Mother Angelica, the founder of the global Roman Catholic media network, EWTN, has died at the age of 92.
Mother Mary Angelica, a member of the Poor Clares, founded the Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN) in 1981 and it has since grown to become what is claimed to be the largest religious media network in the world, operating across multiple platforms including television, radio, and online.
The American-born nun died in a monastery she founded at Hanceville in Alabama on 27th March, having had what was described as a lengthy struggle in the aftermath of a stroke she had suffered on Christmas Eve.
Mother Angelica was known to many Americans through her TV show, Mother Angelica Live, broadcast by the EWTN network. As well as founding EWTN, she also founded the Our Lady of the Angels Monastery in Irondale, Alabama (the nuns have since moved to Hanceville), and, more recently, the Franciscan Missionaries of the Eternal Word, a religious community of men – also based in Irondale.
Before stepping down as EWTN’s chairperson and CEO in 2000, TIME magazine described her as “arguably the most influential Roman Catholic woman in America”. In 2009, she was awarded the Pro Ecclesia et Pontiface medal by Pope Benedict XVI for her service to the Roman Catholic church.
Michael P Warsaw, EWTN chairman and CEO, said on Sunday that Mother Angelica “has always, and will always, personify EWTN, the network which she founded”. “In the face of sickness and long-suffering trials, Mother’s example of joy and prayerful perseverance exemplified the Franciscan spirit she held so dear. We thank God for Mother Angelica and for the gift of her extraordinary life.”
Mother Angelica will be buried on Friday. Her funeral mass will be broadcast live via EWTN.
– with ASSIST News Service
