feeling like Mother Teresa was gazing upon me!

I had the wonderful opportunity to venerate a first class relic of dear Mother Teresa. It was a very moving experience.

It is always such a blessing to be with the MC Sisters. These Sisters are from the Bridgeport, CT convent. They were present on Friday before the canonization day. They were presented a stunning replica of the portrait for their convent.

This is on Mother Teresa’s canonization day at the Knights of Columbus Museum. I gave a reflection to more than 100 people who came out that day. I could have been in Rome but Mother Teresa’s words “Love begins at home” kept ringing in my heart when I was praying about where I should be on that day. There were various requests for me to be here in the US to speak about Mother Teresa and do many news interviews, and more. I knew my place was here, though I still felt united to all that was going on in Rome. Graces abounded on that beautiful day and I am sure they will continue.

I loved sharing about my spiritual mother, dear Mother Teresa.

Here is a recent article I wrote for Catholic World Report about some of my experiences knowing Mother Teresa.

God bless you! May St. Teresa of Calcutta guide you ever closer to Jesus!

[Most photos here by Aaron Joseph, Catholic Life Photography]

Graces abound on and around Mother Teresa’s Canonization day!

September 5, 2016 - Donna-Marie Cooper O'Boyle

I was blessed to have been part of an event in Mother Teresa’s honor at the Knights of Columbus Museum in New Haven, CT a couple of days before her canonization day. The original portrait painting was unveiled and hung at the Museum. A photograph of the image was used to make over a million prayer cards for the canonization in Rome. The banners used at the canonization were taken from that image. It was a privilege to be part of the event.

I have been extremely busy this past week doing many media interviews including Fox News in New York City and doing many radio shows (at least 2 or 3 a day). You can listen to some of the interviews on this website. I’ll add more to my website when I get a chance.

I’ll be traveling to Ave Maria University in a couple of days to bring the message of Mother Teresa to University students there.

But, first, I’ll leave you with a couple of photos from the Knights Museum.

And today is Mother Teresa’s feast day! Pray for the graces!

God bless you! Please pray for me!

Donna-Marie to present at the Knights of Columbus Museum

August 29, 2016 - Donna-Marie Cooper O'Boyle

The Knights of Columbus Museum will celebrate the canonization of Mother Teresa of Calcutta with a series of events beginning Friday, Sept. 2, 2016.
The original of the official canonization portrait will be received at the Museum in a ceremony at 10:15 a.m. Titled “St. Teresa of Calcutta: Carrier of God’s Love,” the painting was commissioned as a gift to the Missionaries of Charity, the religious order founded in 1950 by Mother Teresa. Painted by Chas Fagan, a Yale University alum living in North Carolina, the portrait was selected by the Mother Teresa Center as the official image that will be draped from the façade of St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City during the Sept. 4 canonization ceremony.

In addition to the painting, the Knights of Columbus has donated more than a million holy cards bearing the official image for distribution in St. Peter’s Square on canonization day. Printed at the Knights of Columbus printing plant in New Haven, an estimated 500,000 more cards are being printed for distribution by Missionaries of Charity at their various homes and centers.

Also on Sept. 2, a relic of Mother Teresa will be available for public veneration from 12-4 p.m. The relic may be venerated Sept. 3-7 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., except Sept. 6, when veneration will continue until 7 p.m.

The Museum will welcome Donna-Marie Cooper O’Boyle for a presentation on Mother Teresa’s spirituality and mission Sunday, Sept. 4, at 2 p.m. In addition, she will do a book signing of her books. Donna-Marie will also be present on September 2, 2016 and available for interviews that morning. Donna-Marie was blessed to know Mother Teresa for ten years. She is a popular speaker and author of several books, including “Mother Teresa and Me: Ten Years of Friendship,” “The Kiss of Jesus: How Mother Teresa and the Saints Helped Me To Discover the Beauty of the Cross,” and “Bringing Lent Home with Mother Teresa.”

The Museum’s display, “Mother Teresa: Saint of the Streets,” continues until Nov. 6, however the original painting is available to be viewed for only a limited time. It is to be formally presented at the Mother Teresa Center in Rome at an undetermined date.