EWTN's Mother Mary Angelica passes away on Easter Sunday

'Mother has always, and will always, personify EWTN, the Network which she founded.'

Mother Mary Angelica of the Annunciation, whose humble origins began in a monastery garage with only $200 to her name, created a TV studio in Birmingham, 1981.

LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - Through Mother Mary Angelica's passionate pursuance of spreading Christ's Truth, the Eternal World Television Network (EWTN) grew from that Birmingham garage into a global network.

The EWTN has become a 24-hour TV, radio and online network that broadcasts to 264 million households worldwide.

The Network is known for following the Vatican's lead and both Mother Mary Angelica and Deacon Bill Steltemeier, the Chairman of EWTN's Board of Governors, received a Papal Honor for their distinguished service to the Church.

According to its website, the EWTN provides over 80 percent original programming in English and Spanish over more than 4,800 cable systems, wireless cable, Direct Broadcast Satellite, low power TV and individual satellite users.

Mother Angelica hosted "Mother Angelica Live," in which she led religious discussions with viewers, but suffered a stroke on Christmas eve, 2001 that left her speech and mobility too impaired for her to continue with either the show or in the leadership position within the company.

Since the stroke, Mother Angelica never regained her full speaking ability and suffered more, less-severe, strokes until she was finally bedridden for the past few months and placed on a feeding tube. Unfortunately, her health continued to decline until her death on Sunday.

Mother Dolores Marie, superior of the Poor Clare Nuns of Perpetual Adoration of Our Lady of the Angels Monastery, released a statement to the EWTN, reading: "Mother Mary Angelica of the Annunciation, P.C.P.A. passed peacefully from this life at Our Lady of the Angels Monastery on 5 p.m. CDT, Easter Sunday, March 27, in this Jubilee Year of Mercy, surrounded by the prayers and love of her spiritual daughters, sons and dear friends. 

"Known as "Mother to Millions" to her EWTN Family, she untiringly exhorted all to pursue holiness by living with God in the present moment. We are grateful for your prayers for this courageous daughter of the Church and your support of EWTN, the media network that she founded for the salvation of souls. May our beloved Mother Angelica, Foundress of EWTN, enter through the Mercy of God into the joy of Heaven."

Several other religious figures left statements that were posted to EWTN, including EWTN Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Michael P. Warsaw, who wrote: "This is a sorrow-filled day for the entire EWTN Family. Mother has always, and will always, personify EWTN, the Network which she founded.

"In the face of sickness and long-suffering trials, Mother's example of joy and prayerful perseverance exemplified the Franciscan spirit she held so dear. We thank God for Mother Angelica and for the gift of her extraordinary life. Her accomplishments and legacies in evangelization throughout the world are nothing short of miraculous and can only be attributed to Divine Providence and her unwavering faithfulness to our Lord.

"The important thing, as Mother Angelica's life and the lives so many of the saints  have shown us, is to be faithful and to persevere. Mother Angelica's life has been a life of faith; her prayer life and obedience to God are worthy of our imitation. Everything she did was an act of faith."

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