Our Lady of America
On September 25, 1956 The Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to Sr. Mildred Ephrem Neuzil in the Our Lady Mother of Mercy chapel at Kneipp Springs in Rome City, IN as Our Lady of Lourdes. The next day, Our Lady again appeared to Sr. Neuzil, this time She announced herself as being "Our Lady of America" and that She wanted the children of America to lead the world by the purity of their lives. This was the beginning of what is now a devotion to the Virgin Mary under the title of Our Lady of America.
Although these messages from Our Lady of America continued on for years afterward, the central ones concerning the title Our Lady of America and the request that the Virgin Coredemptrix made of the Catholic bishops and of the entire nation, occurred in late 1956 while Sr. Neuzil was serving as a Precious Blood nun at the order's convent and healing center in Rome City, IN (now Sylvan Springs).
From their inception these messages, in particular the central ones, were given a certain approval, not only by the seer's religious superiors, but also by Sr. Neuzil's spiritual director of many years, the then Vicar General and later Archbishop of Cincinnati, Paul F. Leibold, regarded by many as a very holy prelate. It was he who issued an Impramatur for the prayer to The Immaculate Conception written at the request of Our Lady of America. In late 1965, Auxiliary Bishop Leibold of Cincinnati carried out the first of Our Lady's requests to strike the medal of Our Lady of America with her picture on one side and the coat of arms of the Christian family on the other.
Our Lady the Immaculate Virgin, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) organization whose mission is to support Our Lady's request to have her likeness placed in the National Shrine to The Immaculate Conception (Washington, D.C.) and to support the preservation of the Holy Ground (Rome City, IN) where the central messages of Our Lady of America were given and this special devotion began.
From Mother of All Peoples Website
It was on the eve of the feast of the North American Martyrs, 25 September, 1956, what Sister calls the "official" visits of the Virgin Mother began: official because they define quite precisely what is meant by the title Our Lady of America and what in assuming this title Our Lady asks of the American nation. According to Sister Our Lady came as Our Lady of Lourdes and promised to work more miracles in America, particularly in the United States, than worked either at Lourdes or Fatima, if Americans would do what she asked:
I am pleased my child, with the love and honor my children in America give to me, especially through my glorious and unique privilege of the Immaculate Conception. I promise to reward their love by working through the power of my Son's Heart and my Immaculate Heart miracles of grace among them. I do not promise miracles of the body, but of the soul. (The emphasis here, according to Sister, is that of the Immaculate who is anxiously concerned about our inner life.)
For it is mainly through these miracles of grace that the Holy Trinity is glorified among men and nations. Let America continue and grow in its love for me, and I in return, in union with the Heart of my Son, promise to work wonders in her. My child, I desire that this be known.
And the next morning, in a stupendous vision of the Immaculate during which Sister saw the heart of Mary appear "encircled with red roses, the symbol of suffering as it was revealed to me, and sending forth flames of fire," Our Lady said: "I am Our Lady of America. I desire that my children honor me, especially by the purity of their lives."
Later, on the same day, Our Lady of America said:
My child, I entrust you with this message that you must make known to my children in America. I wish it to be the country dedicated to my purity. The wonders I will work will be the wonders of the soul. They must have faith and believe firmly in my love for them. I desire that they be the children of my Pure Heart. I desire, through my children of America, to further the cause of faith and purity among peoples and nations. Let them come to me with confidence and simplicity, and I, their Mother, will teach peoples and nations. Let them come to me with confidence and simplicity, and I, their Mother, will teach them to become like to my Heart that their own hearts may be more pleasing to the Heart of my Son.
Sisters adds, that though Mary came in this manner as a token of her love for Americans, nevertheless Our Lady of America welcomes her children of all nations to her feet, for there will be found true peace. Our Lady of America is such because she is Lady of all nations, the Queen of men and angels.
Read the entire article:
http://motherofallpeoples.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=908&Itemid=40
posted by OLTIV @ 7:41 PM
69 Comments
69 Comments:
This is wonderful. Thank you for using this website for such a wonderful cause as Our Lady.
I have been following these events for a number of years now. I have also been to the site of the apparitions in Rome City, Indiana and I am hopeful that one day soon there will be thousands of visitors there each day. It is such a beautiful place She has chosen.
Do you know anything about the current owners? When I was there, a young man and his wife were working to bring children there for sports camps and character building activities. He was the first to tell me about Our Lady of America and what had happened to him to bring him there. He gave me a medal for my ailing husband and a prayer card he had made up with a picture of Our Lady of America. He seemed to know I was having trouble before I even said a word. I sure hope they are still there.
Well, I took that medal back home to Kentucky and placed it around my bedridden husband's neck chain and I put the picture at the end of the bed where he could see it and I told him about where I had visited. Although he is not Catholic, he prayed to that image all day long while he lingered in his bed. 3 weeks later, after 2 years of declining health, that man got out of bed and has been healthy ever since. It was Our Lady of America who took care of him and gave him back to me.
Thank you Blessed Mother!!
P.S. I am doing this anonymously because I kept failing when I tried to register through google. I hope it gets through to you.
This is absolutely fascinating! My family is excited by the potential of Our Lady of America and what this site will mean for Americans.
I have some questions:
Will this be run as a shrine? Is it going to be bought by the local Bishop? Has he endorsed it?
Will it be run by the Our Lady of America Center? This seems like a far better location than Fostoria, OH to serve as the main center due to the fact that this is where the Blessed Mother first appeared as Our Lady of America and the central messages were delivered here. When was the town named Rome City? Can you give more info on the history of the facility?
Is the Rome City location open for visitors? Do you have the statue there?
If this all happened so long ago, why have we not heard about this until recently? Why isn't the Church telling us if an Archbishop gave his blessing over 30 years ago. Am I missing something?
