Has the world
got you down? Forget about that for a
while and reflect on the life of Mother Angelica. She was the most unlikely of
candidates in the world’s eyes to become the most successful woman in the history of broadcasting.
got you down? Forget about that for a
while and reflect on the life of Mother Angelica. She was the most unlikely of
candidates in the world’s eyes to become the most successful woman in the history of broadcasting.
“But the foolish things of the world hath God chosen, that
he may confound the wise; and the weak things of the world hath God chosen,
that he may confound the strong,” (1
Corinthians 1:27).
he may confound the wise; and the weak things of the world hath God chosen,
that he may confound the strong,” (1
Corinthians 1:27).
As a girl,
Rita Rizzo, from a broken home in the poor part of town, grew up to became a
cloistered nun named Sister Mary Angelica. Not until the age 58 did she begin EWTN in a monastery garage in 1981 on a $200
budget. Her media empire became the largest religious network in the world,
broadcasting to 145 countries, reaching more than 250 million households on
television, a massive shortwave network and 300 AM/FM affiliates across the US.
Rita Rizzo, from a broken home in the poor part of town, grew up to became a
cloistered nun named Sister Mary Angelica. Not until the age 58 did she begin EWTN in a monastery garage in 1981 on a $200
budget. Her media empire became the largest religious network in the world,
broadcasting to 145 countries, reaching more than 250 million households on
television, a massive shortwave network and 300 AM/FM affiliates across the US.
We can learn
a lot from our beloved Mother Angelica. Here are some of my favorite quotes from
her.
a lot from our beloved Mother Angelica. Here are some of my favorite quotes from
her.
Everything starts with one person… I don’t
care if you’re 5 or 105, God from all eternity chose you to be where you are,
at this time in history, to change the world.
care if you’re 5 or 105, God from all eternity chose you to be where you are,
at this time in history, to change the world.
Faith is one foot on the ground, one foot n
the air, and a queasy feeling in the stomach.
the air, and a queasy feeling in the stomach.
God wants you to be in the world, but so
different from the world that you will change it. Get cracking!
different from the world that you will change it. Get cracking!
Holiness is not for wimps and the cross isnot negotiable, sweetheart; it’s a requirement.
I guess that is what dying must be like; to
be finished and to be able to look back at the struggles of life and know that
God was your constant companion.
be finished and to be able to look back at the struggles of life and know that
God was your constant companion.
I’m not afraid to fail. I’m scared to death
of dying and having the Lord say to me, ‘Angelica, this is what you might have
done had you trusted more.”
of dying and having the Lord say to me, ‘Angelica, this is what you might have
done had you trusted more.”
It’s your obligation to speak the truth, and
everyone can either take it or leave it.
But truth must be in us. We live
in such a poverty of truth today.
everyone can either take it or leave it.
But truth must be in us. We live
in such a poverty of truth today.
Simply believing in the existence of God isnot exactly what I would call a commitment. After all, even the devil believes
that God exists. Believing has to change
the way we live.
We did not happen to be—we were chosen by God
to exist.
to exist.
Sometimes my worst day—one filled with pain
and suffering—in the eyes of God, is my best day if I’ve born it cheerfully and
I’ve born it with love.
and suffering—in the eyes of God, is my best day if I’ve born it cheerfully and
I’ve born it with love.
Unless you are wiling to do the ridiculous,
God will not do the miraculous. When you have God, you don’t have to know
everything about it; you just do it.
God will not do the miraculous. When you have God, you don’t have to know
everything about it; you just do it.
Where most men work for degrees after their
names, we work for one before our names: “St.” It’s a much more difficult
degree to attain. IT takes a lifetime, and you don’t get your diploma until
you’re dead.
names, we work for one before our names: “St.” It’s a much more difficult
degree to attain. IT takes a lifetime, and you don’t get your diploma until
you’re dead.
You can’t go to Heaven hating somebody. Forgive now. Be compassionate now. Be patient
now. Be grateful now. Love Jesus and
Mary now. Accept God’s will now.
now. Be grateful now. Love Jesus and
Mary now. Accept God’s will now.
To learn
more about Mother Angelica or to see places from her childhood firsthand, visit
the Mother Angelica Tour
more about Mother Angelica or to see places from her childhood firsthand, visit
the Mother Angelica Tour
~~~~~~~~
For more inspiration check out Patti’s latest book: Holy Hacks: Everyday Ways to Live Your Faith & Get to Heaven. Other books include: Big Hearted: Inspiring Stories from Everyday Families and the best-selling Amazing Grace Series.
Follow Patti at Twitter and Pinterest, like her pages at Holy Hacks, Dear God Books, Big Hearted Families, Catholic News & Inspiration on Facebook, and her author Facebook page. To receive articles in your inbox, sign up at the right column. Thanks for stopping by. God bless you!
