Customer Reviews

Mother Angelica: The Remarkable Story of a Nun, Her Nerve, and a Network of Miracles

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Last week a parishioner gave me Raymond Arroyo's unauthorized biography of Mother Angelica. With mild curiosity, I read the dust jacket and table of contents. My plan was to skim the book, then return to it when I had more time. I liked Mother Angelica, but I knew little about her life or how she founded the Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN). I also admired Raymond Arroyo, often listening to his news and interview program, *The World Over.* As I began skimming the biography, I quickly became hooked. It turned out to be what I call a "dangerous book." Every year or two I will pick up a book which so grabs my attention that I wind up devoting every spare moment to reading it. Besides the most basic duties, everything else takes second place.

I was expecting a somewhat saccharine story about a folksy contemplative sister. Instead the book depicts what to me is the most difficult reality: the intense and often bitter suffering to which God apparently calls some souls. With the unflinching eye of an investigative reporter, Raymond Arroyo recounts painful details of her childhood. Rita Rizzo (the girl who would become Mother Angelica) had a wandering father who abandoned her at an early age. Her mother, never well balanced, became unhinged by the divorce - at that time a terrible stigma - and wound up reversing the normal mother-daughter roles. She increasingly demanded emotional support from her daughter and provided very little in return.

In her twenties, Rita met a Catholic convert turned mystic, who transformed the young woman's life. Entering a contemplative religious order, against her mother's bitter protests, she encountered more painful forms of suffering. Physical ailments (such as knees swollen to the size of cantaloupes) almost ended her religious vocation. Raymond Arroyo, cautious as a newsman should be, relates the seeming miraculous cure which enabled her to continue in the convent.

The story of how this contemplative sister founded a world-wide television and radio network is too complex to describe here. Without giving away the story, let me state that it was hardly a smooth journey from one triumph to the next. The biography reads like a novel depicting the suspense and mounting opposition which Mother Angelica and her sisters confronted. Inability to pay enormous bills, the betrayal of co-workers and the death of dear ones (including her mother who had become one of her sisters) led to bouts of anguish and near-despair. During this long "dark night of the soul" only her iron will and her prayer to Jesus kept her going.

This book will probably be read mainly by "conservatives." That is a shame - and perhaps makes this a dangerous book in another sense. It is easy for those concerned with doctrinal integrity to feel betrayed by official teachers. The book describes Mother Angelica's strong reaction even against bishops who, for example, promoted women's ordination or who watered down difficult teachings (such as marital fecundity). In that atmosphere, one can take aim at the wrong target - as Mother Angelica sometimes did. For example in his 1987 visit to the U.S., the pope was in Phoenix for the Feast of the Holy Cross (September 14). The organizers provided a large, bare cross for him to kiss. Mother Angelica railed against the organizers, seeing this as a sign of how the American Church wants to take Jesus off the cross.

No doubt every pastor in the country, including the most orthodox, has had conservatives attack him for what they perceive as liturgical or doctrinal deviations. They can magnify the smallest misstep until it seems to include all the abuses of the past four decades. For this kind of misguided zeal, many pastors are only too eager to lay the blame at Mother Angelica's feet. "Another complaint from one of the EWTN crowd."

Whether Raymond Arroyo's book will increase polarization or reduce it depends on how people read the book. It is easy to get caught up in the political dimension and miss what I believe is Raymond's deeper purpose: to show us a woman who came from a difficult background and who by her own admission has many flaws, but who has embraced suffering with its redemptive power. In a word, he wants to help us glimpse the mystery and the triumph of the cross.

The spiritual impact this book has on its reader is amazing. It gives anyone, no matter how difficult their situation, the hope that your life is worth something. Given over to God, the life of every person is powerful.
Even if you are not a "religious person" this story in itself is fascinating and nearly unbelieveable. It is written very well, making a most enjoyable read. A good laugh is also guaranteed.
And for those of you like myself, tired of the liberal Church constantly chipping away at our Faith, you will have plenty to cheer about.

Buy the book; you will not be disappointed.

I discovered EWTN in the first months of my freshman year of college. While channel surfing through MTV and ESPN, I came across a beautiful old face swallowed by large glasses and wrapped in a white wimple.

