This volume curates Gëzim Alpion’s selected academic studies and other writings examining the life, work and legacy of Saint Teresa of Calcutta, more widely known as Mother Teresa.

In this book, Alpion explores Teresa’s complex, polysemic status rather than simply treating her as a subject of veneration. Drawing on Weberian charisma, celebrity studies, and life writing, Alpion details how Teresa astutely leveraged the media to secure visibility and access to the poor. She emerges both as a miraculous and a paradoxical figure who actively publicized her own image while simultaneously being shaped by global renown. Key analyses examine her contested ethnicity as a tool for geopolitical pride, and the author’s own developed concept of her ‘fame capital’ that continues to serve as a branding asset and moral alibi for global elites. The author explores how celebrity culture influenced Teresa’s parasocial relationship with Jesus, remapping religious ‘celebrification’ to bridge secular and spiritual worlds. The book also investigates the specific discourses surrounding her profound religious crisis.

This volume offers a compelling re-evaluation of Teresa’s legacy; by connecting the worlds of sanctity and celebrity, Alpion advances the sociology of fame, modern hagiography, and broader cultural and religious studies. Written for academics and general readers alike, this work seamlessly bridges rigorous research and public discourse, bringing complex spiritual themes to life through an accessible, engaging style.

Gëzim Alpion, an international award-winning academic credited with founding Mother Teresa studies, is an Associate Professor of Sociology at the University of Birmingham, UK, and an elected Fellow of the Academy of Sciences of Albania. He holds a BA from Cairo University and a PhD from Durham University. Alpion is also an accomplished playwright, global speaker, and impactful civil society activist.