Mother Angelica

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

By: Raymond Arroyo

Narrated by: Raymond Arroyo

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

The extraordinary saga of Mother Angelica—who passed away on Easter, 2016—founder of the multimillion-dollar Eternal Word Television Network and “the most influential Catholic woman in America” according to Time magazine

In 1981, the year after Ted Turner founded CNN, a simple nun, using merely her entrepreneurial instincts and $200, launched what would become the world’s largest religious media empire in the garage of a Birmingham, Alabama, monastery. Under her guidance, the Eternal Word Television Network grew at a staggering pace, both in viewership and in influence, to where it now reaches over a hundred million viewers in hundreds of countries around the globe.

Born Rita Rizzo in Canton, Ohio, in 1923, Mother Angelica was abandoned by her father and raised in poverty by a mother who suffered from suicidal depressions. As a young woman, Rita developed severe abdominal pain that doctors dismissed as a “nervous condition,” but when she sought the prayers of a local mystic, her symptoms disappeared. Awakened to the power of prayer, she vowed to dedicate her life to God and became a cloistered nun, expecting to spend her life hidden from the world. But Rita’s faith soon compelled her to unlikely endeavors, from establishing a monastery in Alabama to starting the world’s first Catholic cable network. Relying solely on “God’s providence,” Mother Angelica built an empire without concern for budgets or fund-raising campaigns, achieving what even the highest levels of the Catholic Church had been unable to do.

Raymond Arroyo combines his journalist’s objectivity and eye for detail with more than five years of exclusive interviews with Mother Angelica. He traces Mother Angelica’s tortured rise to success and exposes for the first time the fierce opposition she faced, both inside and outside of her church. It is an inspiring story of survival and proof that one woman’s faith can move more than mountains.

©2005 Raymond Arroyo (P)2023 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

“This is some woman. What a wonderful story Raymond Arroyo has written—wonderful because it’s true, because he got the facts, because she chose him to tell them, and because he’s a born storyteller.”—Peggy Noonan, author of When Character Was King

“Mother Angelica’s personal words to me, her courageous example, and her constant prayers helped inspire my portrayal of Jesus in The Passion of the Christ. No one could have captured the essence of this modern-day saint better than Raymond Arroyo. His narrative gifts and understanding of Mother are clearly evident in this truthful and often candid depiction of one nun’s struggle to bring God to the multitudes. Surely this book, and Mother’s life will have an incredible enduring legacy.”—James Caviezel, actor

“Mother Angelica’s personal words to me, her courageous example, and her constant prayers helped inspire my portrayal of Jesus in The Passion of the Christ. No one could have captured the essence of this modern-day saint better than Raymond Arroyo. His narrative gifts and understanding of Mother are clearly evident in this truthful and often candid depiction of one nun’s struggle to bring God to the multitudes. Surely this book, and Mother’s life will have an incredible enduring legacy.”—James Caviezel, actor

Fascinating!

A great and inspiring story expertly told by the author. I also own the print edition but the Audible version is my new favorite.

Awesome.

Ii cannot say enough good things about this book. Mother Angelica and her life story is incredible. I laughed, I cried, and I am deeply inspired by her life and beautiful soul. This book was perfectly written and read by the author and I am grateful for his insight and admiration for her mission and for sharing this treasure of information. Thank you!

An excellent story of a wonderful and saintly woman

This is an excellent biography. Well written and well performed. I had seen Mother on TV for many years but never knew all of her story. She was a wonderful woman and deserves to be a saint. EWTN helped me convert to Catholism and I thank Mother for getting me here!

Awesome

I have loved every page of this book. What an amazing servant of GOD! I am so grateful we can still watch Mother Angelica on reruns. She is such a gift to all of us and what we can achieve by pure perceiving in GOD! Thank you for this beautiful book.

Amazing

I ended the book with grateful tears streaming down my face because of her absolute love for Christ.

Amazing story of an Amazing Woman!

I had no idea this is Mother’s history and the history behind the Order, the Network and her God Given gift of Evangelism! I love her and watch her reruns all the time! And I pray along with her televised Rosaries daily. God bless you, Mr Aroyo. Well done!

Raymond Arroyo weaves an amazing tapestry of the life and times of Mother Angelica.

Such a thoughtfully written account of Mother Angelica’s life. I could tell in some parts where Raymond tried hard to be objective and then there were parts where there was no such pretense. :) I appreciated all the in-depth looks into Mother’s childhood, girlhood and life before the cloister. Initially I was mildly annoyed with the author “voicing” Mother Angelica and all the other people mentioned in the book. By the end though, I was won over. I literally HEARD Mother Angelica speaking, especially during the author’s account of quotes from Mother Angelica toward the end of her life. It’s so clear that Raymond Arroyo was feeling deeply these words of the beloved abbess, and it made it all the more impactful. Highly recommend!

Divine providence

We are all flawed and wounded. Mother Angelica has shown us that God can do the miraculous with those flaws and wounds. Thank you Mr. Arroyo for this masterpiece!

Very inspirational

What an amazing and faith filled woman. Mother Angelica lived her life with Christ in mind and was unapologetic in her bold decisions.

Entertainingly Insightful

Mother Angelica had such an outstanding life. My husband had a great conversion thanks to EWTN, so I'm thankful to know more about the woman behind it. May we all have the nerve to do God's will like she did! Great narration by the author!