I stopped. I'd never known a nun, let alone seen one in a traditional habit. Her simple outlook on faith kept me hooked. After watching Mother Angelica on television for the past five years, I thought I knew the simple elderly nun who'd shown me the beauty of my Catholic faith. After reading Raymond Arroyo's new biography, I realize how wrong I was.

Here is the life of Rita Rizzo weaved into a wonderfully narrative story. It shows her humble and tormented early years, her first miraculous healing, and her radical conversion to live for God. It chronicles many little known facts: her many ailments and healings, her intention to build a Southern monastery for reparation for unjustice to African Americans, her charismatic experiences, her dark night of the soul. Her leap of faith in creating the largest religious communications empire in the world is given its due, but does not overshadow.

Arroyo treats Mother as a human being, not a pious, holy card saint. She has doubts, a sense of humor, and a fiery temper. She struggles in her relationship with both parents, clashes with bishops and cardinals over orthodoxy and control of her network, and ultimately undergoes a Vatican investigation.

Mother Angelica has lived a life of radical service through love for Her Spouse, Jesus Christ, and His Church. Anyone who knows her only through her television network knows only part of the story. This biography tells it all. And Mother will be seen as an even greater witness to God because of it

As anyone who has ever attempted to start a business knows, it is difficult. It's difficult to get it started. It's difficult to supervise its growth. As you go through the various phases where you can't do it in your initial business, where you have to start hiring people, where you basic sales functions have to be expanded to a marketing/sales department. Each of these is an excellent opportunity for the business to fail.

Eternal Word Television Network began 25 years ago with only $200 in initial investment. It has since grown to a worldwide organization reaching some 110 million households. This is the story of EWTN, but more important it is the story of its remarkable founder and guiding light.

I am not catholic, so the discussions of the liberal vs conservative aspects of the church don't have a great deal of meaning to me. But the strength of her convictions, the life she has lived make her life one worth learning about. She has done a remarkable job of living a life. Even after suffering a stroke and leaving EWTN, the network she built will remain as a monument for many, many years.

Arroyo's book on Mother Angelica is more than a great read; it starts great and then gets better, each chapter more unbelieveable than the last. It's no secret that Mother Angelica has fought a single-handed battle for the soul of the Church in America and saved it from those intellectual moderns (including the conference of Catholic Bishops) who prefer we not be too Roman in our Catholicism. Chesterton says that "The Catholic Church is the only thing which saves a man from the degrading slavery of being a child of his age". Fortunately, Mother knew this all too well, enough to bring many of us back to our wits as well as our faith.

Arroyo makes it hard to miss how divine providence was with her every step of the way. I never knew how much. The book is a fascinating exploration of the trials of Mother (Rita Rizzo) from early childhood through her departure from the board of directors at EWTN. Her simple faith built the largest religious network and the only one without a budget. You'll laugh at how she moves undetered through her decisions. When I first heard Mother described as the patron Saint of CEO's I thought "give me a break". After reading I'd say every CEO talks of taking risks, but not a one would ever be ballsy enough to take any of the risks that Mother took along the way.

Given her life and the nuns of her childhood, MA should be a disgruntled "recovering" Catholic. Her love and fidelity to the faith, her rediscovery and return to sound Catholic traditions make for a read that can only be appreciated by the Catholic caught for forty years between the lunacy of both the moderns and the schismatics. This book is preaching to the heavenly choir. One way or another, most people's minds are made up already with respect to Mother. If you're one of those who we delighted when you first saw her on "the tube", you'll love the book and come to a deeper appreciation of what she actually endured and finally accomplished. Prepare yourself for the laughs and the tears, in the end it's an absolute joy.

As a convert to Catholicism, I would probably be dismissed as swooning over yet another presenation of the faithful in CD format from this perspective. But Mother Angelica is one of the greatest inspirational lights on earth for any faith, any time, and for all seasons. You don't have to be Catholic to "get it." Her story like all of us really is about struggle, heartache, loss, and then the amazing Grace of God who pulls one up and out of the muck and mire. Actually, Mother Angelica reminds me of Bob Dylan! Dylan said...in song long ago & paraphrasing: The loser now will be later to win, for the times they are a changing. Right. Mother Angelica started out as what the world might judge unimportant, of little regard. Yet God seems to take the lowly, the least, the last and lifts him or her up to confound the wise and powerful. I cannot say more to convince you that this Audio CD Box Set has the capacity to change your life as no How-To Book on earth could ever do. Some learn and are inspired best by example. If you fall in that category, and are tired of the lectures on what to be or how to live, Mother Angelica's light is always "on" for you.

