Ann Ball R.I.P.

Houston, Jun 9, 2008 / 05:45 pm (CNA).- 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 find it horrifying that so few Americans realize the persecutions of the church that were right next door less than a lifetime ago. I find it equally sad that so few of our American Hispanic Catholics don’t know about their own heroes,” she wrote.

She reported that her son, Sam, tells people “My mom is the only person I know who can write a cookbook one year and follow it up the next year with The Catholic Book of the Dead!”

Ann Ball once wrote me about how she liked that I had chose Blessed Miquel Pro as my blog patron. Her book on him is quite excellent. May she rest in peace.