I guess this is how it went at Fatima too. Didn't Our Lady foretell of World Wars at Fatima and, once they happened, everyone said "Gee, I guess she was trying to tell us something"? Now, we are being warned of possible other great problems? Will we ever learn to listen?
I went to the other websites to get more information on this apparition. They were quite informative, although a little tough to navigate. For some reason, my computer doesn't open pdf files. That homily from EWTN was very good. The statue is beautiful.
Bless you all for making this available. This is like an answer to my prayers. I could never afford to go to Lourdes but maybe I can drive to here.
I found Rome City, IN on the map and it looks like it is just off Interstate 80. What exit would I take? I would be coming from Nebraska.
Can my son get around in his wheelchair? Are there rooms available? Accessible? How do we get more info?
I would like to bring my youth group to visit next spring. Are retreats offered?
It's about time the United States has a representation of Our Lady in the National Shrine. I'm sorry, but although her image is everywhere around me, as a transplanted New Yorker I never really had any natural attraction to the Our Lady of Guadalupe representation. I know it is the same Blessed Mother. It is just an image thing for me.
I think the messages of Our Lady of America are quite pertinent to the United States at this particular time. I will be writing our Bishop regarding this devotion.
Are prayer cards and medals available anywhere? I have never seen them in our Catholic bookstores in Albuquerque.
In response to Valerie:
it is the same Blessed Mother. She was there at Lourdes, Fatima, Mexico, and evidently here in the US. She always comes in a way that can be locally acknowledged by cultural reference.
Here She is Our Lady of America...Queen of Heaven and Earth!
Good Blog! Keep it up.
The place looks beautiful and the new statue is very pretty. Can we get some more photos of the grounds?
I can't believe something like this could be so close to where I live. This is very encouraging.
Hello Everyone-
I used to live at this very blessed place while attending bible college. Since leaving in 1990, I have been back to this "little piece of heaven" many times.
On one of my visits with my wife and children, we were met by a man who told us about the plans for the buildings and about the apparitions that had taken place long before I was born. While he was telling us the history of Our Lady of America, I was reliving my days at the old college and remembering how the old place made me feel. It was always a very comforting feeling. I guess that is why I keep going back. I am yearning for that comfortable feeling the place gives you. I think I can actally hear God speaking to me when I am there. My kids always look forward to our visits too. They call it "God's garden".
I am not Catholic. My religious training was very non-Catholic. Catholics were considered bad and I was told to avoid friendships with Catholics. As I have grown older, I have come to see the truth and now I know that it was wrong.
After hearing what this man said about the apparitions I believe the Virgin Mary has been to this place. I think it is why it has always felt so comforting. It is kind of like you are being welcomed at your grandmother's house and she loves you as you are (warts and all).
I am both happy and sad about what may become of my "little piece of heaven" if more people are there. However things go, God and His Mother will be there for me and I will continue to listen.
This is the first I have ever heard about this. I could not find any additional info on the religious order in Ohio through Google. The one article says there is only one member left? If that is the case, what happens when there aren't any left?
I wouldn't worry about the last of the nuns not being around. This is far bigger than any one person and Our Lady will get what she needs once the right people in the Church respond. It will take the work of many to do it right and make it endure. Just like they taught us back in the service, everybody can be...and will be... replaced at some time.
Don I is correct. It will not matter when the last of the order is no longer. Our Lady of America as well as all the other images of Our Blessed Virgin is here to stay.
I have a very good feeing that things are moving as they should. There are many people involved in trying to get this moving and approved quickly. Read BK's comment on the Kloska Family Blog on Our Lady of America. BK's Dad can tell you all about it.
God bless you Larry and all of you who are working so diligently to complete Our Lady's wish to Sister Neuzil.
I find this entire message to be very compelling. Are we allowed to copy content from this website to pass on to members of our prayer group? Are there speakers available to make a presentation to our group? We are in Albany, NY.
Our family had an opportunity to visit this special place a few years ago after reading the reports on Spirit Daily.
My wife and I couldn't stop talking about it, so we decided it would be a nice daytrip for us and our 3 kids (and the dog). We set off to find this place with no real directions. My wife kept saying she had a feeling that we would know it when we got there. Well, I can tell you, we found it and it is DEFINITELY Holy Ground.
After meeting the owner, Mr. Young, and getting a short tour, he told us we should go to the hill and pray for what it was we "needed as a family". I was resistant but he had given us rosaries and some prayer cards that taught us how to pray the rosary. He told us he felt it was important for us to do this as a family and that I had to step up and be the "spiritual lion" of my family from that moment on.
I wasn't receptive to this because my first response was this guy was some religious zealot that I should avoid. After getting to know him better, I've come to realize he is just a regular guy like me who happens to have a lot on his shoulders and he is being obedient to what he feels Our Lady has requested of him.
Well, my wife gave me "that look" and we went up to this gorgeous vista and prayed a rosary together. We had never done anything like that before in our family.
When we were about to leave, my son screamed for us to look at the sun. I believe we witnessed the "miracle of the sun". If it wasn't, then we have no explanation for what it was we saw.
We stared directly at the sun for about 30 minutes as it seemed to spin and move about the sky in a display of color and streaks. I wasn't certain the world wasn't ending. To the contrary, it was just beginning for us as a family.
We were afraid to tell anyone of what we saw until we read about it happening at places like Fatima and Medjugorje. Now we talk about it with friends and family. We get some looks but we know what we saw.
We get together every now and then for a rosary (especially when we have bad weather). My son has been after us to take him back to Rome City for his 10th birthday and have the family stay overnight.
I have been reading more about Our Lady of America. The more I read, the more it makes complete sense that this is what God has asked us to do. That trip to Rome City was the best thing I could have ever done for my family.
