Following the announcement of the death of Mother Mary Angelica, P.C.P.A. last evening, sympathies and praise began pouring in from Catholic leaders around the world.

Mother Dolores Marie, Superior of the Poor Clare Nuns of Perpetual Adoration of Our Lady of the Angels Monastery, said Mother passed from this world while surrounded by the prayers and love of her spiritual daughters, sons, and dear friends. 

" . . . [S]he untiringly exhorted all to pursue holiness by living with God in the present moment," Mother Dolores said. "We are grateful for your prayers for this courageous daughter of the Church and your support of EWTN, the media network that she founded for the salvation of souls. May our beloved Mother Angelica, Foundress of EWTN, enter through the Mercy of God into the joy of Heaven.”

Pope Benedict XVI called the passage of Mother Angelica on Easter Sunday a "gift" from the Lord.

The Most Reverend Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap., Archbishop of Philadelphia said Mother Angelica succeeded at a task the nation's bishops themselves couldn't achieve. 

“She founded and grew a network that appealed to everyday Catholics, understood their needs and fed their spirits," the Archbishop said. "Mother Angelica inspired other gifted people to join her in the work without compromising her own leadership and vision. I admired her very much, not just as a talented leader and communicator, but as a friend and great woman religious of generosity, intellect and Catholic faith.”

The Most Reverend Robert J. Baker, Bishop of Birmingham, Alabama, commended Mother Angelica for bringing the truth and the love and the life of the Gospel to so many people, “not only to our Catholic household of faith, but to many thousands of people who are not Catholic, in that beautiful way she had of touching lives, bringing so many people into the Catholic Faith.”

Father Anthony Mary Stelten, M.F.V.A., Community Servant, Franciscan Missionaries of the Eternal Word, said that although they are deeply saddened by her loss, she was a great inspiration for them in their spiritual lives.

“Mother was an inspiration for all of us in her contemplative life of adoration before the Most Blessed Sacrament and in the deep, personal relationship that she had with the Lord. Her friendly manner, pleasant wit, vision and enthusiastic zeal for evangelization so animated her mission at EWTN and inspired all who had the privilege of getting to know her in person or through the Network."

Carl A. Anderson, Supreme Knight, Knights of Columbus said Mother Angelica leaves behind a legacy of holiness and commitment to the New Evangelization that should inspire us all. 

“Mother Angelica was fearless, because she had God on her side," Anderson said. "She saw what He needed her to do and she did it! She transformed the world of Catholic broadcasting, and brought the Gospel to far corners of our world. That witness of faith was unmistakable to anyone who met and worked with her, and generations of Catholics have, and will continue to be formed by her vision, and her 'yes' to God's will.”

Mother Angelica's funeral will be televised live on Friday, April 1, at 12:00 p.m. EST. Click here for a complete schedule of services.

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