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 new memoir by former Catholic chaplain Laura Riccardi. The book, published on September 8, 2026, is available in paperback and ebook editions through Amazon, Barnes & Noble and other booksellers.
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 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. In A Thousand Hands But One, Riccardi shares stories drawn from her years in hospital chaplaincy, revealing how 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.
"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."
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.
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.
The book is published by A.J. Neal Publishing of Jackson, New Jersey, an independent publishing company founded by author Christopher Holl. The publisher is dedicated to bringing distinctive stories and ideas to readers, with titles spanning fiction, satire, memoir, faith, culture, and family. For more information, visit www.athousandhandsbutone.com or www.ajnealpublishing.com.
This memoir matters because it offers a timely reflection on grief, faith, and the human need for connection during crisis. Riccardi's story resonates with anyone who has experienced loss or struggled to understand God's plan, and it provides a powerful example of finding hope in the midst of suffering. For the publishing industry, it highlights the continued demand for authentic faith-based memoirs that address universal themes of love and surrender. As readers navigate a post-pandemic world, A Thousand Hands But One serves as a reminder that even when human hands fall away, grace remains.
