MOTHER ANGELICA
Mother Angelica’s great legacy is her faith in Christ and love of the Most Blessed Sacrament.
Fully convinced that God would provide the means for every task He gave her, she resolutely plunged forward with the founding of Our Lady of the Angels Monastery (OLAM) in 1962, the building of the Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN) in 1981, and the construction of the Shrine which was dedicated in 1999. Each of these works developed, grew and flourished through the grace of God and the generosity of many faithful souls. Through her humor, common sense and wit-infused faith, Mother Angelica reached thousands of hearts with the message of the Gospel. Afflicted with much physical suffering through her life, Mother united her trials with the Suffering Servant, offering her life to Him as a living sacrifice. Her entrance into the mystery of redemptive suffering has beyond doubt won many graces for all those who come into Our Lord’s Presence at the Shrine seeking peace, rest and reconciliation. It was her desire that all who enter the great doors should encounter the Living God and come to know the One Who is enthroned above the Angels.
Early Life
Mother Angelica, born Rita Rizzo on April 20, 1923, grew up in Canton, Ohio. The future foundress of Our Lady of the Angels Monastery in Alabama, Rita forged her way through a difficult and rough childhood before she entered the Poor Clares of Perpetual Adoration (PCPA) Monastery in Cleveland. Early in her youth, Rita was left with her mother to piece together a living with odd-jobs, which resulted in the two often hungry, poor, and in need. Physical suffering would accompany Rita throughout her life. In her teenage years, she was plagued with a severe stomach ailment, which was only relieved after fervent recourse to the intercession of St. Therese at the recommendation of the mystic, Servant of God Rhoda Wise. Realizing God’s immense love for her through this incredible recovery, Rita resolved to give herself totally to God.
Vocation
After a covert visit to the Poor Clare Monastery at the St. Paul Shrine in Cleveland, and knowing that it would prove to be a near impossible parting with her mother, Mae, Rita left home at the age of 21, sending her mother a letter informing her of her decision and desire to follow Christ in religious life.
Rita Rizzo entered the PCPA monastery in Cleveland on August 15, 1944, and a year later received the holy habit and the name her mother chose for her – Sister Mary Angelica of the Annunciation. Soon after this transition into the novitiate, the Cleveland Monastery established a new foundation in Canton, and Sr. Angelica was chosen to be a member of the new community there. On January 2, 1947, she made her first profession of vows and the same date in 1953, gave herself irrevocably to her Spouse through solemn vows.
Monastery in the South
During a typical day of work at Sancta Clara Monastery, Sr. Angelica had yet another life changing experience. Thrown by an electric floor-scrubbing machine while cleaning, Sister suffered a terrible back injury and faced an operation that threatened to leave her paralyzed. Not to be deterred in her desire to serve God, this tenacious nun promised God that if she could walk after the surgery, she would build Him a monastery in the South. True to her word and God’s goodness, the surgery was a success and Sister Angelica began the arduous process of obtaining the permissions and raising the funds to build a monastery.
Mother Angelica’s inspiration to build a monastery in the South took shape when Archbishop Toolen of Mobile extended his invitation, “y'all come!” The Sisters collaborated on an unusual fundraising project, “St. Peter’s Fishing Lures,” before the move to Alabama. After the Nuns had made their new home in Irondale and funds were still desperately needed, the creation of the “Lil ‘Ol Peanut Co.” helped to keep the monastery running.
EWTN
After many leaps of faith, on August 15, 1981, Mother Angelica launched Eternal Word Television Network at 6:00 PM. It was a day of great rejoicing for all the community. It was hardly foreseeable that this new missionary endeavor that had begun in the OLAM garage with only $200.00, would become the great media apostolate that it is today. The Nuns supported the Network from the beginning, taking calls at the telethons, giving tours to visitors, opening mail, printing programs, and most of all praying for the work God had surprisingly entrusted to these cloistered nuns!
Monastery move to Hanceville
As EWTN continued to expand right at the doors of the monastery, Mother moved OLAM to rural Hanceville, a quiet area more conducive to contemplative prayer. Aided by the incredible generosity of five families, Mother built the Shrine’s Temple in honor of the Divino Niño and the monastery as the new home of the Poor Clares of Perpetual Adoration. On December 19, 1999, the Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament at Our Lady of the Angels Monastery in Hanceville was consecrated.
Last Years
On Christmas Eve, 2001, Mother Angelica suffered a severe cerebral hemorrhage. She made a remarkable recovery but since that day never regained full ability to speak. Although her life did not fully resemble the days past where she was CEO and beloved Mother to millions through her programs, undoubtedly her work was all the more significant in the heart of the Church as she continued to live in silent communion with Our Lord. She was named Abbess Emeritus and she received in 2009 the papal medal of honor, the Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice Cross, a beautiful tribute to a woman of great faith.
On Easter Sunday, March 27, 2016, at Our Lady of the Angels Monastery, close to 5:00 PM, Mother Mary Angelica of the Annunciation, PCPA, passed peacefully from this life to God. During the final weeks, days and moments of her earthly life, Mother was surrounded by the love, prayers and devoted care of her Sisters, Friars, faithful nurses and many, many friends. She was regularly fortified by the Sacraments, and the Mass for Easter Sunday was celebrated at her bedside just hours before she went to her eternal home.
Mother certainly lived by faith in Divine Providence throughout her life, and even here on earth her confident trust was rewarded time and time again. From the first years in Irondale to the sufferings of her final illness, God worked in amazing ways through her faith that God would do the miraculous if only she would be willing to do the ridiculous. In the words of Psalm 23, the Father’s goodness [followed her] all the days of [her] life. Near the end of her life, shortly after the opening of the Jubilee Year of Mercy in 2015, the Sisters accompanied Mother through the Jubilee Doors here at the monastery singing the Year of Mercy theme song, so that she could obtain the special indulgence.
Thank you for all the prayers you have offered for Mother Angelica. Her passing on the great day of the Resurrection of the Lord is a gift. As Jesus promised to go and prepare a place for us before His passion, without doubt, He has prepared a glorious place for His faithful spouse and servant, one that is beyond what eye has seen or ear has heard. As Mother once prayed: “Mary, my Mother, teach me how to love Jesus and how to be like Him. Guide me in the path of holiness and defend me from the enemy. Tell Jesus I love Him and tell the Father I long to be with Him.”
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THE POOR CLARES OF PERPETUAL ADORATION