I found this blog through an article link on the catholic exchange network. I'm simply amazed that something this important and credible is not getting more attention in the Catholic media.
The our lady of america website (the official website) mentions a few Bishops (Burke, GArcia, Ricken) as being involved in the approval effort. Is any one of them in charge more than the others? If so, who? If not, who is?
I am all for this but I'd like to know who has the flag on this march.
People should go here:
http://www.ourladyofamerica.com/
for the OFFICIAL website with all of the latest news concerning the new statue which was FINALLY introduced to the bishops in the latest bishops' meeting by a good bishop to the extent of really acquainting them with the importance of this movement. It is the Fostoria center that has the affiliation with EWTN and all that has been officially recognized as well as spreading the messages, the carrying of the statue to the various World Youth Days, etc. It is through the continuing connection there with Sr. Neuzil and those who are carrying on the requests of Our Lady of America that the true requests of our Lady in the messages are coming to fruition. In order to cause no confusion within the movement, people should really go there for all of the information, messages, medals, etc. It is through the bishops' interest and movement that the OLOA's requests only can be granted. So people should not jump ahead and the most important thing now to do is to pray that through the bishops' action the statue will be placed in the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C. to fulfill our Lady's desires. And then, as She stated, great things will happen in relation to that Shrine and to America. As far as I know there is no connection at the moment between the official center of OLOA in Fostoria, Ohio and this activity here. FYI!
I don't think anyone is doing Our Lady any favors by declaring themselves the "official" website and excluding other efforts. This should be a universal effort if it is to endure. Don't be cynical in your approach!
I personally think that truthful information, sharing personal accounts, and getting the message out there is the link between all of the internet sources and the geographic locations. Nobody can deny the facts of where the central messages of Our Lady of America were delivered and where it is She wishes to be enshrined. It was all written down.
The Church moves slowly. The Bishops will never confirm these events if the people don't know about it and point to it as something they want done.
If you study your history you will find that if it were not for the faithful demanding it of their Bishops, Fatima and Lourdes would have never been confirmed. Thousands of people were going to these places to offer devotion to Our Lady before any confirmations were discussed. Up until the confirmations, the Bishops actually did as much as they could to discredit the stories of these events and persecuted the children. The children suffered and the landowners and townspeople were proclaimed as self-promoters looking for a buck. The truth prevailed in the end (although it did take a miracle in front of 80,000 people with worldwide media coverage to get Fatima confirmed).
Maybe the last poster didn't notice that there is a link to www.ourladyofamerica.com on the front page of this blog? I noticed it on my first visit. Had it not been there, I would have been concerned.
I have also visited Rome City and have spent several days in prayer there all about the property. I met the owner and had several long conversations with him during my stay. He struck me as a humble gentleman who has been called by Our Lady to preserve this place for its greater work. The sense of peace and tranquility I felt was indescribable. I concur with an earlier comment that I could hear God talking to me.
If anyone wants to really help, they should TELL 10 PEOPLE today and ask them to tell 10 people and so on. Tell the truth and look for good fruits. Never mind who is "official" and where Rome City is. The taking to heart of the messages and the commitment to purity in our lives is what matters.
Be at peace and help Our Lady of America be enshrined by being Christ-like.
Very good points Sr. Kathleen! I could not agree more.
To anonymous: I have never seen anything about this on EWTN television or heard about it on their radio. Where is the connection to EWTN and how are they helping to promote the Our Lady of America confirmation?
We do need prayer at this time, but we also need action to make this happen.
I have a few ideas I would like to share:
1)I printed off the prayer card from the other website and made copies that I have placed on the literature table in the back of our Church.
2)I am also after our Pastor to print it in our bulletin. He is receptive to it, but I have to raise the money for the printing cost. It will cost me $700 to add it as an insert on heavy paper.
Does anybody else have any ideas to share?
The image of Our Lady of America is very attractive. I have tried to get a statue of Our Lady of America for our youth group for over a year now and get no reply from the OFFICIAL website. Maybe someone here can help me.
I can see the point of an earlier comment about not identfying with the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe especially if you are not of the same ethnicity. Let's all face it. It is a natural response to identify and socialize with others from your own ethnic background. That is why social integration has to be based upon common interests and LANGUAGE to take hold. Look at Quebec as an example if you don't accept my point.
Right on, Sister K!
Spread the good news by any means available.
Go Notre Dame! Beat LSU!
Sister K,
It's sad that people enjoy riding on the backs of those who, in humility, have done all of the hard work, honoring the true spirit of the messages in their purity and also respecting the legacy of the one chosen to continue the work of Sister Mildred. You really don't know much about this history if you cannot respect the current sister's obedience to Sr. Millie's requests. Now, you can hi jack things and mix, as I've noticed here, everything together including the kitchen sink ... combining the Lady of All Nations, Medjugorje, etc. - all good places of our Lady's interventions, but with their own particular histories which should be respected in their own purity. If you haven't heard of the connnection between EWTN and the official center for OLOA then it shows that you are missing the true history, work and fruits of this wonderful cause. People of the grassroots have been working or your wouldn't know anything about OLOA and they should be given credit for obeying and respecting the purity of this particular cause. Don't believe that suddenly people have just discovered this devotion. This devotion is where it is today - from obscurity and with bishops knowing nothing and not caring, to this now recognized movement towards the real central desire of our Lady for our country of having Her image/statue placed in the National Shrine - because of those working in humility and obedience, relying on the Holy Spirit to work along with them. I've noticed that this site was mentioned on SpiritDaily today only to be removed quickly ... probably when notified by someone else of the confusion it is causing just when things have been progressing peacefully. The accurate news is to be found at the official site. If people don't wish to cooperate with those who have been spreading the truth of the messages without promoting separate spots for income purposes, well, that's up to them. I'm only offering the references that the bishops, Franciscans, EWTN have been working with and in cooperation. The statue and explanations of the movement with messages to the bishops at their conference was done by the reps of Fostoria, OH. Again, it is our Lady's request and desire that the bishops must be involved in order for Her image to be placed in Her Shrine. Sorry if you do not wish to comply with Her wishes. This attempt to cause division against the humble sister of Sr. Mildred's order who is continuing the work with other wonderful workers in this particular vineyard is NOT good fruit!
