Mother Angelica’s life must be viewed in reference to Jesus, the homilist at her funeral Mass said on Friday. “We cannot understand Mother Angelica without reference the One that
she loved with the passion of a bride, Jesus, the Eternal Word Who
became man and dwelt among us,” said Fr. Joseph Mary Wolfe, MVFA, in his
homily at the funeral Mass for Mother Angelica, foundress of EWTN and
Abbess Emerita at Our Lady of the Angels monastery in Hanceville,
Alabama. “Her legacy is a legacy of His work in her,” Fr. Joseph Mary added. An estimated 2,000 mourners attended Mother Angelica’s funeral Mass
at the Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament in Hanceville, 45 miles
north of Birmingham. Archbishop Charles Chaput of Philadelphia said the Mass, joined by
the Apostolic Nuncio to the United States Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano,
as well as Bishop Thomas Olmsted of Phoenix, Bishop Richard Stika of
Knoxville, Bishop Robert Baker of Birmingham, and his predecessor,
Bishop David Foley, Mother’s long-time bishop. Archbishop Vigano read aloud a message from Pope Francis at the end of the Mass. “His Holiness Pope Francis was saddened to learn of the death of
Mother Mary Angelica of the Annunciation, and extends heartfelt
condolences to the Poor Clares of the Perpetual Adoration of Our Lady of
the Angels Monastery, and to the EWTN community,” he said. Read more here.
Born during the turbulent era of the French Revolution, Saint Jeanne Jugan rose above hardship and a lack of formal schooling to become a profound vessel of Christ’s mercy. After losing her father at a young age and working through her youth as a kitchen maid and nurse, her life radically changed one freezing night when she encountered a blind, paralyzed elderly woman with nowhere to go. Jeanne carried the woman back to her own home, placed her in her own bed, and began a lifelong mission of radical hospitality. This act of profound love blossomed into the Little Sisters of the Poor , a thriving community dedicated to sheltering and honoring the destitute elderly. Despite later facing heavy trials—including being unjustly sidelined and stripped of her leadership by a controlling chaplain—Jeanne accepted her obscurity and exile with a joyful spirit, resting her complete trust in God's hidden providence until her death in 1879. In our daily lives, Saint Jeanne Jugan invites us to lo...