Mother Teresa’s Memorabilia

TIRANA, September 1 – A special exhibition called the “Saint of Gutters” has opened at the National Historical Museum in Tirana featuring some of Mother Teresa’s memorabilia items. The exhibition held as part of events celebrating the 100th birth anniversary of the Nobel Peace Prize winner of Albanian origin features personal items, photos, videos and publications on Mother Teresa.
Some personal items of Mother Teresa during her two visits in Albania, in 1989 and 1991 just before the collapse of the communist regime which banned religion for more than 30 years starting from 1967, have also been put on display.
The exhibition displays a handmade carpet given as a gift to Mother Teresa on her first visit and some items the Catholic nun used during her second visit in the northern city of Shkodra where she had lunch with family members of missionary Terezina Marubi.
The exhibition at the National Museum will be open until mid-September.
Other events held on Mother Teresa’s birthday included a poetry evening at the Rozafa castle in the northern city of Shkodra bringing together some of the National Theatre’s best artists reading the nun’s sayings.
A design project to build a memorial museum dedicated to Mother Teresa in the capital’s square named after her was also presented last week. The memorial designed as a three-storey building will promote Mother Teresa’s life.
The 100th birth anniversary of Mother Teresa will be marked with a marathon of cultural events until October 19, the day of her beatification seven years ago.
In 1979, Mother Teresa was awarded the Nobel Prize for Peace, and in 1985 she received the Medal of Freedom from the United States. She was beatified by Pope John Paul II on 19 October 2003, placing her one step from sainthood in the Catholic faith.