In a time when many grapple with loss and isolation, the release of A Thousand Hands But One: How GOD Prepared a CATHOLIC Chaplain For the Surrender She Never Expected offers a poignant testament to faith and resilience. Published by A.J. Neal Publishing, this memoir by former Catholic chaplain Laura Riccardi delves into the spiritual journey that prepared her for the most harrowing trial of her life—a trial that resonates with countless others who endured separation from loved ones during the COVID-19 pandemic.
For years, Riccardi held the hands of the sick and dying as a hospital chaplain, offering prayer, comfort, and Christ's presence. Yet when her own husband, Len, was hospitalized with COVID-19, rigid hospital protocols kept them apart, and he died alone. His was the one hand she could not hold. This heartbreaking experience became the catalyst for a deeper surrender to God's will, a theme that permeates her memoir.
The book draws on Riccardi's extensive background: eighteen years of formation with the Secular Order of Discalced Carmelites, fifteen years as an RCIA catechist, seven years as a hospital chaplain, and five years cohosting Radio Maria's Mary, Mother and Queen of the Divine Will. Her stories from chaplaincy illustrate how those encounters quietly prepared her for her personal tragedy, leading to the central lesson of surrender to God's will.
Endorsements highlight the book's universal message. Cynthia Zack, composer and host of Mary, Mother and Queen of the Divine Will on Radio Maria, describes it as "a story of spousal love both on earth and as the Bride of Christ—a story for every soul seeking understanding of God's eternal plan, with lessons for us as a people and as a nation." A Benedictine monk and priest of over 50 years, who asked to remain anonymous, calls it "more than a memoir. It is a testimony to the grace of surrender—to trusting God when the path ahead is uncertain."
Riccardi's narrative is both heartbreaking and hope-filled, bearing witness to the message that where human hands fall away, God's grace remains. The book is available in paperback and ebook editions through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other booksellers. For more information, visit www.athousandhandsbutone.com.
A.J. Neal Publishing, an independent publisher based in Jackson, New Jersey, is dedicated to bringing distinctive stories and ideas to readers. Founded by author Christopher Holl, the company's titles span fiction, satire, memoir, faith, culture, and family. Their catalog includes works such as The Kano, The Teacher, & The Lola: A Filipino-American Fable and Life Lessons From The Chocolate Factory. For more on the publisher, visit www.ajnealpublishing.com.
In a world still reeling from the effects of the pandemic, A Thousand Hands But One offers a timely reflection on love, loss, and the transformative power of faith. It reminds us that even in our most isolated moments, grace persists.
