Mother Angelica has touched the lives of millions of people around the world. When Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN) was launched on August 15, 1981, many felt there would be little demand for a Catholic network. Now, in its 28th year, EWTN has become the largest religious media network in the world, transmitting programming 24 hours a day to more than 148 million homes in 144 countries and territories on more than 4,800 cable systems, wireless cable, Direct Broadcast Satellite (DBS), low power TV and individual satellite users. Without making plans for the future, Mother Angelica, relying completely on Divine Providence, believes in going "where God opens the door." It is that deep and constant faith in the Lord, which has called Mother Angelica to act on God's invitation to do the impossible, through Him, who accomplishes the miraculous.
Please use this thread to post memories, reflections or personal accounts of how Mother Angelica touched your heart.
The Power of Prayer
One of my favorite memories is the day the first satellite dish arrived. 2 trucks carrying the unassembled 33' satellite dish arrived during the early part of Lent. Mother went out to greet them. A burly deliveryman explained that before he could unload the equipment, he needed to collect the down payment of $600,000, required by the contract. Mother stalled for time and retreated to the chapel. She did not have the money.
"I blew it, Lord", she said in the chapel. After a moment of prayer, she went back outside, resolved to turn away the equipment. One of the sisters called her to the phone. It was a guy from the Bahamas, on a yacht, who was reading one of her mini bookks and having trouble with his kids. He said he was going to send her a donation: $600,000. Mother thanked him and asked if he could send it right away. By lunch, the money had arrived in her account and the equipment was unloaded.
St. Paul assures us that : "If God is for you, who can be against you"? On Sunday, March 8, the satellite dish dangled from a borrowed crane. Like a spider inspecting a newly spun web, one of the staff hung from the end of the crane, appraising the satellite dish. A photographer snapped the above photo to capture the moment. When developed, the photo revealed a transparent red streak, like a laser beam, emitting from the center of the satellite dish. It was a divine confirmation of Sr. Regina's vision - a supernatural manifestation of the never to be extinguished flame of the Word. The photo became an immediate inspirational icon and it hangs in the network offices to this day.
With only $200, Mother Angelica began broadcasting a religious talk show from a TV studio put together in the monastery garage in suburban Birmingham. Mother Angelica needed to expand beyond the garage but lacked the funds. She had the gardener drive stakes into the ground, tie string around the stakes and then hang white cloth strips from the string. On a visit to the facility, a cardinal asked Mother about this odd arrangement adjacent to the garage. She explained that it was a visual reminder to God of where the future studio would be placed. Once he returned to his diocese, the cardinal arranged to send a donation to Mother Angelica.
"If God is for you, who can be against you?"
Catholic ping!
I watched the Rite of Reception (of Mother) broadcast live today. There was a Procession of her casket across the Piazza, and into the Public Part of the Chapel, followed by the Divine Mercy Chaplet, then, into the Cloister so the Nuns could keep vigil until her funeral.
Very moving.