"I have tried to get a statue of Our Lady of America for our youth group for over a year now and get no reply from the OFFICIAL website. Maybe someone here can help me."
Anonymous, that may be due to this newest statue - just completed, in Rome, I believe - since the material must be compatible with what is in the Shrine in Washington. If you notice, the new statue has a painted face. The first was all white. I'm not certain if this is the reason for any delay but it could be. The statues are not being massed produced at the moment since the movement is still in its beginning stages as far as expenditures for materials go. The main site has all of the info on everything. One of the reps from the main site has worked tirelessly carrying the statue to the many World Youth Days as well as processing it into the Shrine during the past years' Weeks of Prayer and Fasting in Washington. People here, you are familiar with all of this ... no? She has been on one of our local Catholic radio programs that goes out to 4 states and she is one of the best experts on everything Marian that I've heard. The best thing to do is to order the messages, medals of the imprimatur, images from the main site and explain this history to your individual pastors and parishes.
Take a deep breath Anonymous (and post your name if you want to be taken seriously).
I have followed the ourladyofamerica.com since it began (saw it on SpiritDaily). Although it seems to have undergone a substantial change in look and feel these past months, not much news content has been added over the past year relating to any of the events you have described. It would be good for the rest of the world to know about these things...after all, if a tree falls in the woods...well, you know how it ends...it's dead!
The procession in Wyoming and the homilies down near EWTN got mention on the website, but aside from that, not much public reporting on the website that I have seen. Recently, there is mention of supportive Bishops and that is good.
If this is on EWTN, please tell me how to get any info on this off their website because I cannot find it under any search on their ewtn.com site.
I am an expert in the field of business management. It takes money and an organization of talented people to get things done at this scale. I'm not so certain the Fostoria group has an over-abundance of either just yet, but it seems to be growing and I will continue to pray for them and Our Lady of America so that this will be a confirmed success in 2007.
The way I see it, the Rome City site is important too! After all, this is the site OUR LADY chose to first appear as Our Lady of America. Why!?
She didn't choose a cave or the top of a tree this time. She chose a beautiful Church at a facility with a direct link to the yet-to-be completed National Shrine in Washington DC.
By all accounts so far, it seems there are people at that place at least trying to educate visitors to the messages and if you spend a few minutes reading what has been posted you can see that good fruits are there and God's work is being done. You should be ecstatic about this site. Please be more patient with Our Lady's plan and be more supportive of all efforts...big and small.
As I have found to be the case, with almost every client undergoing growth problems, it is that some people in their organization are more interested in getting credit than giving it and that's a suit that never looks good on anyone.
I have discerned that these alleged apparitions to the nun Sister Neuzil are false. While I am thoroughly convinced of the authenticity of appartions of Our Lady, the Blessed Virgin Mary at places such as Medjugorje and Conyers, Georgia, I think that the alleged apparitions of Sister Neuzil are motivated more by politics than messages from our Blessed Mother.
This is the reason that the attempts to have a statue of her in the National Shrine are unsuccessful. This is based on phoney claims by the nun and consequently does not have God's blessing. Catholics, and all people of faith, should concentrate on the true apparitions of Our Lady such as the ones that occurred in places such as Fatima, and Lourdes, and Medjugorje.
God bless you all!
O.K........Can you now be more specific in your claims?
Why do you include Conyers and Medjugorje amongst the true apparitions and not Our Lady of America and Rome City?
Have you been to any of these places?
"Take a deep breath Anonymous (and post your name if you want to be taken seriously)."
I'm too worried that I, personally, am taken seriously or not. The presentation of truthful facts without disparaging anyone can easily be done - even if everyone posted anonymously. That might even be better since then there could be no ad hominem attacks rather than sticking to the facts - not personal feelings or beliefs.
wow! I've never seen such confusion and trading of misinformation - or the personal desires for things that have just not happened according to individual wills in our Lady's mission:
"Although it seems to have undergone a substantial change in look and feel these past months, not much news content has been added over the past year relating to any of the events you have described."
only to go on and admit that very important events that have happened for the cause (our Lady's desires) have taken place:
"The procession in Wyoming and the homilies down near EWTN got mention on the website, but aside from that, not much public reporting on the website that I have seen. Recently, there is mention of supportive Bishops and that is good."
Whew! And that's all??? Do you really know just what has gone into getting that progress? That is why those chosen to be the disseminators of the truth at such places as Medjugorje constantly have to remind people to get their info only from the legitimate sources that pertain to the heart of the messages, not other places of personal motivations. To speak rather disparagingly of those who have been legitimately given the mantle from the original seer only causes confusion ... and we know just where that comes from!
"I am an expert in the field of business management. It takes money and an organization of talented people to get things done at this scale. I'm not so certain the Fostoria group has an over-abundance of either just yet, but it seems to be growing and I will continue to pray for them and Our Lady of America so that this will be a confirmed success in 2007."
So, we see now a personal will that can only come to pass through certain "talents" and "money". The Fostoria group just can't accomplish anything without such a base to begin with!! Now then, truth to tell, in reality you wouldn't be able to be directed to any of the links on here for the abundance of truthful info, through the sacrifices of many, if it weren't for the humility and obedience of Sister in Ohio and her obedient help. People in other places, now known due to the revelation of this cause in this time that it is most necessary, should be working with those efforts according to the Center and not separately.
