Her work, begun in the cloister, reached across the globe, Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, said in a statement following the death of Mother Angelica.
“She was a convincing sign as to how even the humblest of beginnings can yield abundant fruit,” he added.
Her story is indeed amazing. As a Poor Clare nun, she started broadcasting religious programs from a converted garage in Birmingham, Ala. She went on to develop a vast media network that included radio, television, internet channels, and printed media. She became a pioneer in using the communications media to bring the Gospel message to many people of all faiths.
I remember hearing Mother Angelica speak at one of our national Catholic Press Association conferences many years ago. I was impressed by her energy, even though she had to be seated while she gave her talk. (As a young nun, she had an accident that required her to wear leg braces.)
Some have called her a “media giant” who proved that the Church belonged in the public arena, much like Archbishop Fulton Sheen.
As someone who has worked in Catholic media for a number of years, I thank Mother Angelica for the legacy she leaves behind. I promise to do my part to help carry on the work she began.