{"id":23304,"date":"2023-02-09T10:47:38","date_gmt":"2023-02-09T15:47:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/idolchatter\/?p=23304"},"modified":"2023-03-16T15:17:03","modified_gmt":"2023-03-16T19:17:03","slug":"roma-downey-details-the-inspiration-behind-her-latest-book","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/idolchatter\/2023\/02\/roma-downey-details-the-inspiration-behind-her-latest-book.html","title":{"rendered":"\u2018Touched by an Angel\u2019 Star Roma Downey Details the Inspiration Behind Her Latest Devotional"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"roma<\/a>
Featureflash Photo Agency\/Shutterstock.com<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Actress Roma Downey shared a touching story about her late \u201cTouched by an Angel\u201d co-star Della Reese that inspired her latest book, \u201cBe an Angel,\u201d explaining how she still treasures her time starring in the hit television series. Downey starred as the angel Monica on \u201cTouched by an Angel\u201d for nine seasons from 1994 to 2003.<\/p>\n

Downey has also produced several Christian series and films since her time on the show, including the famous \u201cThe Bible\u201d miniseries. In her new book, \u201cBe an Angel: Devotions to Inspire and Encourage Love and Light Along the Way<\/a>,\u201d she shares personal stories that show how she\u2019s been \u201cencouraged to live like an angel on earth.\u201d Downey referred to her third book as an \u201cexciting new chapter in her career.\u201d<\/p>\n

She dedicated her 52-week devotional to Della Reese, her late \u201cTouched by an Angel<\/a>\u201d co-star. Downey told Fox News Digital why she dedicated the devotional to Reese: \u201cBecause she encouraged me to trust my wings and learn how to fly. And I wanted to take these personal anecdotes, things that have happened to me. Almost like lessons along the way, and to share in a way that hopefully will inspire others and encourage others to be kinder to each other.\u201d<\/p>\n

Downey shared a story featuring Reese that she called a \u201ckickoff place\u201d for \u201cBe an Angel.\u201d While volunteering at a children\u2019s hospital when she and her castmates were filming in Salt Lake City, Utah, Downey recalled when a family came out of a ward, where it was \u201cobvious they had lost their child.\u201d She remembered not knowing how to give them the necessary space and tried to make herself small, but the mother recognized Downey from the show.<\/p>\n

According to Downey, the mother said, \u201cOh Monica, there you are. I prayed that an angel would come for my baby. And here you are.\u201d At that moment, Downey said she took the mother in her arms, and they prayed together, though Downey said she didn\u2019t know what to say to her. Downey called Reese when she got home that evening, saying she was wise and would know the right thing to say in this situation.<\/p>\n

Downey told Reese about how the mother thought she was an angel, but Downey said she was only an actress. Reese said, \u201cWell, baby, she didn\u2019t need an actress. She needed an angel.\u201d Downey said, \u201cI understand that. But she thought that God sent me there.\u201d Then Reese offered a reply that Downey said she\u2019ll never forget, saying, \u201cAnd who said He didn\u2019t?\u201d Downey continued, \u201cAnd she said if we\u2019re going to be used by this show to be encouragers, to be representatives, of heavenly messengers, then we need to learn to get out of the way and allow acts of encouragement and kindness to flow through us.\u201d<\/p>\n

Downey\u2019s 52-week devotional is full of quotes and reflections of wisdom, affirmation, and encouragement from various writers and thinkers,\u00a0along with Scripture quotes and writings\u00a0on the importance of gratitude, kindness, friendship, faith, courage and other virtues. It\u2019s set to release on February 21, 2023.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Actress Roma Downey shared a touching story about her late \u201cTouched by an Angel\u201d co-star Della Reese that inspired her latest book, \u201cBe an Angel,\u201d explaining how she still treasures her time starring in the hit television series. Downey starred as the angel Monica on \u201cTouched by an Angel\u201d for nine seasons from 1994 to…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":657,"featured_media":23310,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fbia_status":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[6,3383],"tags":[2038,2089],"class_list":["post-23304","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-celebrities","category-christian-celebrity","tag-new-book","tag-roma-downey"],"yoast_head":"\n\u2018Touched by an Angel\u2019 Star Roma Downey Details the Inspiration Behind Her Latest Devotional<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\""Touched by an Angel" star Roma Downey shared a story about a moment with one of her co-stars that inspired her latest book.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" 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