Dear Family,

Thank you for all the good wishes sent to Mother Angelica for her birthday. The Cards, flowers and especially the prayers made her day very special.

Mother attended the 7 AM Conventual Mass with her Nuns and Friars. The last song especially for her, the Regina Caeli sung with great gusto, put a smile on her face. But we are certain her Eucharistic Spouse gave her many blessings in Holy Communion.

The Nuns decorated the refectory (the place where we eat our meals) like an Italian restaurant. Of course the menu included spaghetti and meatballs and we even served a monastery version of cappuccino. Mother was smart enough to decline. She’s a die hard tea drinker anyway…We can’t stress enough how wonderful it is to be in her company. Her joy is contagious and her presence renews us all.

Later that day she greeted many friends in the parlor. The Friars, the Knights, Deacon Bill, Ramona and even Bob and Penny Lord were included in this meeting. It was joyous time for them and most especially for Mother.

The Pope’s historical visit to the USA was a huge occasion for HOPE for our nation. But also for Mother Angelica who watched with riveted attention the complete coverage EWTN offered – all six days. The Pope’s last day in our country landed on Mother’s birthday giving her the joy of seeing him celebrate Mass on her special day.

No one can doubt Mother’s great devotion to our Holy Catholic Church and our Supreme Pontiff. Her prayers and sufferings certainly contribute to the spread of the Kingdom of God, which our Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI challenged Americans to devote their lives too. His words are worth quoting in full, “And we, the members of his body, through Baptism have become "living stones" in that temple, sharing in the life of God by grace, blessed with the freedom of the sons of God, and empowered to offer spiritual sacrifices pleasing to him (cf. 1 Pet 2:5). And what is this offering which we are called to make, if not to direct our every thought, word and action to the truth of the Gospel and to harness all our energies in the service of God's Kingdom? Only in this way can we build with God, on the one foundation which is Christ (cf. 1 Cor 3:11). Only in this way can we build something that will truly endure. Only in this way can our lives find ultimate meaning and bear lasting fruit.

Thank you again for all your prayers for Mother Angelica. She really had a wonderful 85th birthday. I know if she was able to talk she would want you all to know how grateful she for your prayers, she loves you all very much… and so do we!

                                      ..From  The Sisters at Our Lady of the Angels Monastery
                                                                                                           on April 22, 2008