Missionaries of Charity

Forty years ago, the Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to a nun. Something that nun was doing attracted the attention of the Nobel committee. What was it? The epistle reading for today gives us a clue.

The Nobel Peace Prize.

Since 1901, it has been awarded 99 times. Over the years, 130 laureates have received it: 89 men, 17 women and 24 organizations.

Last October, the prize went to Denis Mukwege and Nadia Murad for their efforts to end the use of sexual violence as a weapon of war.

In 2017, the Nobel was given to the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons.

Ten years ago, Barack Obama received the prize for his efforts to strengthen international diplomacy.

Forty years ago? Well, that was 1979!

Do you even remember 1979? The year of the Sony Walkman, the Burton snowboard, the McDonald’s Happy Meal and leg warmers.

1979 was 40 years ago, the number of years that the Israelites wandered in the wilderness. Forty years is the amount of time it takes for a new generation to arise. Over the course of four decades, people can move from one era to another.

Forty years ago, on October 17, 1979, Mother Teresa of Calcutta was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. She heard a...