The Princess & The Saint: The Lives of Mother Teresa and Grace Kelley
You may have heard of these two famous icons at some point over the years, as their stories still live on. They are two very different women who lived very different lives, but they both left impactful marks on society. One story was probably first heard in an elementary or middle school classroom, and the other might have been read in a magazine several years ago. This month marks the anniversary of their passing, and in honor of their legacies, let’s dive into both of their unique stories as influential women in American and world history.
Saint Mother Teresa
It is rare to come across someone who says they have never heard of Mother Teresa. She has been a staple representative of what many people consider to be a faithful servant in helping those in need. Many learned about her life and work at a very young age in school, and as people grow older, they genuinely see the enormous amount of effort she put into her life’s work of supporting the sick and the less fortunate.
Mother Teresa, whose full name is Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu, was born on August 26, 1910, in what is now Skopje, North Macedonia. From a very young age, she knew her life-long goal would be to serve others. At the young age of 18, she moved to Ireland to join the Sisters of Loreto at the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary. She was only there for a month and a half before being sent to work as a teacher in India, a role she stayed in for 17 years. In 1952, she established a hospice facility called Nirmal Hriday where people could pass peacefully and in good hands.
She received several awards, including the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979 and the Pope John XXIII Peace Prize in 1971. She also received the Padma Shri in 1962 and the Bharat Ratna in 1980, both of which are highly-ranked civilian awards in India. There are many more awards to name on Mother Teresa’s list.
Regardless of her fame due to dedicating her life to helping others, there has been a circulating controversy surrounding Mother Teresa’s life aspirations and acts of kindness that took place over the years.[1]
After her death in September 1997, Mother Teresa’s personal, unsent letters were published for the world to read. They were collectively released in a book titled Come Be My Light, edited by Brian Kolodiejchuk, in 2007. She had expressed in her letters that when she started her mission and founded Missionaries of Charity, she felt God’s absence from her life for about 50 years following the beginning of her journey. Mother Teresa explained that she felt abandoned by God and was in complete spiritual darkness during all these years of work and dedication to her mission.
This revelation of her true feelings regarding her religion and spirituality and her drive to her cause led to confusion and anger among the many who were followers of Mother Teresa. Many who worked closely with her expressed that Mother Teresa had never shown any signs or expression of feeling lost with her connection to God. The only people suspected of knowing the truth were those she spoke to in confession.
Despite some who expressed their frustration with Mother Teresa and her values while serving, she was selected to become a saint in the Catholic Church due to her hard work and striving to help those less fortunate. The church still recognized her for her commitment to helping others regardless of the fact that she admitted to feeling spiritually in the dark about God’s presence in her life.
In 2003, she was beatified, a deceased person's entrance into Heaven and capacity to intercede on behalf of individuals who pray in their name.[2] She then was officially canonized, declaring the official title of a saint after one is deceased[3], in 2016.[4]
Even though Mother Teresa may have caused some controversy surrounding her life and dedicated work, she continues to inspire countless individuals worldwide to engage in acts of service and kindness. Many are still taught in school about her life, and she will forever have an impact on history.
Princess Grace of Monaco
You might have first known her as the actress Grace Kelley, or maybe you only really knew her as Princess Grace of Monaco. Either way, her story takes a unique turn from American Hollywood royalty to Monaco royalty with a position in a royal family. Unfortunately, her story takes a sad turn, involving her tragic death in September of 1982.