About the enshrinement at Mother Angelica's and the connection to the official center in Fostoria:
"The Our Lady of America Center has sent this particular statue to the Shrine of The Most Blessed Sacrament for public veneration through August 15th, The Feast of The Assumption of The Blessed Virgin Mary.
Processions of this Our Lady of America image at the Shrine of The Most Blessed Sacrament in Alabama are planned for a number of Marian feast days this year. This statue of Our Lady of America was originally made with the approval of Bishop William G. Connare of Greensburg, Pennsylvania (Deceased), and exhibited for more than thirty (30) years by the Discalced Carmelite Sisters of Latrobe, Pennsylvania. This particular image was recently given to the Our Lady of America Center at Fostoria, Ohio, which is sponsoring this visitation along with the Poor Clares of Perpetual Adoration at the Our Lady of The Angels Monastery. The same statue visited the Diocese of Cheyenne, Wyoming this immediate past February 11th-19th for a novena and Cathedral procession."
You see, there is a history here, and:
"August 5, 2006, Hanceville, AL - Feast of The Dedication of The Basilica of Saint Mary Major:
The Franciscan Friars of The Immaculate, honoring The Blessed Virgin, processed the statue of Our Lady of America. This statue was previously enthrone at The Shrine of The Most Blessed Sacrament at The Our Lady of The Angels Monastery on May 30, 2006.
After the procession, Fr. Peter Damian Mary Fehlner, F.I. (right) a noted Marianologist, gave an in-depth homily placing the messages of Our Lady of America against the backdrop of Church teaching and tradition. Fr. Peter made a strong case for America's response to The Virgin's call for purity."
(real "political" here - this cause of purity!)
and:
"His Excellency Richard J. Garcia named to the See of Monterey. Long time advocate of the Our Lady of America Devotion."
So, none of this nationwide/worldwide knowledge of OLOA has anything to do with the humble ground work of the Center in Fostoria! They had nothing to do with the spreading of the seeds, uncontrolled by monetary interests and side issues of control. Hmmm, sorta like our dear Mother's approach! But, no,...can't be...not enough materialism attached!
WOW! I have just three words to say:
Fanatical, controlling, spiteful!
Definitely not a very Marian approach.
I am more convinced of the veracity of these events by the personal testaments of fervent believers than I am by the tirades of a few anonymous posters.
She is still Our Lady of America (not Fostoria). Learn to share everybody.
Sr. Kathleen is correct!
You can't fault Doug W. on his comments because he is right. I don't think he was saying anything bad about anybody/thing. He was just making an analytically correct point. It does take money and organizations to get things done. It's a big world out there. At the root of this effort, it is really a big marketing campaign at this point...it's just that the thing you are "selling" is information on a event that is religious in nature and not a widget.
The methods may vary but the principles stay the same...GET THE WORD OUT!! People will decide for themself. You already have at least one person who says this is only "political" and has no merit. That is O.K. Free will is our greatest gift and we can choose to go whichever way we want.
Let Go and Let God!
Doug W. never mentioned anything about "materialism". He just made a few valid points about what it takes to succeed in large-scale campaigns. He acknowledged the "movement" is growing and he is offering prayers for success.
This blog is not CAUSING any division that probably wasn't already there in your mind. Actually, this is the first site I have ever seen that promotes discussion of the topic. I think I have learned as much or more from this site as anything else. It has good links and I am getting personal testimony that seems entirely believable and Holy.
Relax...we're all after the same thing here.
Happy New year Everybody!!
Like others, I am posting anonymously only because I'm not good with computers and this is simplest. However, I'm signing this for "credibility".
Our God is the Ancient of Days, meaning the "Lord of time and History" . Names and dates are important clues to ponder for the subtlities of Heaven's messages, and so I offer the following for prayerful meditation:
Before the English Reformation imposed on his people by Henry VIII, and intensified by his heirs Edward and Elizabeth, --the patroness of England had been Our Lady of Walsingham, who had appeared in AD 1061--just before the Norman invasion of 1066--to the Saxon widow of a Norman Lord in Walsingham, Norfolk. Her message was for people to "share her joy in the Incarnation" at a replica of the holy house at Nazareth (predating Loretto's holy house) where pilgrims would contemplate the holiness of family life and obtain the same graces as a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. Devotion to Our Lady of Walsingham unified the resentful Saxons and the conquering Normans into one people, with a new language, English.
An ancient statue installed at the Holy House of Walsingham showed her holding a lily scepter, which would be the same as she would later appear as Our Lady of America. This ancient statue was reportedly burnt with others in 1536, but as another madonna (Ipswich) escaped the blaze by substitution of a copy at the bonfire--there is reason to think the Walsingham image was similarly saved, though remaining hidden: for there is a prophecy that "when England is [re-]converted, Our Lady will return to Walsingham". What has this to do with Our Lady of America?
In AD 2000, the Pope changed the former feast of Our Lady of Walsingham--quiescent for centuries--from 25 March to 24 September. Our Lady of Walsingham is no longer considered merely "Patroness of England" but "Patroness of the English-speaking peoples" around the world; not only of Catholics, but also of the British Commonwealth Nations around the world.
Her message first voiced in 11th century England is timely in the 21st: the importance and sacredness of family life. An important secondary theme is the implied need for racial harmony--for in the Incarnation, all the races are one brotherhood in Christ.
Now as Our Lady of America, the Immaculate One comes to our heartland on 25 September--the day after the modern feast of Our Lady of Walsingham, bearing the same lily scepter--to the English-speaking United States of America, a land of many immigrant peoples, which has had problems with racial disharmony and unrest.
Her message is a logical & timely extension of that of Walsingham: By the symbol of the lily, Our Lady shows a historical link to the land of our English-speaking founding fathers, and to the family-oriented message she gave first in England at a time of social upheaval. Her emphasis here and now is on formation of our American Youth in holy purity, and as missionaries of purity and peace to the wider world.
