A.J. Neal Publishing has announced the release of A Thousand Hands But One: How GOD Prepared a CATHOLIC Chaplain For the Surrender She Never Expected, a memoir by former Catholic chaplain Laura Riccardi. The book, published on September 8, 2026, recounts how Riccardi's 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.
For years, Riccardi held the hands of patients at their bedsides, offering prayer, comfort, and Christ's presence. Yet when her own husband, Len, was hospitalized during Covid-19, his was the one hand she could not hold. Rigid hospital protocols kept them apart as he became gravely ill and died alone. This heartbreaking experience became the catalyst for a deeper spiritual surrender that Riccardi had been unknowingly prepared for through her chaplaincy work.
In A Thousand Hands But One, Riccardi shares stories drawn from her years in hospital chaplaincy. As she ministered to others, those encounters quietly prepared her for what was to come in her own life. Together, these experiences brought her face-to-face with the book's central spiritual lesson: surrender to God's will. The memoir is described as more than a memoir—it is a testimony to the grace of surrender, to trusting God when the path ahead is uncertain.
The book has received early praise. Cynthia Zack, composer and host of Mary, Mother and Queen of the Divine Will on Radio Maria, said, '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.' 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.'
Heartbreaking yet hope-filled, Riccardi's memoir is a story of love, loss, and trust in God's will—bearing witness to the message at the heart of the book: 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.
Laura Riccardi's 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 extensive background in ministry and caregiving lends profound credibility to her reflections on suffering, loss, and faith.
The release of A Thousand Hands But One comes at a time when many are still grappling with the emotional and spiritual aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic, which separated families and left countless individuals unable to be with loved ones in their final moments. Riccardi's story offers a poignant reminder of the power of faith and the importance of surrendering to a higher purpose, even in the face of unimaginable pain. It speaks to a universal human experience: the struggle to find meaning in suffering and the hope that emerges from trust in God.
A.J. Neal Publishing, based in Jackson, New Jersey, is an independent publisher 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. A Thousand Hands But One joins a catalog that includes The Kano, The Teacher, & The Lola: A Filipino-American Fable and The Schiff Who Cried Wolf…Blitzer. For more information about the publisher, visit www.ajnealpublishing.com.
