Mother Angelica - Later Years

Later Years

Angelica stepped down from control of EWTN in 2000 and handed control to a board of lay people. In 2001, she suffered health setbacks, especially strokes.

Angelica had "multiple strokes suffered just after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks", leaving "her with slightly slurred speech, some unresponsive facial muscles and the need to wear an eye patch over one eye because she is unable to close the eye lid."

In response to the terrorist attacks she made a statement expressing empathy for the victims, praising President Bush's speech to the U.S. Congress, and calling for justice on the conspirators. She went on identifying "pornography, abortion, child prostitution, the spread of drugs, the destruction of youth by an immoral media and the suppression of religious expression in public places as 'other' terrorism that must be addressed." She condemned abortion saying it had "deprived the nation of millions of people who would otherwise be there to defend the nation."

On September 25, 2001, she returned to taping her show twice a week. On Christmas Eve, she suffered another stroke. While this stroke did reverse the facial effects of the early strokes (ending the need for an eye-patch), it also partially paralyzed the right side of her body and affected her speech. Angelica began speech therapy but stopped hosting television programs.

Angelica taped a recitation of The Holy Rosary with Mother Angelica and the Nuns in 2003 which airs regularly. With the exception of the occasions when the cameras pan over to Angelica and her nuns during the live Benediction services, she stopped making live appearances on EWTN at the end of 2001.

As of 2012, Angelica is still living in the monastery. She is the second oldest nun. She participates in the adoration of the Blessed Sacrament a few hours a day at the shrine.