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Rating: 
Summary: Not as Good as it Should Have Been
Review: The idea of a tribute to Mother Teresa composed of commemorations of those who were inspired by her limitless altruism sounds very enticing. And while this short collection includes some moving panegyrics, it falls short of what it could have been. A handful of movers and shakers offer their salutes, but with such a small assortment of power players featured, the curious choices of Hilary Clinton, Edward Kennedy, and Andrew Greeley seem unbefitting. In many ways these eulogizers are the antithesis of everything Mother Teresa embodied. While their respectful words may have blended in among a book devoted solely to the memories of the rich and famous, here they comprise a significant portion of the represented bigwigs, and their selection fails to furnish the approbation Mother Teresa so richly deserves. The placement of those three misfits might have suggested that Susan Crimp had some axe to grind but many of the other vignettes strongly indicate that is not the case. Cardinals Basil Hume and John O'Connor and Bishop Patrick Ahern celebrate the Saint of the Gutters for accentuating their own vocations. Many ordinary citizens tell how her indomitable example impacted their lives. While the sympathetic treatment bestowed upon a death row inmate who was profoundly moved by his visit from Mother Teresa could imply a politically correct attitude, the vignette by Joseph Morales implies the opposite. Morales was an AIDS patient and fallen away Catholic who was given a medal once owned by Mother Teresa. In his encomium of India's most beloved adopted daughter he encompasses the daring comment, "for the past thirty years I was a homosexual, but since I got my medal, my faith has been restored, and I have taken a vow of chastity in honor of Saint Joseph." He too is presented in a positive light. The chosen comments from royalty are another strange aspect. Princess Caroline of Monaco's testimonial is one sentence long. England's Prince Philip laudatory remarks while suitable are far from timely. The passage is taken from a speech he delivered in 1973-nearly three decades before the book's publication. Despite the volume's frequent shortcomings, the section submitted by businessman Kevin McMahon is an absolute gem. He describes his meeting with Mother Teresa, her words of encouragement, and the many coincidences that lead to the adoption of his daughter shortly after her death. Obviously well intended and marginally satisfying, the book ultimately fails to reach the magnitude of tribute Mother Teresa earned.
Rating:
Summary: Not as Good as it Should Have Been
Review: The idea of a tribute to Mother Teresa composed of commemorations of those who were inspired by her limitless altruism sounds very enticing. And while this short collection includes some moving panegyrics, it falls short of what it could have been. A handful of movers and shakers offer their salutes, but with such a small assortment of power players featured, the curious choices of Hilary Clinton, Edward Kennedy, and Andrew Greeley seem unbefitting. In many ways these eulogizers are the antithesis of everything Mother Teresa embodied. While their respectful words may have blended in among a book devoted solely to the memories of the rich and famous, here they comprise a significant portion of the represented bigwigs, and their selection fails to furnish the approbation Mother Teresa so richly deserves. The placement of those three misfits might have suggested that Susan Crimp had some axe to grind but many of the other vignettes strongly indicate that is not the case. Cardinals Basil Hume and John O'Connor and Bishop Patrick Ahern celebrate the Saint of the Gutters for accentuating their own vocations. Many ordinary citizens tell how her indomitable example impacted their lives. While the sympathetic treatment bestowed upon a death row inmate who was profoundly moved by his visit from Mother Teresa could imply a politically correct attitude, the vignette by Joseph Morales implies the opposite. Morales was an AIDS patient and fallen away Catholic who was given a medal once owned by Mother Teresa. In his encomium of India's most beloved adopted daughter he encompasses the daring comment, "for the past thirty years I was a homosexual, but since I got my medal, my faith has been restored, and I have taken a vow of chastity in honor of Saint Joseph." He too is presented in a positive light. The chosen comments from royalty are another strange aspect. Princess Caroline of Monaco's testimonial is one sentence long. England's Prince Philip laudatory remarks while suitable are far from timely. The passage is taken from a speech he delivered in 1973-nearly three decades before the book's publication. Despite the volume's frequent shortcomings, the section submitted by businessman Kevin McMahon is an absolute gem. He describes his meeting with Mother Teresa, her words of encouragement, and the many coincidences that lead to the adoption of his daughter shortly after her death. Obviously well intended and marginally satisfying, the book ultimately fails to reach the magnitude of tribute Mother Teresa earned.
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