Mother Angelica Dies at
92
Founded the EWTN Global
Catholic Network
Irondale, AL (EWTN) Mother Mary Angelica of the
Annunciation, P.C.P.A., known to millions around the world as Foundress of the
EWTN Global Catholic Network, died peacefully at 5 p.m. CDT, Easter Sunday,
March 27, surrounded by the Poor Clare Nuns of Perpetual Adoration of Our Lady
of the Angels Monastery in Hanceville, Ala.
“This is a sorrow-filled day for the entire
EWTN Family,” said EWTN Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Michael P. Warsaw.
“Mother has always, and will always, personify EWTN, the Network which she
founded. In the face of sickness and long-suffering trials, Mother’s example of
joy and prayerful perseverance exemplified the Franciscan spirit she held so
dear. We thank God for Mother Angelica and for the gift of her extraordinary
life.”
Born Rita Antoinette Rizzo in Canton, Ohio in
1923, she entered the Poor Clares of Perpetual Adoration in Cleveland on Aug.
15, 1944 at the age of 21. A year later, she received her religious name –
Sister Mary Angelica of the Annunciation. Soon after, the Cleveland Monastery
established a new foundation in Canton, and Sr. Angelica was chosen to be a
member of the community there. On Jan. 2, 1947 she made her first profession of
vows and in January 1953, Sister Angelica took her solemn vows as a Poor Clare
nun.
In 1956, while awaiting a delicate spinal
surgery, Sister Angelica made a promise that, if God would permit her to walk
again, she would build a monastery in the South. On May 20, 1962, Our Lady of
the Angels Monastery in Irondale, Ala. was dedicated by Archbishop Thomas J.
Toolen of Mobile.
In Irondale, Mother Angelica’s vision took form
and her distinctive approach to teaching the Catholic Faith led to parish talks,
the publication of pamphlets and books, then radio and television opportunities.
By 1980, the Nuns had converted the garage of their monastery into a television
studio.
Despite having only a high school education, no
television experience and only $200 in the bank, Mother Angelica officially
launched the Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN) on Aug. 15, 1981 and served
as the Network’s first Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. She famously
refused to air paid advertisements to fund her Network, relying solely on viewer
donations, despite coming close to bankruptcy on several occasions.
More than 34 years later, EWTN is the largest
Catholic media network in the world, transmitting 11 separate television
channels in multiple languages, reaching more than 264 million homes in 145
countries and territories. The Network now also includes multiple radio
platforms, online and digital media outlets, global news services and a
publishing group.
Known for her humor and ability to colloquially
communicate the Catholic Faith to both Catholics and non-Catholics alike, her
popular EWTN television show, “Mother Angelica Live” was launched in 1983.
Episodes of the program continue to air regularly and have been translated into
multiple languages including Spanish, German, and Ukrainian.
In addition to the Eternal Word Television
Network and Our Lady of the Angels Monastery, Mother Angelica also founded the
Franciscan Missionaries of the Eternal Word, a religious community of men based
in Irondale.
In 1995, Mother Angelica was inspired by God to
begin construction of a new monastery and church on a nearly 400 acre site in
rural Hanceville, Ala. By 1999, the nuns relocated from Irondale to the new site
in Hanceville. Our Lady of the Angels Monastery and the Shrine of the Most
Blessed Sacrament were formally dedicated in December 1999. The Shrine remains
one of the most visited tourist sites in the State of Alabama.
Before stepping down as EWTN’s Chairman and
Chief Executive Officer in 2000, Time magazine described Mother Angelica as,
"arguably the most influential Roman Catholic woman in America.”
Throughout her life, she struggled with painful
illnesses and physical challenges. On Christmas Eve of 2001, Mother Angelica
suffered a debilitating stroke and cerebral hemorrhage which took away her
capacity to speak.
In 2009, she was awarded the prestigious
Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice medal by Pope Benedict XVI in recognition of
her faithful and extraordinary service to the Roman Catholic Church. This past
February, while on board the plane taking him to Cuba, Pope Francis sent a
special blessing to Mother Angelica, and asked her for her prayers.
Mother Angelica’s final years were prayerful
and quiet, spent with her nuns at the Monastery she built in Hanceville.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated
at 11:00 a.m. CDT, Friday, April 1 at the Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament
in Hanceville. Interment will immediately follow in the Shrine’s Crypt
Church.
Because of limited seating capacity, admission
to the Shrine for the funeral Mass will be by invitation only. The public may
participate directly outside, in the Shrine’s piazza. Services will be
broadcast by EWTN. Further information is available at www.ewtn.com.
