Works of Love Are Works of Peace: Mother Teresa and the Missionaries of Charity

by Michael Collopy (Photographer)

More than four years in the making and published with the permission and cooperation of Mother Teresa of Calcutta, this large format 224 page book offers the most comprehensive photographic documentation of the apostolic work and prayer life of the Missionaries of Charity yet published. Destined to serve as an important historical record, this illustrated prayer book vividly portrays the peace and joy that can come when small things are done with great love.The more than 180 fine art quality tri-tone photographs, along with spiritual counsel from Mother Teresa, will provide a lifetime of rich material for prayer and meditation. Also included and published for the first time ever, with Mother Teresa's special permission, is an appendix containing the contents of the Missionaries of Charity daily prayer book as well as a most personal and profound letter on the interior life written by Mother Teresa during Holy Week of 1993 and addressed to her entire order. Though meant originally as an instruction and appeal to those in her order, this I Thirst letter is certain to become a source of spiritual light and encouragement, drawing innumerable hearts and souls closer to God.

Genres: Nonfiction, Religion, Catholic

224 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 1996

Reviews

[Margaret Ciolino · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book while staying with my God Aunt In Law. My husband’s dear cousin is about to make her Final Vows as a Sister of Charity and my FIL is a lay missionary of Charity. This book was in the guest room I was staying in and I delved in.

The photos in this book are moving (sometimes upsetting) - the work of the sisters is for the forgotten, the cast down and despised but they have so much joy. The letters of Mother Teresa and speeches were moving - they are prescient and helped me to better understand her heart for bringing Jesus to the darkest places.

I cannot recommend this enough I will probably find a used copy to have this book to have in our home.

[Amy Bush · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inspiring, beautiful. Love starts at home.

[Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

THE PRAYERS AT THE BACK are alone worth it! While many are traditional Catholic prayers and practices there is the added Charism that Mother Teresa emphasized. The photos are also very striking. There is a Hindu tradition called Darshan where the image is seen as representing God, one could spend time just looking at the pictures of her hands and feet! what prayer provoking images!!! I honestly did not think I would react that way!!!

[Barb · Rating 5 out of 5]

While biographies are a wonderful way to get to know a person, they don’t always tell the whole story. Photographer Michael Collopy proves that images can say much more than words in the newly-reissued photobook from Ignatius Press, Works of Love are Works of Peace, which documents the work of Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta and her Missionaries of Charity. Originally published in 1996, the large-format book has been updated with an appendix containing the contents of the Missionaries of Charity daily prayer book as well as a most personal and profound letter on the interior life written by Mother Teresa during Holy Week of 1993 and addressed to her entire order.

Described by the publisher as an “illustrated prayer book,” Works of Love are Works of Peace is an extended photo essay that brings home the radical life of service modeled by Blessed Mother Teresa and the Sisters.

My full review is here.

[Gretchen Taylor]

This book has some of the most beautiful and moving pictures I have ever seen. I have looked at it over and over again.