Professor Murzaku Gives Invited Lecture at DePaul University

Sharing some of her latest research, Ines Murzaku, Ph.D., Professor of Religion, Director of the Catholic Studies Program, and Founding Chair of the Department of Catholic Studies, recently gave a lecture at DePaul University in Chicago, focusing on "Mother Teresa’s Revolution of Tenderness".

The endowed lecture on September 23rd was part of the DePaul Hidai "Eddie" Bregu Lectures in Albanian Studies series. Murzaku is one of a select group of scholars with expertise in Southeastern Europe who has been invited to give a presentation through this distinguished lecture series.

In her hour-long lecture, Murzaku delved into the remarkable life and work of Mother Teresa. She discussed the transformative power of tenderness and how it can revolutionize our lives and communities. A lively and rich discussion session, moderated by Gazmend Kapllani, Ph.D., the Hidai "Eddie" Bregu Visiting Chair for Albanian Studies, followed Murzaku’s presentation.

Kapllani described Murzaku’s talk as "inspiring, gripping, and thought-provoking," noting that Murzaku "masterfully approached Mother Teresa’s life, work, and itinerary as a Saint of the Peripheries (the Balkans and India) from a theological and historical point of view."

In recent years, Murzaku has explored the theology and action of Mother Teresa through primary sources — meeting with those who knew Mother Teresa well, conducting archival research in newly uncovered sources, and exploring how Mother Teresa’s charism contributes to our understanding of our Christian mission in the 21st century.

"Mother Teresa is a contemporary saint, and we remember her life and work so clearly because she died only 26 years ago," said Murzaku. "But her influence has spread even further after her death; both her emphasis on bringing the peripheries to the center and her focus on creating a revolution of tenderness have become cornerstones of the pontificate of Francis. We can see today, more than ever, that these two impulses are central to our Christian faith and to promoting the dignity of all."

Murzaku has spoken and published widely in the media on the theology and influence of Mother Teresa, exploring her international and local significance. Her acclaimed book Mother Teresa: Saint of the Peripheries (Paulist Press, 2021), traces the development of Mother Teresa’s dedication to sharing Christ with those on the margins of society, placing this impetus in the context of the work of other saints and of Pope Francis.

Murzaku is writing a second book on Mother Teresa, focusing on the saint’s revolutions of tenderness, politics, and society (Routledge, 2024). "It is always a pleasure and very edifying for me to have an opportunity to discuss this contemporary saint, whose gentle persistence and inspiring faith have revolutionized the way we understand caring for those on the peripheries," Murzaku said. "I am very grateful to DePaul University for the invitation to speak there, and I look forward to shared endeavors between our universities in the years to come."

Categories: Education, Research