IRONDALE, Ala. (CNS) — In an early morning tweet Feb. 22, the Eternal Word Television Network said its founder, Mother Angelica, remains in a “delicate” condition.
Members of her religious order, the Poor Clares of Perpetual Adoration at Our Lady of Angels Monastery in Hanceville, asked for prayers for her.
In a new posting on the order’s website, http://olamnuns.com, the Poor Clares extended “a heart-felt thank-you” to all who have been praying for Mother Angelica, who is 92.
“The many cards and promises of prayer she received throughout this past Christmas season were a great consolation and support,” the posting said. “Mother’s condition remains delicate and she receives devoted care day and night by her sisters and nurses.”
“In God’s providence, she was able to receive the special jubilee grace” of passing through the Door of Mercy shortly after its opening for the Jubilee Year of Mercy, it said. “Although she is most often sleeping, from time to time mother will give a radiant smile. There is no doubt that her heart must be ‘on things above.'”
Last November, a spokesman for the Poor Clares told Catholic News Service, that Mother Angelica was doing as well as could be expected for someone her age who remains partially paralyzed.
“From what I’m told, it’s not that she’s completely unable to eat. It’s assisting her to get the nutrients she needs,” said Luke Johnasen, director of pilgrimages at the monastery. He confirmed to CNS that she had been fitted with a feeding tube.
“She’s had some up and downs the last few months,” he said. “She’s a fighter.”
In the website posting, the Poor Clares said that toward the close of 2015, the entire community of the Franciscan Missionaries of the Eternal Word, based in Birmingham, came together to celebrate a special Mass for Mother Angelica. It was “another gift of God’s mercy. Mother herself is regularly fortified by the sacraments,” the order said.
On Feb. 12, Pope Francis sent his greetings Mother Angelica from aboard the papal plane to Cuba for his historic meeting with Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill of Moscow.
“To Mother Angelica with my blessing and I ask you to pray for me; I need it,” the pope said. “God bless you, Mother Angelica.”
EWTN released the pope’s message for Mother Angelica later that day.
A native of Canton, Ohio, Mother Angelica launched EWTN Aug. 15, 1981. The initiative was met with doubt from television executives who felt there was little demand for Catholic programming. The networks’ website reports that it transmits programs 24 hours a day to more than 230 million homes in 144 countries via cable and other technologies. It broadcasts in in English and several other languages.