By Kathi Stearns, Staff Writer

ATLANTA--The voice was little more than a whisper, but it commanded the undivided attention of nearly 1,300 people crowded into and lining the streets around Sacred Heart Church.

A stooped, frail figure draped in a white sari edged with blue, Mother Teresa of Calcutta attracted both the faithful and the curious as she attended and spoke after a 3:30 p.m. Mass at the church June 12.

The foundress of the Missionaries of Charity, whose members serve outcasts of society in 555 houses in 126 countries, seemed undistracted by the media circus around her, and presented in simple words her message of love and service.

Considered by many to be a 20th century saint, she spoke of her joy in and love of serving the poorest of the poor. “I remember once I picked up this man from the street,” Mother Teresa said. So diseased he was full of worms, she took him to one of her homes where he could receive comfort before he died. “I’ve lived like an animal in the street, but I am going to die like an angel,” the man said to her. Mother Teresa herself beamed as she said, “It is so beautiful to see the big smile they have...whey they are going home to God.”

She requested prayers for her order’s work with the dying. “Pray for us that we may not spoil God’s work,” she said.

She told the congregation that the aim of her missionaries is to satiate the thirst of Jesus on the cross. “Jesus came to give us the good news that God loves us and He wants us to love one another as He loves each one of us... ‘Whatever you do to the least, you did it to me,’” she said. ‘“If you give a glass of water in my name, you give it to me. If you receive a little child in my name, you receive me.’”

Mother Teresa touched on her belief in the value of all life. She spoke proudly of an orphanage her order has established in Calcutta for over 3,000 children and shared her desire to start a similar home in Washington, D.C. “We are fighting abortion by adoption,” she said.

Hopeful Mass attendees had begun lining Peachtree Street early in the morning in the hopes of being in the presence of Mother Teresa, the 1979 Nobel Peace Prize winner on her historic first visit to the city of Atlanta.

Police estimates indicate that 700 people squeezed into the church, while another 500 participants heard the Mass and Mother Teresa’s talk from speakers which had been placed outside the building.

Mother Teresa traveled to Atlanta to attend the blessing of the Gift of Grace House, a home for women with AIDS her order opened in 1994.

The Missionaries of Charity were first invited to the Archdiocese of Atlanta in 1988 by Archbishop Eugene A. Marino, SSJ. At that time Mother Teresa did not have the sisters to send to the city. Dr. Sharne Sheehey, an Atlanta physician, then made a personal appeal to her for the homeless women with AIDS/HIV she treats at Grady Hospital’s Infectious Disease Clinic. When she learned that the Missionaries of Charity come only at the request of the diocesan bishop, she took her appeal to Atlanta Archbishop James P. Lyke, OFM. He endorsed her purpose and made another formal request in 1992. The sisters came to Atlanta in January of 1993.

That June the archdiocese facilitated the purchase of a house on St. Charles Avenue in Atlanta and contributed $50,000 toward renovation expenses, which included making a convent for the sisters out of a former carriage house at the rear of the property.

The June 12 Mass was the public’s only chance to see Mother Teresa. The June 13 blessing at the AIDS hospice was open to about 100 volunteers working with the sisters.

Before the Mass trumpets sounded as a prelude to the liturgy. Soloists Janis Griffin, Sam Hagan, Mary Welch Rogers and Maribeth Kouts, sang the “Ave Maria,” “Blest Are They,” and “In This Very Room.” As Mrs. Griffin began the second chorus of this song, Mother Teresa entered the church from the sacristy, genuflecting at the foot of the altar. When she arrived at the first pew she allowed 12 sisters of her order to enter first; then she knelt to pray.

The glittering gold, rich burgundy and glowing colors of the church provided striking contrast with Mother Teresa’s bent, cotton-wrapped figure as she raised a hand and smiled to acknowledge the crowd’s standing ovation.

Despite the two-minute ovation from the congregation and the rapid fire of camera flash units Mother Teresa knelt with her eyes fixed upon the crucified Christ displayed above the altar. Her tattered hands were upright and pressed together tightly against her lips almost in a childlike fashion as she prayed. Her lips moved slowly as she sang along with Mrs. Griffin, unfazed by all the attention directed toward her person.

Many inside the church who had been seated for an hour before Mother Teresa’s arrival crept up the left side aisle for photographs some of them crawling on their knees. Children and adults clung to the iron work of the balconies above, parallel to the main aisle, to catch a glimpse or a picture of the nun from Calcutta.

