“Mary Ellen recognized this Life magazine assignment was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” said Martin Bell, Mark’s husband, via email. Photographing Mother Teresa in such an intimate manner wasn’t easy for Mark, because Mother Teresa never wanted to be photographed initially. “Photography, and especially being photographed, was the very last thing on Mother Teresa’s mind, and she made that known to Mary Ellen,” Bell said. “This did not deter Mary Ellen, who immediately enlisted the help of a Jesuit priest who said, ‘Leave this to me.’ The following morning’s sermon, delivered by the Jesuit priest, was on the vital role of photography in the world as a force for good. Mother Teresa listened.

Source: CNN September 01, 2016 22:07 UTC