Mother Angelica Her Grand Silence: The Last Years and Living Legacy

If you thought the "...Grand Silence" was going to be a prayerful and peaceful account of a contemplative's last years of life, you will be amazingly surprised at the actual drama that was unfolding during Mother Angelica's last years at Our Lady of the Angels Monastery, It is admirable how frank that Mother and the Sisters are in informing the stories that are included in this very, very interesting final-years biography. The recorded spiritual battles prompt us to consider the perpetual mysteries of faith ; the recorded personal difficulties remind us that we share a common humanity and that we are called to prayer for those with whom we share the same foibles. With journalistic precision, considerable drama, a bit of humor, and an occasional pull at the heartstrings, Raymond Arroyo gives all of us more reason to love and appreciate Mother Angelica and her Sisters .

Raymond Arroyo has once again has used his unique blend of humor, compassion, tell it like it is facts and deep love for Mother and her spiritual daughters, to paint the story of not only of Mother Angelica's final years, but the backstory of her and her relationship with her sisters who were her family.Because nearly everyone in the world does not live in the cloistered monastery of nuns, we don't realize that those brown and white religious habits have real genuine people residing inside them, who have chosen not only to give their lives fully to God, but also to give their lives fully to those who have become their family, the other religious sisters in their order.This book tells Mother Angelica's story and also tells the nuns' stories and how a group of women who trust in God and come together in His name can function together as a family, and provide love, compassion and support to one another just like members of a natural family. And just like any other family, there are the same jealousies, squabbles and other irritations that all families experience. Once Mother Angelica became disabled from functioning actively as abbess, there were definitely issues that developed among the nuns.The book also documents the tremendous inspiration Mother Angeica provided to so many people, although the exerpts of letter in the book does not read well, especially when the quotes are lengthy.Although not as free flowing of a narrative as the first book, this book is a well detailed and earnest account by Raymond Arroyo of Mother's last years. In the end, Mother's life is a testimony that God can use ordinary people to accomplish extraordinary things, even though those things are hidden to most of the world, and would be regarded by most of the world as insignificant. One thing we can be sure of is that God does not regard these countless ask of love and charity is insignificant, and he loves them just as he loves everyone of us.

Even today people still seem to want to put holy people on pedestals and pretend they were perfect even though such biographies are stilted and now dusty so I'm very glad that Raymond Arroyo didn't do that with Mother Angelica in this book. He not only writes about Mother Angelica but also the implosion of her community while she lay suffering yet fully aware of the chaos and conflict amongst her beloved Sisters. One of the Sisters quoted in the book hit the nail on the head - perhaps lack of formation in the later years added to the stampede to get away from such a (for them) toxic environment. So sad all this happened as Mother Angelica lay helpless and unable to intervene except through prayer, to see her life's work crumble must have been a true crucifixion for her. The sisters, her community, were her life's work even more so than EWTN. I'm sending this book off to a Poor Clare Abbess I know as an object lesson; I don't think she needs it as she's a very strong superior but still it is an important reminder as to what can happen where there is a lack of formation in the early years. I applaud Mr. Arroyo for his honesty.

End. Though I've read all of her books and thought I knew everything about her and EWTN, there's a lot more about Mothers last years and also her nuns, thanks to Raymond. I hope her network continues to flourish.

The story of Mother Angelica only was previewed by her founding of her Poor Clare Community and EWTN world wide ministry. Mother poured out her life as only a mother could for the propagation of faith to the whole world by her life of faithful suffering and embrace of the Cross her Divine Spouse offered her. Raymond Arroyo brings to life these days in her life with great love and sensitivity. He allows us to see what it means to pour out our life as a libation for souls. Every single moment Mother lived in the Grand Silence was for love of Him who loves us all. Read this book and share with everyone who wonders why life lived fully regardless the physical productivity is a life full of meaning...maybe more fruitful than all the doing the world says is important.

This book presents the last years of Mother Angelica's silent suffering with extraordinary transparency and honesty. Her example of how to bear physical and emotional suffering is moving. Several reviewers don't appreciate the story of the leadership tensions within the community, but I think they demonstrate how we must understand the saints in our Church. We know that other great founders and leaders have struggled even in their own communities,St. Alphonsus Liquori and St. Francis of Assisi, for example. Mother Angelica agreed with St. Mother Teresa: “God has not called me to be successful. He has called me to be faithful.” Mother Angelica, whose cause for canonization should open in just a few more years, touched many lives by calling them to love Jesus and His Church. Raymond Arroyo prays appropriate tribute to how her legacy continued, through her Catholic media network, EWTN, her cloistered religious order, and her active religious order, the Friars.

Wonderful book about amazing Mother Angelica 😇

This is a, really touching and heartwarming book detailing the last year's of mother Angelica.Mother Angelica has left behind her a legacy that touches many all over the world...This book is a good read..And a window into the heart and life of a true woman of God

This was bought for my wife,and she started reading straight away.She has been looking for this item for quite a while.She is very pleased with the content.

Just buy any book about Mother Angelica they will help you with your life.

Can't stop reading it! My copy is as good as new.