In a memoir that explores the intersection of faith, loss, and divine providence, former Catholic chaplain Laura Riccardi shares how her years of ministering to the sick and dying prepared her for the most challenging trial of her life. The book, A Thousand Hands But One: How GOD Prepared a CATHOLIC Chaplain For the Surrender She Never Expected, was released by A.J. Neal Publishing on September 8, 2026, and is now available in paperback and ebook editions through major retailers.
Riccardi spent years at hospital bedsides, holding the hands of patients and offering prayer, comfort, and what she describes as 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. That experience, she writes, forced her into a surrender to God's will that she never expected and that her chaplaincy work had been quietly preparing her for.
The memoir weaves together stories from Riccardi's years in hospital chaplaincy, showing how each encounter with suffering and death shaped her understanding of trust and grace. According to the publisher, the book's central spiritual lesson is surrender to God's will, a theme that resonates beyond personal grief.
"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.
A Benedictine monk and priest of more than 50 years, who has known Riccardi for many years and asked to remain anonymous, added, "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."
Riccardi's background lends depth to her account. Her Catholic life and ministry include 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, a mother of four, and a longtime homeschooling mom. Her diverse experiences inform a narrative that is both heartbreaking and hope-filled.
The book's significance lies in its timely message. As the Covid-19 pandemic recedes into memory, many families still carry the pain of separation from loved ones in hospitals. Riccardi's story speaks to that grief while offering a vision of faith that transcends circumstance. It bears witness to the message at the heart of the book: Where human hands fall away, God's grace remains. For readers navigating loss or questioning God's plan, the memoir provides a testament to the peace that can come from surrender.
A Thousand Hands But One is published by A.J. Neal Publishing of Jackson, New Jersey, an independent publisher founded by author Christopher Holl. The company's catalog includes fiction, satire, memoir, faith, culture, and family titles. The book is available through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other booksellers. More information can be found at www.athousandhandsbutone.com and www.ajnealpublishing.com.
