On September 10, 1946, travelling by train from Calcutta to Darjeeling, experienced something that will later called a "call within a call" to "put down the infinite thirst of Jesus crucified on the cross for love" - I thirst (for love) -- thirst for love, not for water, which will serve as an inspiration to leave the monastery of Loreto and to commit to caring for the poorest of the poor.
By decree of Pope Pius XII on April 12, 1948 Mother Teresa received permission from Vatican to leave the monastery of Loreto and to begin her mission among the poorest in the streets of Calcutta. On 17 August the same year she replaced her own nun clothes with simple white cotton sari with blue stripes (symbol of humility, modesty and love of the Mother of God) and went to Patna where she attended a course for medical nurses in medical mission in preparation for her humanitarian activities. She moved to the slams (lowest ghettos) of Calcutta, spending the first days among the poor. Although she had no any funds she begins with teaching in school under the open air for the children of the slams. She opened kitchens for the hungry, though often she had to beg for food and supplies. On March 19 she received the first candidate in her mission Subashini Das (Sister Agnes after turning in a row) her former student in the school St Mary within in the monastery of Loreto.
In 1950 on Thanksgiving Day, October 7, Congregation of the Missionaries Sisters of Charity at that time with twelve members were officially established as Diocesan Congregation of the Archdiocese of Calcutta under Archbishop Ferdinand Perry. This day is celebrated each year by the Missionaries of Charity.