St Mildred's Neuzil's name in religion was "Ephraim" . A name given in religious life is a clue to a mystical identity linked with the spirituality of one's vocation. In the Old Testament, Ephraim was the younger son of the patriarch Joseph, who was exiled to a far land to fulfill the designs of God's providence for all his (not terribly nice) brethern. Suprizingly, Ephraim was the inheritor of the "Great blessing" bestowed by Israel (aka Jacob), much to the consternation of Joseph (who wished it for his elder son, Manasseh; and of course by implication, the rest of Joseph's brethern who had remained with Israel. This is part of a pattern we see all through salvation history, --that "the last shall come first" --even the youngest child born in a far country.
So it is with America. "Ephraim", is the name of the American nun, who in the name of all our nation, received the apparition and promises of Our Lady of America. We are the last and richest of the great world powers, blessed by God with material wealth above all others. To whom much is given, much is rquired in return: Therefore we were warned also of the misuse of this plenty, and our proclivity to the myrid sins of the flesh which result in a culture of death.
The ascendancy of the English Language makes the message of Our Lady of America easy to communicate with modern media around the world, much of which speaks English. That the message is so slow to reach widespread recognition--especially among our bishops--is obviously the work of the devil, who fears it and seeks to block its spread by causing among promoters a spirit of rivalry or dis-unity by quibbling over things like "official" sites and the relative importance of "administration".
Aquinas tells us that "grace builds on nature" --so the natural gifts of those whose talents are in fundraising and administration should be encouraged and acknowledged, not denigrated. Nontheless, Heaven can spread this message without need of "the world's" PR. However, God tends to prefer to "do extraordinary things in ordinary ways" so that we gain merit by our many different, but all good, efforts to advance the Kingdom of God through the message of Our Lady of America.
I recently e-mailed the Fostoria site to ask about coming there for pilgrimage. Sister's reply said to pilgrimage to the National shrine in Washington, since that place was the focus of Our Lady's messages. I hope to do so; but by reading this blog I very much want to visit rome Ciity/Sylvan Springs as well.
I have received tremendous interior graces since starting to wear the medal of Our Lady of America. I cannot recommend too highly that others get it, and to ask our Lady for the special graces she said she would grant through this sacramental. SHE DELIVERS ! ;-)
"Aunt" Raven (Mrs Michael) Wenner, parishioner of Our Lady of Walsingham Church, Houston Texas
[OK to copy this message if you want--RW]
You good people should ask yourselves why it is that appartitions which have taken place in other parts of the world, even remote and obscure places such as Medjugorje, have reached many more people and have a greater following than the alleged apparitions in Indiana. I will try to help you by suggesting that the reason is that those apparitions at Medjugorje and Conyers are authentic apparitions of Our Lady, and have the grace of God aiding in their dissemination all over the world so that millions of people from all quarters of the globe are making pilgrimmages to Medjugorje. A place little known and remote.
Because the Lord is involved in TRUE apparitions of our Blessed Mother, even the most humble and obscure places become known to the faithful all over the Earth. On the other hand, when an alleged apparition is actually a counterfiet, it lacks the grace of God's helping hand, and falters and fails, even when it originates in a place such as America with all of its media and marketing capabilities. This is the reason that the false apparitions of Sister Neuzil will never attain their ends.
Put the pitchfork down for just a minute and tell us WHY these apparitions are false.
Are you saying that all of these other people making comments are all part of some "devil conspiracy" and that it isn't widely known because it isn't true? Come on! The Archbishop died just as things started coming together and no other Bishop had the sincerity of belief to pick up the ball and run with it until a couple of lawyer-types started representing this in the last year or so. I think they've done pretty good for something that you say isn't true.
I'm not saying Medjugorje isn't real, but it sure seems out of character with any other approved apparition in the Church. The frequency of apparitions is peculiar, but it could very well be happening. Why are YOU so sure it's for real? Because millions of people have gone there? O.K.
I don't necessarily believe the seers, but I do believe the stories of those who have travelled there and what they say has happened to them...just as I do these people who are offering testimony on this site.
Whether it is 1 or 1 million stories, the truth is the truth!
That was an awesome comment by Raven Wenner!
This is why this blog is so informative.
Can anyone else add to her comment? I would like to know all I can.
Two things here. People should get back to the basics of these apparitions and the messages containing the desires of our Lady, wishing to be known as Our Lady of America. These messages must be given the most importance, for the work, which so many here seem to desire, to be fulfilled. The messages to be fulfilled have to do with America's important mission to the world for purity and peace; they have to do with the sanctity of the family; AND we are given the way that these things are to be accomplished by our Lady Herself - the image/statue of OLOA to be made and to work through the bishops for this statue to be "solemnly" processed and placed in her Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. These explicit wishes have to be fulfilled before Her promises of wonders can come to be. "if this happened the U.S. would turn back toward morality and the shrine would become a place of 'wonders'" These instructions have been obediently executed through letters sent by the Fostoria Center workers to all cardinals and bishops in the U.S., along with a letter that was sent to Pope JPII's secretary, Monsignor Stanislaw Dziwisz, requesting not only construction of the statue but a solemn consecration of the U.S. in order to avoid "catastrophe".
Whether people like it or not, the messages of OLOA have strongly emphasized the necessity of the involvement of the bishops in order to accomplish the involvement of the Shrine. This can be accomplished to a great degree by the laity's involvement.
"On February 23, 1959, Our Lady came to me and admonished me to work on the 'message' as soon as possible so that it might be placed in the hands of the bishops who would be responsible for its fulfillment," wrote Sister Neuzil.
