Fr. Marek Weresa – Vatican
“Love for God was her greatest motivation in life. From it came Mother Angelica’s strength and the conviction that everything is possible. Her speeches, texts, programs, and conversations, before they saw the camera lens and studio lights, were prepared by her in the glow of the Blessed Sacrament,” emphasizes Fr. Dr. hab. Krzysztof Marcyński SAC, professor at UKSW, in an interview with Vatican Radio.
From the monastery to global media
Mother Angelica, an American nun belonging to the Poor Clares of Perpetual Adoration, did not plan a career in media. However, in 1981, she decided to take a bold step – founding the Catholic television station EWTN (Eternal Word Television Network).
“EWTN is key to restoring the role of the Roman Catholic Church,” said John Paul II. However, the beginnings of this work were modest: programs were recorded in a garage next to the monastery in Alabama, and broadcasts lasted only a few hours a day. Over time, however, the station began to develop dynamically, becoming the largest Catholic television network in the world.
Fr. Prof. Krzysztof Marcyński, in an interview with Vatican media, pointed out that “in the era of television, one could say in the previous media epoch, Mother Angelica used communication formats characteristic of today’s social media era. Despite the one-sided nature of television broadcasting, her style was based on interactivity, authenticity, and directness.”
Evangelization through the screen
One of the most important elements of Mother Angelica’s activity was the program “Mother Angelica Live.” For over two decades, the nun answered viewers’ questions about faith, spiritual life, and daily problems. “A sense of humor, lightness of expression, and freedom in communication played an important role. She built relationships with her audience, involving them in her programs, for example, through telephone contact with viewers, but also through her very manner of speaking,” noted Fr. Prof. Marcyński. “She was also distinguished by her ability to understand human experiences and daily struggles, while at the same time recognizing the need for a simple transmission of the truths of faith and the Church’s teaching.”
She showed that modern media can be an effective tool for proclaiming the Gospel.
“Her message was rooted in an aesthetic of simplicity and ordinariness. The programs gave the impression of an almost homey meeting with viewers. The studio lacked elaborate scenery and an excess of technical means. Relationality and the ability to create direct contact with the audience are key distinguishing features of Mother Angelica’s style of tele-evangelization,” noted the Vatican media’s interlocutor.
“Weak in body, but strong in spirit” – the Polish Pope said of her. In times of over-interpretation of the guidelines of the Second Vatican Council, Mother Angelica propagated a vision of the Church consistent with the plans of the Council Fathers. And a dozen years later, when gender ideology began to take its toll in the United States, she spoke clearly about the complementarity of the sexes and became a spiritual guide for millions of Americans.
A lasting legacy
After a severe stroke in 2001, Mother Angelica withdrew from public life, spending her last years in the monastery. She died in 2016, leaving behind a vast legacy. The EWTN network she founded now reaches millions of people worldwide through television, radio, and the internet. Her life remains an example that courage in faith and trust in Divine Providence can bear fruits beyond the wildest expectations. Fr. Dr. hab. Krzysztof Marcyński adds: “An extraordinary figure in the Church and in Catholic media. Her style definitely sets the direction for all those working not only in religious media, but also in other fields, and also for people working with people and with words.”
“The founding of EWTN and the gradual building of this television’s global power are just some examples of initiatives that were initially considered impossible. Moreover, despite suffering, she was cheerful and full of trust in God’s guidance. And this remains alive and relevant today, 10 years after her death. Because that is what media – good media, with high, humanistic standards – is all about: to unite people, to integrate the broken fragments within a person into a whole, and to give people a sense of life. She did that,” said Fr. Prof. Krzysztof Marcyński.
