For the first time, you can pray with a woman who has transformed the lives of millions around the world. This precious collection gives readers a chance to experience the personal, daily, spiritual practice of Mother Angelica. Seen by millions each day on the television network she founded, Mother Angelica is one of the most trusted and beloved religious figures of our time. Her words of wisdom about the spiritual life have been broadcast throughout the world on EWTN and have become New York Times bestselling books. For Mother the act of prayer is an unceasing daily conversation with the Divine---one that has been a source of inspiration and solace for nearly seven decades. Now Mother Angelica shares a lifetime of her private prayers and devotions so that you can experience and utter the very words that have shaped her incredible life. This treasury of material, much of it never before published, includes: * A complete prayer journal composed during Mother's personal dark night of the soul * Handwritten meditations offered to her sisters * Two moving versions of the Stations of the Cross composed for her community * Devotions and petitions from her early religious life. Throughout, Mother Angelica's humor, warmth, and wisdom shine through. More than a collection of prayers, this special volume is an intimate portrait of one of the world's great women of faith. For devoted fans of Mother Angelica as well as for those just coming to know her, this inspiring guide will be a cherished companion along each step of the path to holiness.

MOTHER ANGELICA, born Rita Antoinette Rizzo, established Our Lady of the Angels Monastery in Birmingham, Alabama, in 1961. Twenty years later, she founded the Eternal World Television Network, which reaches more than 184 million TV viewers and radio listeners around the world.

RAYMOND ARROYO is the news director and lead anchor of EWTN News. As host of the award-winning The World Over, he is seen in more than 148 million households each week. He is author of the New York Times bestselling biography of Mother Angelica and regularly appears on network and cable television and on radio.

The

prayers & personal devotions

of

Mother

Angelica



opening prayers

O God, Holy Ghost,

Who didst inspire the author of this book with Thy light, and art, thus teaching us and permitting us to hear Thy voice and also Thy divine instructions, grant us the grace to understand them rightly, that relishing them and practicing them in all our actions, for Thy greater honor and for our progress in perfection, we may know Thee, O God, more perfectly and love Thee more ardently.

O Blessed Virgin Mary, implore for us this grace. Amen.

—Poor Clares of Perpetual Adoration Prayer Book

I stand before You, Lord God, a sinner. In all the realms of Your creation no one is more undeserving of Your love than I. This is why I dare approach Your Presence. Your power is at its best in weakness, Your love is more gratuitous to the ungrateful, and Your mercy more sublime to the undeserving.

—Mother Angelica



The

Private Prayers



At The Start of Day

Prayer in the Morning

Good morning, Jesus. I want to give You this day with all my love. I want to unite my every thought and action with every thought and action of Your earthly life. Help me to be kind and patient. It looks like a difficult day—a day of decision and I’m not sure of the right course to take. A day of pain and I feel weak, a day of uncertainty and I tend to lose hope. Don’t let me forget Your Abiding Love and Providence today. Walk beside me and when I hesitate put Your arms around me and steady my faltering steps. Guide me in Your paths and give me that assurance that comes with Faith; Faith in Your Promises, Faith in Your Love.

Prayer Before Work

In Nomine Patris, et Filii, et Spiritus Sancti. Amen.

To Thy love, O my God, I consecrate all the work and actions of this day, in union with those of Thy beloved Son whilst here on earth, and with His purest intentions. I offer them through the Immaculate Heart of Mary to Thy greater glory and in the spirit of adoration of the Most Blessed Sacrament. Hail Mary . . . (PCPA Prayer Book)

An Offering of Work

My Father, accept the work of my hands today in union with the labor of Jesus during His life. I offer to You the fatigue and tension of this day in union with the weariness of Jesus as He walked from town to town. My actions are imperfect, my motives are often selfish, but everything I do this day I unite with the most pure motives of Jesus and His perfect life. I desire to please You alone and to love You with the love of the Holy Spirit.

Prayer at Work

Lord God, show me Your Will in my life. Give me the work that is best suited to the talents You have given me. Bless me with fellow workers who will help me stay close to You. Grant that my work may not be a source of disturbance or temptation. Give me the strength to do it well and enthusiastically and bless my efforts to witness to Your love. Give me a just wage and do not permit me to desire more than I deserve. Bless my employer and give him the wisdom to use the gifts You have given him for Your honor and glory. Lord Jesus, do not permit me to lose sight of Your Presence in my soul today. Quiet the noise around me so I may hear the soft whisper of Your Voice.

Humility and Pardon

A Prayer for Humility

You’ve got to watch your own thoughts. When you are conscious of an unloving, unkind, critical, or hateful thought against anyone; whether present or elsewhere, check it immediately. Strike your breast and say:

“Jesus, if it wasn’t for you, I wouldn’t be able to breathe. Be merciful to me, a poor sinner.”

Humble yourself, and you’ll be surprised how good that other person looks. It’s because we’re not humble that we have the effrontery to tear other people down.

To Be Humble of Heart

---

Excerpted from The Prayers and Personal Devotions of Mother Angelica by Raymond Arroyo
All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.