Mother Angelica’s Monastery at 50: Southern Hospitality Meets Divine Providence

The National Catholic Register ^ | 5/20/12 | Joseph Proenchen

[marshmallow]

On May 20, the Poor Clares of Perpetual Adoration mark the 50th anniversary of the foundation of Mother Angelica’s Our Lady of the Angels Monastery in Alabama. Mother Angelica’s Poor Clares are part of the Poor Clares of Perpetual Adoration order which originated in France.

On May 20, 1962, Archbishop Thomas Toolen of Mobile, Ala., dedicated the monastery in Irondale, Ala. Twelve days earlier, on May 8, Mother Angelica, along with four other sisters, left Sancta Clara in Canton, Ohio, for this new foundation of Our Lady of the Angels Monastery in the suburbs of Birmingham.

Facing a serious spinal operation, Mother Angelica — who celebrated her 89th birthday on April 20 — had promised to build a monastery for Our Lord in the South if he allowed her to walk again.

Sister Mary Michael has fond memories of those early days. Of the original five nuns who came that May from Ohio to Alabama, she is the only one remaining besides Mother Angelica.

She remembers tearful good-byes in Canton and the drive to Birmingham, where she and the sisters rode in a station wagon with Mae Francis, Mother Angelica’s natural mother, who became the first postulant and later Sister Mary David. Luggage was minimal.

In Canton, the sisters made and sold “St. Peter’s Fishing Lures,” hoping the venture would be the means of supporting themselves in Alabama. After an article about the “The Fishing Lure Nuns” appeared, they “were able to raise enough money to pay for the land in Birmingham,” Sister Mary Michael says.

Monastery Rises

Early in 1961, Mother Angelica and Sister Mary Veronica searched for and found about 15 hillside acres in Irondale. That September, Mother and Sister Mary Joseph returned to Irondale to oversee the monastery’s construction.

“Mother had already made a scale model of the.........

[mckenzie7]

Mtoher Angelica is a National Treasure.

[ConorMacNessa]

All I can say after reading this article is that I am inspired by the example of these holy women of God. This is Christ in action in our midst today.

This doesn't happen through the intervention of government. The intervention of government diminishes our freedoms.

This doesn't happen through the intervention of Hollywood celebrities. They have their self-aggrandizing motives, which are satisfied by a sycophantic media.

This doesn't happen through the intervention of soulless corporations. They worship the god of the bottom line and anything that does not augment the bottom line is irrelevant.

This happens through the action of modern-day disciples of Christ, living out the Two Great Commandments. Mother Angelica and her Poor Clares sisters are outstanding examples of what it means to be a Christian. May God Bless and keep them!



Nos genuflectitur ad non princeps sed Princeps Pacem!

Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name. (Isaiah 49:1 KJV)

[redhead]

"Mother Angelica is a National Treasure."

Yes, she certainly is. Went to Irondale on a pilgrimage some years ago. Many happy memories.

[Salvation]

http://www.ewtn.com/

[johngrace]

Thank God for this Woman!! Praise Jesus!!

[johngrace]

I watch EWTN everyday. What spiritual strength from the Prayers on the network. This network spiritually comforted my Mother for her last five years of life. We prayed together with Mother Angelica during the tv prayer Devotionals.

Now that I have a condition what great spiritual heights just by watching this Network. I pray along too now.

I read the bio on Mother. Miracles against all the odds. Amen!

[Mrs. Don-o]

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[EyeGuy]

“Mother Angelica is a National Treasure.”

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And a stalwart, true hero in the spiritual war for our souls.

The story of the development of her global television network clearly points to nothing less than a divinely directed miracle.