Back in the late 1980's,when I turned on my TV,I always
enjoyed the fiesty,but no nonsense,Mother Angelica.I didn't
watch her often,due to my work schedule,but when I did I always
had a laugh and agreed with Mother.Even though she was a contemplative nun,Mother was not sheltered entirely from the
world.She encouraged people to call in without fear with
their questions,she had seen all manner of sin.
After reading her page turning biography,I realized she had
seen it all.Born to Italian-American parents in Canton,Ohio,
she grew up in the poverty of an immigrant ghetto.During the
Depression with two divorced parents,a real stigma then,she
sat on the steps of her Grandpa's saloon,taking in the sights
of the life around her.Innocently,she was only five years old,
she would talk to the prostitutes on the street corner.
She witnessed first hand the gangsters who controlled the
neighborhood with their corruption and taking of human life.
For the rest of her life,this made her strong and willing to fight against the evils perpetuated against the poor and
helpless.
An extremely intelligent woman,she entered the Convent
very young.With her total reliance upon God,she built a
satellite empire,with her friend Bill Steltemeier,to preach
and teach the Gospels to the entire world.I never realized
how she struggled with illness and the dissension within her
own ranks.With Papal approval,she kept on with her mission,
at times becomming dissuaded but always trying for more.
For a little girl unwanted by her biological Father,she
found peace relying on her Heavenly Father.In her humble
way,she became a figure people could turn to for help.Her
latest stroke in 2005,has rendered her speechless,a great
trial for a verbal woman.Sister Angelica throughout,tells
the strenghth and grace suffering brings to a weary world
in need of redemption.
I highly recommend this book for people of all Faiths...
it would be a treasured Christmas present for many.

This is an exciting, well written book, something that I was not expecting at all. I began watching and contributing to EWTN during a difficult period of my life and Mother Angelica's network is a blessing to all, but especially those who are going through hard times. This book is a terrific read about how it all came about and it spends a lot of time on her battles with certain members of the American Church hierarchy - many of whom were exposed in the 2002 sex scandals for their less-than-Catholic actions and unconscionable lack of leadership. Mother Angelica is the primary figure in the ongoing renaissance of orthodox Catholicism among the laity and, equally important, in the seminaries. Mother Angelica and EWTN are providing wonderful tools for taking back our Church from what Raymond Arroyo (charitably) calls the "progressives" in the USCCB and their bureaucracies. What a wonderful book! It makes me ready to join the fight!

This was a very difficult book for me to read. As an adult I rediscovered the beauty and fullness of Catholic truth thanks to a faithful priest who wasn't afraid to evangelize. I learned the beauty of what the church teaches on hard issues like contraception from him. The truths he shared changed my life and my marriage for the better.

Soon thereafter I discovered Mother Angelica and EWTN. Between regular spiritual direction, frequent reception of the sacraments, and the excellent programing on Mother's network, I was soon on fire for love of Jesus, the Catholic faith, and for the fullness of truth. I quit my job as a public school teacher to teach in the Catholic schools taking a SIGNIFICANT cut in salary. After two years I enrolled in a graduate program in Catholic educational leadership at a "Catholic" University because the "sixth year" could ease the financial burden my growing family was under.

As soon as I entered the world of Catholic education I discovered the sting of persecution. No one is more reactionary and hateful than a Catholic who has abandoned the truth, and wants the Church to do the same. The world I entered was full of such poor and wayward folks. In their defense, some of them had never heard the truth, even though they had "religious studies" degrees. I was shocked the first time I heard of a religion teacher in a Catholic school denying the resurrection. I was further shocked to learn that he would regard people who held to the articles of faith as "mindless fundamentalists." Soon, I would become less incredulous, and far more cynical. The people who came up in the church of the 70's and 80's amount to a lost generation. Thank God for courageous shepherds like John Paul II, Benedict XVI, and their faithful followers, among whom Mother Angelica can count herself.