Before the entrance rite began, Atlanta Mayor Bill Campbell was escorted up the aisle to Mother Teresa and the two exchanged greetings.

Hands, arms, cameras and smiles reached down from the balconies toward Mother Teresa’s hunched figure as the opening announcement of the commemoration of Sacred Heart’s 75th anniversary of consecration gave way to the entrance song: “The Church’s One Foundation” accented by a triumphant trumpet.

Because of the anniversary celebration parishioners of Sacred Heart had important roles in the celebration of the Mass and acted as readers, and participated in the presentation of the gifts.

Archbishop John F. Donoghue was the principal celebrant of the Mass which was concelebrated by Father Stephen Churchwell, pastor of Sacred Heart, and Msgr. Walter Donovan, in residence at the parish, and 48 priests of the archdiocese.

A few of the diocesan priests whose paths passed Mother Teresa’s pew managed to look down discreetly as they moved less than a foot away from the legendary figure. Once seated in the sanctuary, several gazed awestruck at the occupant of the first pew.

Actor Tom Key, a parishioner of Sacred Heart, read from the first book of Kings while Sister Valentina Sheridan, RSM, read from the first letter of Paul to the Corinthians. The gospel was proclaimed by Deacon Wayne Smith.

Before his homily Archbishop Donoghue welcomes Mother Teresa. “We are grateful for the charitable ministry (the Missionaries of Charity) exercise in our midst,” he said. “We promise Mother that whatever challenges her sisters may face, the people of this archdiocese will always be there for them, ready to assist them in any way, and to make this city a true and welcome home for them and for the people they have come to serve.”

During his homily Archbishop Donoghue spoke of Christ’s law of love and the blueprint for living that Christ outlined in the beatitudes.

“In extolling the peacemakers, the suffering, the deprived and the merciful, Jesus discredits the myth of all earthly glory ... proclaiming a revolution in conduct and morality, in which the old law is at once fulfilled and transcended,” Archbishop Donoghue said.

Citing the work of the missionaries the archbishop told the congregation that the Church must respond to the law of Christ’s love by ministering to the needs raised by contemporary cultural problems.

“For by these ministries, we seek not just to serve the poor and the sick, nor do we seek simply to guarantee our own salvation,” the archbishop said. “...all people may experience the healing that comes from living the Gospel; ... all people may see in the example of the Church and the Church’s charitable undertaking that there is a way to find the happiness that Christ offers us with the beatitudes.”

The prayers of the faithful included prayers for those with AIDS. A special prayer was offered for Cardinal Joseph Bernardin, who underwent cancer surgery June 12. During this prayer Mother Teresa bowed her head to the oak pew rail and remained very still and focused in prayer.

At the offering of peace Mother Teresa turned to her sisters, the archbishop and the congregation and bowed frequently and quickly with her hands pressed together against her lips. After Mother Teresa received Communion, Msgr. Edward Dillon and three seminarians placed themselves about her pew to ensure that Mother Teresa would not be disturbed while she was praying by the touch of passing communicants.

Members of the congregation genuflected at her pew or slowed down to get a glimpse of the tiny 84-year-old nun as they passed. Many had rosaries wrapped in their hands and could be seen crying once they had laid eyes upon her simple figure. Others spent the time after Communion watching Mother Teresa pray. Once again her eyes remained fixed on the crucifix.

After Mass was concluded the archbishop removed his vestments and introduced Mother Teresa to the assembly. A standing ovation greeted her progress to the podium. Her first sentences were lost as the crowd hushed itself raggedly as she began to speak.

Her talk focused on the need for continued prayers so that her sisters may continue to work with the destitute and on the opportunity to love God by serving the most poor and needy.

“Pray for us that we may be able to continue God’s work with great love,” she said. “God bless you all.”

After her brief statement Mother Teresa put her hands together and returned to the foot of the altar where she genuflected and was escorted back through the sanctuary to the storm of flashbulbs.

After 100 people remained inside the church after the Mass, some reciting the rosary, others taking pictures; and still more just absorbing the spirit and meaning of Mother Teresa’s visit. Those outside on Peachtree Street saw this extraordinary woman and her sisters leave the Gift of Grace House to care for their patients as they do every day, living a life of love and service in the most inconspicuous way possible.