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.
The twelve apostles chosen by Jesus formed the bedrock of the early Church , and their Catholic identity is deeply rooted in their direct relationship with Christ and the mission He entrusted to them. The Catechism of the Catholic Church highlights this foundational role, stating that Jesus "instituted the Twelve as 'the seeds of the new Israel and the beginning of the sacred hierarchy'" ( CCC 860 ). These men were not simply followers; they were handpicked by Jesus, lived intimately with Him, witnessed His miracles and teachings firsthand, and were specifically commissioned to preach the Gospel to all nations ( Matthew 28:19-20 ). Their unique position as eyewitnesses to the life, death, and resurrection of Christ, and their reception of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, established them as the authoritative leaders of the nascent Church, a reality echoed in the writings of early Church Fathers like Ignatius of Antioch, who emphasized the apostles' authority as repre...