Great Hearts of Courage: Mother Teresa

This excellent biography of Agnesë Gonxha Bojaxhiu—better known as Mother Teresa—combines dramatic re-enactments, archival footage, interviews, and sound bites from the subject herself to paint a fairly comprehensive portrait of an extraordinary woman who called herself “just a pencil in the hands of God.” Beginning with her childhood in Albania and ending with her state funeral in India, where her compassionate service to those who were considered human refuse made her world renowned, Mother Teresa (part of the Great Hearts of Courage series) traces her life while placing it within the context of international events. Although many consider Mother Teresa worthy of sainthood, she's seen here as simply someone who was utterly committed to ministering to the sickest and most destitute because they were “Jesus in a disturbing disguise.” While her service in Calcutta is best known, the program also covers other projects with which she was involved, such as opening the first AIDS hospice in New York City. Except for a mention of accepting money from questionable sources, this is a largely positive overview—with no critique of Mother Teresa's ministry or her spiritual struggles—underscoring her unquestionable ability to see dignity and worth in the most ostracized individuals (a quality that inspired many around the globe). The other titles in this series are Billy Graham, Elie Wiesel, Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, Nelson Mandela, Martin Luther King Jr., and C.S. Lewis. Recommended. Aud: J, H, P. (E. Gieschen)