Mike Brown of Spirit Daily had a whole series of background articles with info received from those affiliated with the Fostoria Center who lived and cared for Sr. Mildred who were able to quote her and give the proper emphasis to what was most important according to her: Audrey Frank who organized the effort to have a statue of OLOA at World Youth Day in Denver (and then the days held also in Europe), said that "Sister Mildred insisted on anonymity so the apparition would not become a 'passing fancy'." This was also on the advice of Archbishop Leibold, who said he wanted the apparition to set down its roots firmly before it was public -- and it is said he promised Sister Millie in an apparition after his death that he would get the statue of OLOA into the National Catholic Shrine in accordance with Mary's repeated requests. If people wonder why things have taken so long, they can look no further than most of the most well known apparition sites ... or ask St. Faustina!! Only in recent years was her Divine Mercy mission truly recognized to now being a feast day of the Church!!
It is good to read that Sister Joseph Therese, the last sister of Sr. Mildred's particular order and who is now in charge of all of this mighty work in such a humble and obedient...and anonymous manner for so long...has asked the above inquirer, when asked about making a pilgrimage to Fostoria, to make the pilgrimage to the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception rather than elsewhere. She is being very obedient to the wishes stated in the messages of OLOA in doing so:
"Today the Holy Virgin appeared to me as I was working in my room. Our Lady was very beautiful, and she was again smiling in her heavenly way. She was dressed in the same manner as when I first saw her, except that her Immaculate Heart did not appear. Instead of the lily, she held with both hands a small replica of the finished Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. She then began to speak. Her presence overwhelmed me with its holiness. I was compelled to stop my work, for it was impossible to go on. I then knelt down and wrote Our Lady's words as she desired: 'This is my shrine, my daughter. I am very pleased with it. Tell my children I thank them. Let them finish it quickly and make it a place of pilgrimage. It will be a place of wonders. I promise this." From Sr. Mildred.
It is essential then for people to know everything about this cause and its most important factors if they really wish to honor our Lady's wishes. It should not be divided into separate entities since it actually encompasses a total of five dioceses: Ohio, Colorado, Arizona, Missouri and Indiana as well as the jurisdiction for Cincinnati where Archbishop Leibold hung the plaque in the chancery!
Hope this helps those who truly wish to be better informed about the entire mission.
It is kind of miraclulous that an obscure and small village, such as Medjugorje, in the middle of nowhere, became the present day hub of the true apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It shows the greatness of God's power which can draw people of faith to such a poor tiny place. The hearts of the faithful respond to the call of our Blessed Mother that leads them there.
All people of faith should pray often and ask the Lord for the ability to discern genuine apparitions from false ones so that they will not be deceived by false claims of apparitions such as the ones purported to have occurred in Indiana. In this way they will be able to know that the alleged apparitions of Sister Neuzil are a fraud, and they will not waste any more of their time on that, but will focus their faith and love for Our Blessed Mother on the real places that have been blessed by her appearance...places such as Fatima, Lourdes, Betania, and Medjugorje.
Pray that God will help you to discern.
God bless you all!
Dear last anonymous,
I have taken your most humble and kind advice to pray for discernment re: Sister Mildred and have come to the humble conclusion that, with a saintly bishop's approval and his imprimatur, one cannot go wrong in trusting these apparitions (which, btw, occurred in more than one location - you really ought to ask people to discern AFTER they have studied and learned all of the facts, even if you yourself haven't done so yourself!). As the Church teaches - where the bishop is, is the Church!!
To the last comment: You could not be more wrong, but we will all pray for you. You think things only happen in a poor and tiny place? You've obviously never been to Rome City, IN.
The convent in Fostoria, OH is nothing to brag about either. A very humble ranch house is all it is.
Medjugorje is no longer the poor village it once was as it is cashing in these days with all the tourists. BTW: no imprimaturs for any Medjugorje messages.
In answer to erin, why should it cost $700 for an insert in a bulletin. Several years ago I had something copied on plain paper and had it inserted. No need for heavy paper. anne
Dear Sirs;
Did the American Bishops approve of Our Lady of America and a statue of Her placed in the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception?
Not yet...but it will surely happen B4 Medjugorje ever gets confirmed!
New Years Recipe for Success:
1) Go to the links on this Blog and click on The Our Lady of America MESSAGES and PRINT. Read them once or twice a week until thoroughly blended with your own thoughts.
2) Go to the links on this Blog and click on The Our Lady of America DEVOTIONALS and PRINT THE IMAGE SEVERAL TIMES. Place them in the rooms around your home and send them to friends (this gives you a wonderful opportunity to explain the devotion to them).
If you can afford it, PURCHASE MEDALS for members of your family.
"It's a GOOD THING!"
Please have a happy, healthy, and HOLY New Year!!
Yes, go to the links listed on this blog for all of the messages, info, prayer, medal ... the links et al are the official center of Fostoria which has done all of the work, gotten the materials together and has the connections to gather it all!
"BTW: no imprimaturs for any Medjugorje messages."
The Medjugorje messages have been studied in depth more than any other and have been declared as containing nothing against the faith which is the same as a Nihil Obstat. An officially stamped imprimatur cannot come for the messages as long as they are ongoing. Rome has ordered a new commission with its own selected Marian experts to make an ongoing objective study.
"Did the American Bishops approve of Our Lady of America and a statue of Her placed in the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception?"
Particular bishops are now backing this movement as seen by the good bishop Burke who was the one to present the statue to the last bishops' meeting along with the Fostoria reps present to explain the history to the bishops. Other bishops are in favor as well, as the various enshrinements in various churches attest. More bishops need to get with the picture!
I have enjoyed reading about the apparitions of Our Lady of America on this site. I believe that the messages to Sr. Ephrem have a ring of truth to them and are very important for our Country. I am particularly impressed by the fact that they have the Imprimatur of Archbishop Liebold, RIP.