*******
Catholic Leaders React to
the Passing of Mother Mary Angelica, P.C.P.A.
Irondale, AL (EWTN) – Following the announcement of the
death of Mother Mary Angelica, P.C.P.A. this evening, several Catholic leaders
issued statements reacting to the news of her passing. Known to millions of
television viewers around the world, Mother Angelica founded two thriving
religious orders, as well as EWTN, the world’s largest religious media network.
Mother Angelica died at 5 p.m. CDT, Easter Sunday, March 27, at Our Lady of the
Angels Monastery in Hanceville, Ala.
Mother Dolores Marie, Superior of the Poor Clare Nuns of Perpetual
Adoration of Our Lady of the Angels
Monastery:
“Mother Mary Angelica of the Annunciation, P.C.P.A. passed peacefully from
this life at Our Lady of the Angels Monastery on 5 p.m. CDT, Easter Sunday,
March 27, in this Jubilee Year of Mercy, surrounded by the prayers and love of
her spiritual daughters, sons and dear friends. Known as “Mother to Millions” to
her EWTN Family, she untiringly exhorted all to pursue holiness by living with
God in the present moment. We are grateful for your prayers for this courageous
daughter of the Church and your support of EWTN, the media network that she
founded for the salvation of souls. May our beloved Mother Angelica, Foundress
of EWTN, enter through the Mercy of God into the joy of Heaven.”
EWTN Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Michael P.
Warsaw:
“This is a sorrow-filled day for the entire EWTN Family. Mother has always,
and will always, personify EWTN, the Network which she founded. In the face of
sickness and long-suffering trials, Mother’s example of joy and prayerful
perseverance exemplified the Franciscan spirit she held so dear. We thank God
for Mother Angelica and for the gift of her extraordinary life. Her
accomplishments and legacies in evangelization throughout the world are nothing
short of miraculous and can only be attributed to Divine Providence and her
unwavering faithfulness to Our Lord. The important thing, as Mother Angelica’s
life and the lives so many of the saints have shown us, is to be faithful and to
persevere. Mother Angelica’s life has been a life of faith; her prayer life and
obedience to God are worthy of our imitation. Everything she did was an act of
faith.”
The Most Reverend Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap., Archbishop of
Philadelphia:
“Mother Angelica succeeded at a task the nation’s bishops themselves couldn’t
achieve. She founded and grew a network that appealed to everyday Catholics,
understood their needs and fed their spirits. Mother Angelica inspired other
gifted people to join her in the work without compromising her own leadership
and vision. I admired her very much, not just as a talented leader and
communicator, but as a friend and great woman religious of generosity, intellect
and Catholic faith.”
The Most Reverend Robert J. Baker, Bishop of Birmingham in
Alabama:
“Mother Angelica brought the truth and the love and the life of the Gospel of
Jesus to so many people, not only to our Catholic household of faith, but to
many thousands of people who are not Catholic, in that beautiful way she had of
touching lives, bringing so many people into the Catholic Faith.”
Father Anthony Mary Stelten, M.F.V.A., Community Servant, Franciscan
Missionaries of the Eternal Word:
“The Franciscan Missionaries of the Eternal Word are deeply saddened by the
death of our Foundress, Mother Mary Angelica, P.C.P.A. Mother was an inspiration
for all of us in her contemplative life of adoration before the Most Blessed
Sacrament and in the deep, personal relationship that she had with the Lord. Her
friendly manner, pleasant wit, vision and enthusiastic zeal for evangelization
so animated her mission at EWTN and inspired all who had the privilege of
getting to know her in person or through the Network. In founding our Community,
Mother Angelica imbued our manner of life with her own profound love for the
Real Presence, devotion to Our Lady and the spirituality of St. Francis. She
shared with us her special charism of evangelization through the modern means of
social communication, most especially through service to the apostolate of EWTN.
The friars will always treasure the unique relationship we had with Mother
Angelica and the way of life that she inspired for us.”
Carl A. Anderson, Supreme Knight, Knights of Columbus:
“In passing to eternal life, Mother Angelica leaves behind a legacy of
holiness and commitment to the New Evangelization that should inspire us all. I
was honored to know and be able to assist Mother Angelica during the early days
of EWTN. Over the years, that relationship grew, and today the Knights of
Columbus and EWTN partner regularly on important projects. Mother Angelica was
fearless, because she had God on her side. She saw what He needed her to do and
she did it! She transformed the world of Catholic broadcasting, and brought the
Gospel to far corners of our world. That witness of faith was unmistakable to
anyone who met and worked with her, and generations of Catholics have, and will
continue to be formed by her vision, and her "yes" to God's will.”
