Ann Ball, popular Catholic author, passed away Sunday night.
Ann Ball, a prolific author who wrote lives of the saints alongside Catholic cookbooks, died of a heart attack shortly before midnight on Sunday, her family announced in an email.
Though a schoolteacher for many years, she later took over the operation of a security company. Following a regular workday, she would dedicate time to writing, penning several books on the saints and Catholic heritage and traditions.
Commenting on her industriousness, the president of Our Sunday Visitor, Greg Erlandson, told CNA that, ”I was always surprised how she was able to run a private investigation office and still find time to write so many books that spiritually edified so many people.”
In a short autobiography at Catholic Authors, the grandmother of eight wrote that curiosity about the saints led her into the Church and her career as a Catholic writer. She was especially interested in the life of Blessed Miguel Pro, the Jesuit priest and Mexican martyr.
I used her “Modern Saints” books for years to teach kids about the Saints and show them the photos. I remember how surprised the kids were when they could see an actual picture of Sts. Therese, Padre Pio, Maximillian Kolbe, etc., etc.
Hmmmmm. Now Ann has gotten to meet these Saints in person. Have a wonderful eternal rest Ann. Thanks for the inspirational books.
I was very sad to read this! I love her writing and I can remember when I was first discerning a vocation how much I got out of her wonderful stories of modern saints! It was a great motivator to keep going in my own vocation! God bless her and her family.
Even though I never met or spoke with Ann, I feel as though I’ve lost a friend. Her books have graced my bookshelves for years and I’ve greatly admired her work. She will be missed and I’m praying for her family.
God rest her soul. Here’s hoping she gets a lot of bear hugs from those she wrote about.
Oh no! This is the first and only place I’ve seen mention of it – so thank you. What a great lady – may her soul rest in peace.
I remember when I went to set up an interview with her on the Korean Martyrs, she promised me she’d do her best not to swear on the radio.
Neat lady, neat legacy.
Thank you for putting this news on your site, Amy. Someone sent it to me. She made a big impact on USA Catholics. I hope OSV, her main publisher, does a write up on her in their newspaper.
Ann was a wonderful person with a heart as big as Texas. She loved her children deeply, as well as foster and adopted children.
She couldn’t resist anyone with a hard-luck situation.
She was very devoted to the Catholic Worker-Casa Juan Diego, in Houston. She even moved her business next door so she could be of support and involved with them.
Ann visited our Monastery several times and “picked our brains” and library. She often sent things for me to translate for her.
May God grant her eternal rest…. actually I don’t think she’ll rest. She’ll have a million things going at once, talking and hugging everyone.
God Bless HER!
It is comforting to read comments from those Ann reached, whether you gained her essence through her written works or knew her personally, as I did. She was a blessing to many of us, her high school students, who knew her first as an English teacher and later as a friend and teacher of life’s lessons. The world would be a sorrier place without her; but, her influence on us allows us to continue to practice the grace and enthusiasm for life and God she is so renowned for. Keep her kids, who are also pretty great people, in your prayers and God bless you all for your recollections.
I only met Ann one time, and we sat for 3 hours talking about Saints as we did some research on relics found at an antique store. Even though I only knew her for those 3 short hours, I learned so much about some of the faithful and honored Saints contained in those reliquaries. I discovered that Ann was a knowledgeable and intelligent woman, and had a very wonderful sense of humor that was reflected in her personality, in her books, and on her website. She will dearly be missed by many. My heart cries that she is gone from this earth, but my soul rejoices because I know she is now sheltered within the arms of Our Almighty God. We will see her again…someday soon. Thank you, Ann, for the teachings and laughs, and for just being you. Dominus vobiscum.
I had written to Ann for a relic sliver of wood from Blessed Miguel’s casket, and from that time she and I corresponded frequently via e-mail. We spoke of many subjects, but foremost about saints and relics. I met Ann in 2004 in Rochester, NY during a Miguel Pro conference. We chatted during breaks and she seemd to me a very sincere, intelligent person who was dedicated to her studiy of hagiography. She was interested that I was writing a one-man play about Miguel Pro, and answered many of my questions pertaining to the Mexican Martyr. I will miss Ann’s books that will never be written, her lively e-mail chats with me, and most of all I will miss a truly amazing woman.