Mother Angelica's Little Book of Life Lessons and Everyday Spirituality

This little book is like having an excellent spiritual director at your beck and call 24 hours a day! This is a remarkably deep and profound book. Most striking for me was Mother's emphasis on a spirituality of the "Present Moment." We are called to be faithful NOW. Not yesterday, for that is passed; not tomorrow, for that is yet to be. We can only be holy if we focus on the now. The "Present Moment" is really all there is. However, like all of Mother's talks and broadcasts, this book's depth and profundity come to us in a humble and easy to understand format. Mother uses simple and humble language, and shares deep eternal truths. Most touching for me is her compassion. There is no one on TV today quite like Mother. EWTN is still going strong (PRAISE GOD!) but everyone there would readily admit that the network has lost something very special since we now can only enjoy Mother in re-runs of her classic shows. People used to call in with their problems, for advice, for help and support. Everyone just trusted Mother, and for good reason. Today the network focuses on matters of the faith: on apologetics and catechesis. However, then, Mother did all that, and touched us personally as well. This book is an absolute treasure. I am convinced every person of good will would do well to read it. (Putting it into practice... that is a little harder!) God Bless Mother Angelica!

This little book is a treasure trove! This is the best of Mother Angelica! As I read through the book, I could hear Mother's voice reading it instead of my own voice. I do so miss seeing Mother on EWTN. She is one of a kind. Mother tells it like it is, and it's all right here in this book! So, buy this book and soak up Mother's wisdom. As Mother would say, "I don't care if you're 5 or 105, God from all eternity chose you to be where you are, at this time in history, to change the world." Now, isn't that awesome?

I found this to be a really excellent book. I also really enjoyed his first book which was a biography of Mother Angelica and found the new book to be a perfect companion to it. Raymond Arroyo has really done an excellent service by providing a sort of compendium on the teachings of Mother Angelica in the new book. Raymond has selected passages of her writings from her mini-books, from what she has used to teach her nuns, and from her television show and placed those writing into chapters designated by an overall topic. You are not going to find some new profound truth in her writings, but more than likely you will come to understand a truth better. She has built upon many of the treasures handed down by spiritual writers and then translated them in her own distinct way. No one will accuse Mother Angelica of teaching via flower words. Most of what she says are more like arrows shot between the eyes using language that is quite straight forward. For example she says the following on the importance of humor. Humor is a gift that Christians should be filled with. You must laugh at yourself so you are able to take your neighbor's faults with a grain of salt. Give him the privilege of being imperfect -- just like you, sweetheart. She is probably also the only spiritual writer that can get away with using dodo, of which she frequently has recourse to do. If you have ever watched Mother Angelica Live you will probably be familiar with some of what is in the book. Many of her well-homed stories are repeated, but there is also much material that even fans of hers show will not have heard. Besides culling from her writings and shows, Raymond Arroyo also publishes many of her prayers that she had taught her nuns and many of those are worth the price of the book. This is also a book that I think that even people who were not great fans of her television show would enjoy. The type of book that will make you both laugh and reflect with equal measure. Regardless of whether your a newbie in the spiritual life or a prayer warrior this book has a lot to offer and I highly recommend it for everyone.

I was suprised by this book, because it is really a collection of thoughts, sayings, etc. by Mother Angelica. However, I was wowed by the contents. The contents of this book are moving, funny, inspirational,and at at the same time hard-hitting. This book is like a spiritual shot in the arm. I especially love the bit about fat saints. Her saying was if your'e fat, be fat and holy, and she lists several famously fat saints. This is a great book for someone who has neither the time nor the inclination to sit down with a heavy theological work, but still wants somthing with meat to it. This is exactly that book, and it is hilarious. I would like to say that some have criticized Mr. Arroyo for having a simplistic writing style. I say that yes he does have a SIMPLE writing style, but that that style reflects the tone of Mother's message. So he is being faithful the original message. I definitely recommend this book!

Thank you Raymond Arroyo for packaging Mother's words for us. She makes everyday spirituality so important, very real, and even entertaining for all of us, from the contrite to the confirmed.