On August 15, 1944, Rita Antoinette Rizzo became Sister Rita.  When she arrived at Saint Paul's Shrine in Cleveland, Ohio and entered the Adoration Monastery of the Poor Clares of Perpetual Adoration (a cloistered contemplative order), a new chapter was beginning for Rita.  She was only 21 years old at this time. 

From the moment the enclosure door closed behind her, Sister Rita was keenly aware that a great adventure was beginning.
 

As a postulant, Sister was introduced to the "ins and outs" of religious life.  Postulancy is a time of discernment (both by the postulant and the community) and a time of adjustment.  Sister Rita began at once to live the new life she had so long desired.

She joined the nuns in prayer, adoration, and manual labor.  Among her early assignments were working in the laundry, baking altar breads, working in the kitchen, and cleaning floors.  Before long, though, Rita's knees began to cause her many problems.  Her work assignments had to be altered and she was no longer able to kneel for prayer or genuflect before the Most Blessed Sacrament.  Her postulancy was extended for nearly seven months. 

Finally, on November 8, 1945, Rita was invested as a Poor Clare Nun of Perpetual Adoration.  She wore a white wedding gown made by her Aunt Rose.  As the investiture ceremony continued, Rita was taken out and dressed in another garment signifying her death to the world.  Then, at long last, she received the brown Franciscan habit and white novice veil.  She also received a new name and title: Sister Mary Angelica of the Annunciation. 

The novitiate is a time of continued growth and preparation for first holy profession of vows.  Sister Angelica's time as a novice was used for just this purpose.  Her knees, however, continued to pose problems in fulfilling her monastic duties.  But the Lord would use even this to bring about His Will. 

During her time as a novice, Mr. and Mrs. O'Dea offered their mansion to the nuns so that a new foundation could be established.  Their mansion was located in Canton, Ohio, Sister Angelica's hometown.  The Community accepted this offer and began planning for this new foundation immediately.  Although it is very rare for a novice to go to a new foundation, Sister Angelica was chosen for a variety of reasons.  She was spiritually minded, a leader, energetic, and responsible.  But all agreed that until her knee problem was remedied, she would be unable to make first vows.  And so the foremost reason was hoping that this change would help improve her health, as the Cleveland Monastery had many stairs to climb.  The new Sancta Clara Monastery at the O'Dea mansion would afford some relief from this.  Canton would, in a way, be a test for her vocation. 

The move to Sancta Clara Monastery in Canton proved to be part of God's plan for Sister as her knee problem was immediately alleviated.  It was at this time also that her leadership qualities were revealed.  She aided with overseeing construction and other similar jobs with the skill of an old veteran.  Increasingly her union with Jesus deepened as well.

And so it was on January 2, 1947 Sister Mary Angelica made her first holy profession of vows.  The day of her first vows was what some would call a "disaster."  But even though the ceremony was far from perfect, the most important aspect was fulfilled — she was espoused to Jesus Christ. 

This espousal made her ever more determined to live her vocation to the full for the glory of God.  Community life was a challenge for this only child, but with determination, much prayer, and above all grace, Sister Angelica was being transformed into the One she so loved. 

On January 2, 1953, Sister Angelica made her solemn profession of vows.  After over seven years of religious life, she made this final commitment to God and to her Community.  Monsignor Habig, the priest who had been so instrumental in leading her to the Monastery, celebrated the Mass.  It was a great day of rejoicing for both the PCPA's and for Sister Angelica's family, especially her mother. 

1953 was also the year that Sister Angelica began to have more interaction with the novices.  She was asked to give the novitiate a retreat.  The novices, especially Sister Mary Raphael, were impressed by all they heard and felt that a "spiritual giant" was in their midst.  Sister Angelica became a guiding light for the young sisters during some very difficult days. 

Amid her caring for the spiritual needs of the novices and her other duties, Sister continued to help with the household chores.  One such chore was scrubbing the floor with an electric scrubbing machine.  While performing this task one day, she had a serious accident.  Losing her balance on the soapy floor, Sister Angelica fell to her knees and was flung against the wall back first.  Her spine was seriously injured.  In the following months the injury worsened and the pain was quite unbearable.  Finally after nearly two years after the accident, she was hospitalized and fitted with a body cast.  Six weeks of traction proved to be no help and so surgery followed. 

The night before the operation, fearing the worst, Sister Angelica made a deal with the Lord: "God!  You didn't bring me this far just to lay me out on my back for life.  Please, Lord Jesus, if You allow me to walk again I will build a monastery for Your glory.  And I will build it in the South!" 

After four months of hospitalization, Mother Angelica WALKED through the door of the Sancta Clara Monastery. And Mother always keeps her promises! 
 
 
 So after receiving all necessary permissions and raising funds through making and selling fishing lures,  Mother Angelica and four other sisters (Sister Mary Raphael, Sister Mary Joseph, Sister Mary Michael, and Sister Mary Assumpta) headed South.  
Our Lady of the Angles Monastery was officially established on May 20, 1962.  Mother Angelica, the foundress and Abbess of Our Lady of the Angels Monastery, met all the difficulties of this new foundation with a profound trust in the Divine Providence of God.  This has been the mark of her spirituality throughout her entire religious life — total dependence on Divine Providence.   
 
 
The first postulant to be received was Mae Francis (Sister Mary David), Mother Angelica's natural mother.  A few months later Sister Mary Veronica, the former Abbess of the Sancta Clara Monastery, transferred to Our Lady of the Angels Monastery. 
Mother Angelica continued to manifest her zeal for souls through the publishing of pamphlets and books.  These books were written by Mother and display her firm grasp on the practical aspects of life, prayer, and community.  The Community took over the publishing of these books and distributed them all over the country. 
 

Mother was ever attentive the the whisperings of the Holy Spirit and wanted her "yes" to God to be immediate and without reserve.  And so the number of sisters began to grow, the authoring and publishing also continued with much success.  

And as we know this was only the beginning of a journey of faith and adventure in Providence that would bring the Light of Christ to the very ends of the earth.