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 profound perspective on faith and resilience. Published by A.J. Neal Publishing, this memoir by former Catholic chaplain Laura Riccardi details how her years of ministering to the sick and dying prepared her for the greatest trial of her life—and her ultimate surrender to God's will.
Riccardi spent years holding the hands of patients at their bedsides, offering prayer, comfort, and Christ's presence. Yet when her own husband, Len, was hospitalized during the COVID-19 pandemic, rigid hospital protocols kept them apart. He became gravely ill and died alone, and his was the one hand she could not hold. This heartbreaking experience became the catalyst for a deeper spiritual journey, one that she shares in her new book.
The memoir weaves together stories from Riccardi's time in hospital chaplaincy, showing how those encounters quietly prepared her for the surrender she never expected. As she ministered to others, she learned lessons of trust and faith that would be tested in her own life. The book's central spiritual lesson is surrender to God's will, a theme that resonates far beyond her personal story.
"This is 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," said Cynthia Zack, composer and host of Mary, Mother and Queen of the Divine Will on Radio Maria. The book has also received praise from a Benedictine monk and priest of more than 50 years who has known Riccardi for many years and asked to remain anonymous. "A Thousand Hands But One is more than a memoir. It is a testimony to the grace of surrender—to trusting God when the path ahead is uncertain," he said.
Heartbreaking yet hope-filled, Riccardi's memoir is a story of love, loss, and trust in God's will. It bears witness to the message at the heart of the book: Where human hands fall away, God's grace remains. This message is particularly poignant as many continue to process the collective trauma of the pandemic, where countless families faced similar separations. Riccardi's story offers a path toward healing and spiritual surrender, reminding readers that even in the darkest moments, faith can provide strength.
Riccardi's background lends depth and credibility to her narrative. Her Catholic life and ministry have included 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. She is also an award-winning former teacher, mother of four, and longtime homeschooling mom. Her multifaceted experience informs her writing, making the book accessible to a wide audience.
A Thousand Hands But One is published by A.J. Neal Publishing of Jackson, New Jersey, and is available in paperback and ebook editions through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other booksellers. For more information, visit www.athousandhandsbutone.com. The publisher, founded by author Christopher Holl, is dedicated to bringing distinctive stories and ideas to readers, with titles spanning fiction, satire, memoir, faith, culture, and family. More about the publisher can be found at www.ajnealpublishing.com.
In a world where uncertainty often prevails, Riccardi's memoir serves as a testament to the power of surrender and the enduring presence of grace. It is a timely reminder that even when human hands fall away, a greater hand remains.
