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From a trusted advisor and devoted friend of Mother Teresa comes a powerful The Washington Free Beacon firsthand account of the miraculous woman behind the saint and a book that is rich in reflection on contemporary sanctity George Weigel

Mother Teresa was one of the most admired women of the 20th century and her memory continues to inspire charitable work around the world She believed the greatest need of a human being is to love and be loved In 1948 she founded the Missionaries of Charity to work directly with the very poorest of Calcutta From the efforts of one woman entering the slums of Entally the Missionaries of Charity grew into an organization operating soup kitchens health clinics hospices and shelters in 139 countries at no cost to any government or to those who served In 2016 she became Saint Teresa of Calcutta

Author Jim Towey had been a highflying Congressional staffer and lawyer in the 1980s until a brief meeting with Mother Teresa illuminated the emptiness of his life He began volunteering at one of her soup kitchens and using his legal skills and political connections to help the Missionaries of Charity When Mother Teresa suggested he take up shifts at her AIDS hospice Towey realized he was all in Soon he gave up his job and possessions and became a fulltime volunteer for Mother Teresa He traveled with her frequently arranged her meetings with politicians and handled many of her legal affairs

To Love and Be Loved is an inspiring and joyful Kirkus Reviews firsthand account of Mother Teresas last years and the first book ever to detail her dealings with worldly matters We see her gracefully navigate the opportunities and challenges to leadership the perils of celebrity and the humiliations and triumphs of aging We also catch her indulging in chocolate ice cream making jokes about miniskirts and telling the President of the United States hes wrong Above all we see her extraordinary devotion to God and to the very poorest of His children Mother Teresa taught Towey to be more prayerful less selfish more humble less worldly move in love with God and less in love with himself Her lessons are here for all to share