Just days before the canonization of Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta, foundress of the Missionaries of Charity, a community of her nuns in Argentina was brutally attacked by three men who broke into the house, beat the sisters and desecrated their chapel.
The Catholic News Agency (CNA) is reporting on the incident which occurred at around 7:30 p.m. on August 25 in the convent which was founded by Mother Teresa, located in Mar del Plata, Argentina. Three men reportedly broke into the house, beat and gagged the sisters so they could not call for help. The men proceeded to ransack the house, stealing the only cash the sisters had – 50 pesos – which is the equivalent of $3.30.
The men also entered the chapel in search of valuables. They tore open the tabernacle and emptied a ciborium of consecrated hosts with the intent to steal the vessel; but when they realized it wasn’t gold, they left it behind.
The community has been in the city of Mar del Plata, a prominent seaside and fishing resort in the Buenos Aires province, for 20 years. The sisters offer free care to terminally ill HIV/AIDS patients at the Queen of Peace Home and carry out other humanitarian work in the region.
CNA reports that this is the second time in recent weeks that the Eucharist was desecrated in Argentina. Unidentified men entered Our Lady of Mercy parish in the Santa Fe province of Argentina on the Feast of the Assumption and desecrated and stole a bronze tabernacle containing consecrated hosts.
“This calls us to increase our love for Jesus in the Eucharist, to strengthen our hearts joined to him, to strengthen our faith in the Lord, because these are times of the persecution of the Church,” said Jose Maria Arancedo, Archbishop of Santa Fe during an act of reparation offered in the church on August 17.
“And like the first Christians we need to be strengthened and encouraged to walk with resolve on the path of faith.”
Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta will be canonized a saint on Sunday, September 4 before a crowd that is could exceed 500,000 people.
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