Mother Angelica 1923-2016

I am sure most people have seen the news of the death of Mother Angelica. There are so many people whose lives she has touched in some way. And that was her goal. To reach souls and help lead them to God.

A lot of people share their stories of how she helped them to become a better person. I never knew her personally, but for myself, I have always been inspired by her courage. She used to say that "boldness should have been the eleventh commandment." Most people wouldn't have the guts to do half the things she did. So many odds were against her. So many people disagreed with her. That didn't matter to Mother. She saw that God was asking her to do something for Him, and she did it. 

Mother Angelica has so many wonderful sayings and quotes. But two of my favorite quotes are:

"If you want to do something for the Lord do it! . . . Being afraid is not a problem. It's doing nothing when you are afraid, that's the problem." And: "I'm not afraid to fail. . . . I'm scared to death of dying and having the Lord say to me, "Angelica, this is what you might have done had you trusted more."

Mother has shown us so much about the ways of holiness in her life. I think she teaches us how to be bold for the Lord the most. How to do great things for Him, even if you're scared, even if everything is against you. Those things are not important. As she says, what matters is that we do it for the love of God, so He will be able to say to us, "Well done, good and faithful servant, because thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will place thee over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy Lord." (Matthew 25)

More than likely we will never found a monastery, nor build a television network, nor many of the other things Mother did, but she challenges us by her life to do what we can and what is in our own power to do great and little things for God each day. 

Let us also not forget to pray for her. Even though she could be canonized one day, we should still offer her our prayers. She would be the first to tell us that. And if she isn't in need of them, then may she pray for us and help us get to Heaven too.