Mother Teresa has been formally proclaimed a saint.  In today’s society, where, due to social injustices, those who live on the fringe of society are being marginalised, we need to get inspiration from people like Mother Teresa who, in spite of great challenges and opposition, managed to become a saint through her simple acts of love.

One of her golden sayings is “the fruit of love is service”. Were it not for the number of carers and volunteers who work selflessly with the poor, the sick, the elderly and the abandoned, our society would be much worse off. These are people who, very often, silently, do their daily chores without any gratitude and retribution. Few are today’s tabloids that laud the hidden work done by these heroes.

The canonisation of Mother Teresa reminds us that, more than economic growth, what society needs today is people who are ready to give more of themselves for the needs of those more vulnerable. Pope Francis, in a general audience at St Peter’s Square in March 2015, stated: “A society without closeness, in which gratuitousness and selfless affection - even among strangers - are disappearing is a perverse society.”

Let those of us who work among the most vulnerable of society take courage and inspiration from this great saint and believe in the good work carers and volunteers are doing.

As Mother Teresa, we should convince ourselves that whatever we do to the least of our brothers we are doing it to Jesus. Mother Teresa used to see the presence of Jesus in every suffering person, be it physical, emotional or spiritual.

Now we have got a saint who can intercede for those who work with the marginalised of society.