Paul Shrine in Cleveland, and knowing that it would prove to be a near impossible parting with her mother, Mae, Rita left home at the age of 21, sending her mother a letter informing her of her decision and desire to follow Christ in religious life. After a covert visit to the Poor Clare Monastery at the St. Realizing God's immense love for her through this incredible recovery, Rita resolved to give herself totally to God. Therese at the recommendation of the mystic, Rhoda Wise. In her teenage years, she was plagued with a severe stomach ailment, which was only relieved after fervent recourse to the intercession of St. Physical suffering would accompany Rita throughout her life. Early in her youth, Rita was left with her mother to piece together a living with odd-jobs, which resulted in the two often hungry, poor, and in need. The inter-war years were difficult and Rita forged her way through a rough childhood before she entered the Poor Clares of Perpetual Adoration (PCPA) monastery in Cleveland. Mother Angelica, was born Rita Rizzo in Canton, Ohio on the 20th of April, 1923.

The Poor Clares, a contemplative order dedicated to adoration of Our Directed by a local monsignor, Rita joined

'When I knelt I just knew it, I just knew it. During one of her sojourns to St.Īnthony's, kneeling before Our Lady of Sorrows, the impossible She started praying the stations of the cross at her localĬhurch, and was miraculously healed. Rita developed a severe intestinal ailment and couldn't get medicalĬare. Though two strong hands had lifted her to safety. When she narrowly missed being run down by a truck. Not regular church goers, yet they were fervent in their Catholic faithĪnd belief in God's providence. She would remark 'I worked hard for those Fs.' She and her mother were Learned responsibility at a young age, helping her mother run theīusiness, and the hard work took a toll on her school grades. Ostrocism for the divorce, and young Rita had very few friends. Rat-infested apartment and barely making ends meet. They struggled to run a dry-cleaning business, living in a Very young, and her mother struggled with chronic depression and Her father abondoned the family when she was Mother Angelica was born Rita Antionette Rizzo in Canton, Ohio, in 1923Īs the only child of John and Mae Rizzo.

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