Mother Angelica: A Contemplative life of Action
Mother Angelica: A Contemplative life of Action
-Mother Angelica
-Pope St. John Paul II
-Mother Angelica
It could be said that Rita Rizzo was born to take on the mantle granted her as Mother Angelica. As with all of us, Providence held her in the palm of His hand, and when He called, she answered with eagerness and gusto. She lived her calling to the fullest extent of her being. Holiness is not a superpower, and Mother Angelica would more than likely disapprove of the comparison. Disapproval or no, the comparison here is an apt one, her powers of holy persuasion, and zeal for God's mission cannot be denied. To the outside world, this humble nun seemed to buck all the preconceived notions and nunnery clichés, to promulgate the Catholic faith in the most winsome of ways.
You'd be forgiven if you thought that the contemplative life had nothing on Rita Rizzo. Because, how could a religious sister, a member of the Poor Clares of Perpetual Adoration, ever start the world's largest Catholic broadcasting Network? I mean, perpetual is in the name, and doesn't a life of prayer denote inactivity? Far from it, The founder of EWTN found her strength in prayer. A life of contemplation is not a life without activity, it is activity itself. It is the driving force of meaning and purpose in our everyday experience. When we live in the will of Christ, and seek after the purpose he has for our lives, unearthing who we are meant to be is not far behind.
I can assure you, Rita Rizzo, knew that to her core. This small town girl from Canton Ohio was able to do so much with so little, because she prayed daily, and had a relationship with Jesus. When Rita Rizzo took on the name of Mary Angelica, and entered the contemplative life, her active life did not end, and her unique voice was never stifled. On the contrary, it was magnified. If Mother Angelica's life and work can teach us anything, it's this, trust in the Lord is everything. And our willingness to listen to the Lord in silence of heats, is a great doorway to that trust.
Though, trust does come at a cost, it may lead us to places we don't expect, and into arenas we could never fathom. Mother Angelica was willing to take those risks, and count those costs. Ultimately finding her greatest strength in the Eternal Word. Mother imbibed the words of Saint Paul In a tremendous measure of faith and willingness. To paraphrase, God's power is made perfect in weakness. We are all weak, but God can use our weakness as his strength. As Angelica, so beautifully puts it, in words that are so uniquely her own, "God uses dodos, and I'm a dodo."
Happy Easter Triduum
From an auditory and literary viewpoint, this two volume biography of Mother Angelica, “Mother Angelica: The Remarkable Story of a Nun, Her Nerve, and a Network of Miracles”, and “Mother Angelica Her Grand Silence: The Last Years and Living Living Legacy”, are both a delight to experience. Author Raymond Arroyo grants Mother Angelica's life a vibrancy and rambunctiousness it truly deserves. And that says nothing about the clear love and respect Arroyo has for his subject, while still offering us a very human portrait of Catholic Media's most recognizable nun.
Mother Angelica: The Remarkable Story of a Nun, Her Nerve, and a Network of Miracles purchase link, and audio sample: Here
Mother Angelica Her Grand Silence: The Last Years and Living Living Legacy, purchase link, and audio sample: Here
Both of these volumes are also available in print, wherever books are sold.
I found both volumes of the Mother Angelica biography, by Raymond Arroyo, to be charmingly vibrant, immensely inspiring and deeply meaningful. I hope in some way you do too.
If you wish to explore over 150 film reviews and essays, my blog archive can be found at this link: Hour 21
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