Born in Philadelphia in November of 1929, Grace Kelley was born into a wealthy Irish Catholic family. Her father was famous oarsman John B. Kelley, and her uncle was the famous playwright George Kelley. She attended the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City at 18, preparing for her wanted career of becoming an actress. Kelley officially stepped out on stage in her first Broadway show, August Strindberg’s The Father, in November 1949 and her first film, Fourteen Hours, in 1951. She has been featured and starred in several other films after her first, including High Noon, Mogambo, and The Country Girl, for which she earned her first Academy Awards nomination.[5]
In 1956, Kelly met Prince Rainier III of Monaco during a photo shoot in Cannes. Their new courtship captivated the world, marked by all the tabloids, and many believed it to be the romance of a lifetime. Kelly's decision to leave her illustrious career behind for a life of royal duties at 26 was bold and controversial to some of the public. While she had achieved tremendous success, her love for Rainier and her desire to embrace a new chapter in life propelled her toward this dramatic change. The engagement was announced with great celebrations following. Grace Kelly was officially titled Her Serene Highness Princess Grace of Monaco when they wed in a lavish ceremony that drew global attention.[6]
After officially taking on royal duty and resigning from her acting career, Kelley embraced her new role with poise, taking on various charitable endeavors that focused on the arts, education, and children's welfare. She became particularly passionate about promoting cultural initiatives in Monaco and wanted to support emerging artists and foster the performing arts. This new life required her to balance her royal duties with her philanthropic commitments and her three children with Prince Rainier: Caroline, Albert, and Stéphanie. Many believed she adapted to this lifestyle gracefully and fit into the role well.[7]
Sadly, in September 1982, Princess Grace suffered a stroke while driving to her home in Monaco with her then-17-year-old daughter Princess Stéphanie. Losing control of the car, she drove off a steep mountain, plummeting 100 feet down a ravine. She tragically died from a brain hemorrhage the next day, on September 14, at age 52. Princess Stéphanie survived the accident.
The world mourned her death, and her funeral service brought in loads of attention, about 100 million viewers, from her former fans from past acting days to people who followed her philanthropic support in the community as a princess. Figures like Princess Diana, Nancy Reagan, and Cary Grant attended the funeral service to show their respect for the princess and her family.[8] Her husband founded the Princess Grace Foundation the same year she died in her honor. The foundation is a charity organization that supports emerging performers in theater, dance, and film through awards, grants, scholarships, and fellowships.[9]
The Princess and the Saint
These two women left a large impact on the world and society. Whether it was through acting in movie dramas or becoming a saint in the Catholic Church, they both made their presence known internationally. Both women did many philanthropic acts to help others in their community and change the world; their memory will live on in our history.
Sources
[1] Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. "Mother Teresa". Encyclopedia Britannica, 1 Sep. 2024, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Mother-Teresa. Accessed 5 September 2024.
[2] Wikipedia Editors. “Beatification.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 18 Aug. 2024, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beatification#.
[3] Wikipedia Editors. “Canonization.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 3 July 2024, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canonization#:~:text=Canonization%20is%20the%20declaration%20of,of%20that%20communion’s%20recognized%20saints.
[4] History.com Editors. “Mother Teresa Becomes a Saint | September 4, 2016.” History.Com, A&E Television Networks, 15 Mar. 2024, www.history.com/this-day-in-history/mother-teresa-becomes-a-saint. Accessed 5 September 2024.
[5] Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. "Grace Kelly". Encyclopedia Britannica, 11 Aug. 2024, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Grace-Kelly. Accessed 6 September 2024.
[6] Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. "Grace Kelly". Encyclopedia Britannica, 11 Aug. 2024, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Grace-Kelly. Accessed 6 September 2024.
[7] Princess Grace Foundation Editors. “On Princess Grace - Princess Grace Foundation.” Princess Grace Foundation, 14 Aug. 2023, pgfusa.org/princess-grace/.
[8] Jessen, Monique. “The Tragic Story Behind Princess Grace’s Death in a Car Accident.” People Magazine, PEOPLE, 3 Nov. 2022, people.com/royals/on-this-day-in-royal-history-princess-grace-of-monaco-died-in-a-car-crash/.
[9] Princess Grace Foundation Editors. “On Princess Grace - Princess Grace Foundation.” Princess Grace Foundation, 14 Aug. 2023, pgfusa.org/princess-grace/.
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