By Beqir Sina
Memorie.al / Blessed are those who speak the language of the heart. In whatever place or state they are, the paths of true faith lead all of life in the same direction – from God”- these were the words of Mother Teresa’s blessing for the Albanian Queen, Gerarldina, when she left the meeting with it. It is one of the rare episodes that reach the public after 30 years, when Mother Teresa is invited to the Royal family, when they were located in New York. This evidence was discovered a few days ago, by a veteran of the Albanian Kingdom in exile, submitting to the newspaper “Bota sot”, an article written three decades ago, by Mrs. Lume Musa Juka, in the newspaper “Atdheu”, who witnessed the visit of Mother Teresa, and the conversation with Queen Geraldine. Juka, brings briefly what the two women of different “Kingdoms” talked about, one of the earths and the other of the sky. Mother Teresa, expressed to Queen Geraldine, the desire to return to her homeland, to Albania, how she prayed to God, for the royal family, for the state of p her family left in Albania and the sensitivity for the modern world of America at that time.
These days, one of the veterans of the Albanian Kingdom in exile, prominent activity in New York, Musli Mulosmani, handed us an article from the “Atdheu” newspaper, which was written by the spokesperson of the Albanian Monarchy in exile, Lume Musa Juka, in which the cordial meeting of Queen Geraldine with Mother Teresa, laureate of the Nobel Peace Prize. Juka writes that it was a great pleasure to see Queen Geraldine in New York in June of that year. “The dignity with which she lived in exile, but especially her humility, kindness and faith in God, have always touched me. This faith has helped her overcome many troubles and sorrows, without losing her smile. sweet”, it is written in this article.
She then tells that, as in the above conversation, she tells Queen Geraldine that she had the opportunity to see Mother Teresa and that they had spent more than two hours together with her. But in her memoirs, she writes that, when she mentioned this name, Queen Geraldine’s eyes shone with an inner light, with special interest and curiosity, and she wanted to know why they had spoken.
“I told her,” Says Mrs. Juka, “and she listened to every word with great attention. How much I wish,” she said, “I have seen her too! And I have had this wish for years now. I didn’t linger any longer, but with my heart, I prayed to God, to help me, to give him this joy.
It was Tuesday, June 23, 1960, late in the day. Very short time, because Queen Geraldine would return to Madrid on June 26.
Mother Teresa always came to New York to pray to God, constantly, for several days she was placed in a place where there was no telephone. In her assembly, she ordered the nuns not to send her any messages.
Bringing her memories of that day, Juka says: “I quickly wrote her a small letter, in which I said: “I want you to know Queen Geraldine, especially for the wonderful faith she has in God. You live on different continents, but here you are in New York, at the same time, so maybe, it is said to see each other”.
The nuns had taken my letter to her and read it. On Wednesday night of that day, he let me know that he was expecting us on the morning of June 25th. How grateful I was! Immediately, I called Queen Geraldine. Her pleasure was impenetrable.
When I went to pick him up the next day, he hugged me saying: “I am very happy that I will meet Mother Teresa”.
Then, Juka tells how Abedin Mulosmani, the spokesman of the Royal Court, accompanied them to the meeting between the two great women of the nation.
“It was not easy to find the way, in a very unsightly neighborhood of the South Bronx. Queen Geraldine, in surprise, looked left and right. She could not believe her eyes and asked: “Is it possible that there so much poverty, in this country so rich? Streets like this and ruined houses”?
Juka says that he answered: “Mother Teresa, wherever she goes, she seeks to find the wounds and sufferings of that country and like a good doctor, by the grace of God, she brings hope and healing.”
The story continues:
“We arrived! A nun, young and beautiful as spring, opened the door for us. She smiled and told us: Nana Tereza is waiting for you! and led us with light steps, as if you were flying.
Nana Tereza on her knees, start praying! He walked up, as soon as he saw us, he shook our hands very warmly and hugged us very warmly. He ushered us into the little room and sat down right next to Queen Geraldine. Immediately they started talking…!
Mother Teresa: “I don’t deal with politics; you can tell by my smile. Since the day you fled Albania, I have prayed to God, for you and for your son.”
Queen Geraldine answered: “I have always felt in my heart that someone, very close to God, is praying for me and my son! It is Mother Teresa. Thank you with all my heart, God bless you”!
Mother Teresa: “I’m sorry that I can’t go to all the countries of the world, but I’m sorry that they won’t let me go to my country in Albania… But God says that nothing in this world it’s not forever…”!
After a short silence, Nana Tereza continued: “When I became a nun, my parents, together with my sister and brother, returned to Albania. My father died during the War. My brother, Lazër Bojaxhiu, who now lives in Palermo, my uncle escaped, my nana and my sister stayed there. I am now an Indian citizen, in India, I have spent almost my whole life.
The Indian government was kind enough to intervene with the government of Tirana, begging Tirana to allow me to visit them. This is not even possible. My Nana passed away, a little later my sister too. Only God knows what has been done with them in Albania. Only near God, they should be at peace, calm, and happy.
My brother speaks Albanian very well. I am away, small from the family. I remember some words, but I write to my brother in Albanian. I don’t even know how to write Albanian, but my brother seems to understand me very well. What about you, have you perfected your Albanian?
I interjected with pleasure: “Yes, Nana Queen, Geraldina, speaks and writes Albanian very well – sweet and very pleasant.”
The conversation with Nana Teresa took place in English, the language of choice in the meetings of the Missionaries of Mercy.
Queen Geraldine, who spoke six languages (Hungarian, English, Italian, French, Albanian, Spanish) asked her many questions regarding the holy work that Nana Teraza was doing and spreading in different countries of the world. Mother Teresa answered the questions, giving the appropriate details.
One of Queen Geraldine’s questions was: “What are the biggest problems of the USA”?
Mother Teresa answered: “I don’t know everything, but what I have seen and heard so far are: loneliness, indifference of people, especially spiritual poverty…! The latter is often even more tragic, than poverty for bread, the opposite of our Albanian race, that we are very poor from the economy, but we are very rich, from the soul”, said Mother Teresa.
She said that she felt the need to open a Charity House, also in New York.
On that day, the permission to open it was also given. “Your visit has been unforgettable, for this too, it is a good occasion, as if you too had helped in the establishment of this House. Now, it is the moment to leave a little, to pray to God once more”, said Mother Teresa.
In the end, Lume Musa Juka, in her article, says that: “Rarely have I seen such faces, illuminated with a light of love and spirituality, as I saw those two faces that day – of these two women, bless us and wonderful”!
A few minutes later, we parted from that house where we met, sharing the same feelings. “Not trusting our hearts, how we were separating and hurting each other. The spokesman of the Royal Court, the late Abedin Mulosmani, was of the same opinion as us.
“We left as if we had known each other forever. Because the same spiritual life inspired us, a life that comes only to a complete and sincere faith. With the suffering that distinguished Mother Teresa, she led us out of the house, giving us with her her blessing: “Blessed are those who speak the language of the heart. In whatever place or condition they are, the paths of true faith lead all of life in the same direction – from God”, Lume Musa Juka wrote about 3 decades ago, for the “Atdheu” newspaper. Memorie.al