As soon as Raymond Arroyo's book came out I purchased it and read it in two days. The difficulties and insults some of us have had to endure as faithful Catholics pale in comparison to what this bride of our Lord and Savior had to undergo. The American bishops themselves were often the most bigoted and cruel regarding Mother. She was a threat to their power. John Paul II supported her and her work, but his protection was hardly enough to protect her against her enemies. A woman exercising such an incredible degree of influence in the Church did not please bishops, but because she happened to be a faithful Catholic, it pleased liberals even less. One religion teacher I worked with, who at least acknowledged the resurrection, but claimed Jesus was married to Mary Magdeline, called Mother a "restorationist" and an "enemy of the council." She also said the Church was "dead wrong" on contraception and women priests. She also looked down on Eucharistic Adoration, which was "outdated" and an "impediment" to a relationship with Christ. She recommended Cursillo retreats... She assured me that once I experienced Christ I too would understand that woman's ordination, contraception, and a married Jesus were ideas whose time had come. I went on one of those retreats... My experiences with the "charismatic renewal" are similar to Mother's as outlined in this excellent book. Oh, by the way, at Cursillo I learned that Catholics who are strange enough to believe what the Catholic church teaches are "Pharisaical Phils." Interesting.

This is a great book to read, but it is painful. When I see how Mother was treated by people who are successors to the apostles, whom we call "Your Excellency," it is enough to tempt me to a level anger that would be sinful. The process I underwent while reading this excellent book would make me look silly an observer. I would read it, put it down and pace, sputter angrily, then pick it up and read it again. I did this for two days until I was done. I regained my peace of mind after about a week. Challenging yes... but definitely worth it. This book says to all of us who have tried stand for the moral and religious truths the Church proclaims "you are not alone!" This is true, even though the majority of Catholics who teach in the church's schools and universities can make you feel very, very alone.

The gates of hell will never prevail against the Church. God has raised people like Mother Angelica up to defend it in the face of attacks, within and without. Raymond Arroyo paints a picture of a courageous woman who defended the faith. We must do the same.

This is one of the most extraordinary biographies you will ever read.
It is the story of a poverty-stricken girl, whose parents were divorced, who hated her father, hated nuns, was poorly educated and had little contact with the Church, but who grew up to found the world's first independent Catholic television network, becoming the best-known nun in the world and reputedly "the most powerful Catholic woman in America." More importantly, it is a scarcely credible story of the power of divine providence matched with unshakeable faith.
Raymond Arroyo spent five years interviewing Mother Angelica and gathering information, and his dedication pays off in his beautiful and detailed portrait of this amazing woman. And for people like me with failing memories, his index is very thorough.
It is an honest book. Arroyo does not gloss over Mother's faults. He presents her as an inspired, very determined, but humble, fallible and frequently confused woman, who is willing to endure anything in order to do what she perceives as God's will.
Two things stand out in her life: her complete orthodoxy in matters pertaining to faith, morals and liturgy, and the complete unorthodoxy of her manner of doing things. She defines her faith as having "one foot on the ground, one foot in the air, and a queasy feeling in the stomach." One of her personal mottoes is: "Unless you are willing to do the ridiculous, God will not do the miraculous."
Her achievements, particularly the formation of the Eternal Word Television Network, have been breath-taking, but they have never been easy. The reviewers who suggest that her money could have been better spent appear to have missed the central point that she never had any money. Month after month, year after year, she would be on the verge of financial ruin, with no way of getting any more money, but at the last moment a cheque would arrive for thousands of dollars, even hundreds of thousands, often from someone she had never even heard of. Just reading about her financial difficulties was stomach-churning. What must living them have been like?
All her life Mother Angelica has been fighting - against poverty, against prejudice, against unbelief, against a life-long succession of serious illnesses, against her own inadequacies, against those who would destroy her work, against the sheer impossibility of the tasks she believes God has sent her to do. At every point, her success has been matched by tremendous suffering. Truly, her life shows that God will not be outdone in generosity toward those who are generous with Him.
According to Cardinal Oddi, Pope John Paul said: "EWTN is the key to restoring the Roman Catholic Church in America." This book shows why.