I found the comments about Our Lady of Walsingham very interesting and informative.
There is only one thing that confuses me and that is how many "annonymous saids" are writing to this site.
It would be very helpful for me--at least to relieve my confusion--if he/she/they would just post a name.
I just thought I would add my 2 cents.
God bless you all.
Fr. Tim
The last remaining sister who is heading the Our Lady of America Center (our prayer group affectionately refers to her as the "lone nunman"), and her various benefactors, are all to be commended for their diligence in helping to bring this special devotion to fruition. I am sure Our Lady is pleased with your efforts.
Likewise, the people who are working to preserve Sylvan Springs, where Our Lady of America first appeared to Sr. Neuzil, are to be commended for their continued labors and stresses. I have read some comments that are completely off base regarding their efforts. I feel it is simply a circumstance that the people commenting have not grasped the full picture just yet. They have limited vision because of their focus on their own part in this mission. And that's O.K. for now. They will learn in time too!
I have been to this magnificent facility many times over the past 5 years since first hearing about it through Spirit Daily website. I am most fortunate to live within 2 hours drive, so I can travel with other members of my prayer group and make a private daytime retreat out of it. We have always been welcomed by the staff who are working constantly to keep the place looking nice and making improvements. The guest rooms are absolutely stunning!
I have also been to the Friday evening rosary on several occasions. It is really moving to be in this Holy place, offering devotion to Our Lady under this very special title, where it all began. I just love the place and cannot thank everybody enough for all of their efforts for Our Lady.
I am leaving what I feel is a necessary comment. For all of us interested in giving Our Lady her wish, we must focus on the Message given to Sister Mary Ephram. That is the visionary Our Lady chose to speak to.
Is this the real thing; I feel it is more than the real thing, and the lapse of time has to do with lack of cooperation of man; not because it is not Real. God does not interfere with our free will and neither does Our Lady.
Please everyone there is no reason to try to make one place more important than the other. Our Lady would not be happy with this. Her message has Nothing to do with Fosterio Ohio, or Rome City, In. Her message has to do with being enthroned in the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception and becoming Patroness of the United States of America. Please for the sake of this important movement to get Our Lady her wish completed, focus on her message to Sister Mary Ephram (Mildred Neuzil.) She wants to have her likeness in the Shrine in D.C. She speaks nothing of Rome City, In or Fosterio Ohio or a future website. She never has,as far as I know. What is important here is the ultimate goal of completing her wishes that have been delayed through Man, not God. We all know that God has given man a free will, and whether we listen to the Holy Spirit when He speaks to each of us, which He does; man can choose to ignore what is best for him as he has for thousands of years; or choose to follow the will of God.
I beg of you to focus on the messages she gave to Sister Mary Ephram, Our Lady of America's chosen visionary, and to pray and not try to make this something of ours instead of the wish and promises of Our Lady.
We must not split up the energy we have, but gather it together in a bouquet for Our Lady and work together to get this done as quickly as possible. Please let us all pray about this and listen to what the Holy Spirit will tell each of us to do to bring this together for the good of our country and the world. We cannot have divided goals and thoughts at this time. We need to stay together, think as one with Our Lady and to get the word out and be one with God in this venture.
God bless us all, in the coming year!
Yours truly, in the name of the Immaculate Virgin; Our Lady of America.
What's with all of the negativity out of the official website supporters? Do they really think this blog isn't supportive of their mission too? It's right there on the front banner:
Our Lady the Immaculate Virgin, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) organization whose mission is to support Our Lady's request to have her likeness, as Our Lady of America, placed in the National Shrine to The Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C. and to support the preservation of the Holy Ground in Rome City, IN where the central messages of Our Lady of America were given and this special devotion began.
I haven't seen anything in the postings that are contradictory to both websites' mission statements. A few comments have been a little screwy, but welcome to the blogosphere people!
This site is providing an additional channel for people to get and share information. It even has 3 links to the official website for people to easily get the official devotionals and messages who may not have ever been to the "official site". This is good for the official site because it helps get more visitors. The more visitors, the more the message gets out. That's how the internet works.
I think BOTH groups are doing a good thing and should be commended. One is obviously taking a certain one-way "authoritarian" approach (as one would expect out of an official site) and the other is more "pop"-centered and allows information exchange while posting, so far, stories which have been about the messages and personal accounts of people drawn to the site of the initial apparitions.
I'm getting good info from both that has helped me turn more people on to Our Lady of America in my parish. Isn't that what we all REALLY want?
I think this is a good forum and I am thankful for the people who have offered their personal stories of faith, hope, healing, and knowledge.
A LITTLE BLOG ETIQUETTE:
There's obviously no editor here and that can be good in a community gathering. You get to know where people stand and everyone can make their own decisions as to what they want to believe.
However, anonymous comments are usually seen as being made by cowardly "lurkers" and are usually not considered as seriously as comments made by signed authors. It also causes confusion. I'm not calling you cowards, I'm just saying that is a perception that can go with an "anonymous" posting.
Generally, if you have something to say you believe in and won't get you arrested, it is best to sign it. As the youth say, "Ya' Gotta Keep it Real and Ya' Gotta Represent!"
Now, get after your Bishop and get the statue in the shrine!
Really, from "Kris":
Dear Friends of OLOA,
I really don't mind the anonymous comments. I have learned much without concerning myself about who, what or where of the person attached to them. Perhaps those posting "anonymous" have dealt with other commment sections re: apparition sites. I know I have!! And some commentors at those blogs or sites come with far more knowledge and background of the history of particular apparition sites than those just learning or hearing about them who may have certain personal prejudices they've received from reading certain whacky other sites - and believe me they're out there (esp. when it comes to Medjugorje). And then the personal darts begin to be thrown!
I, personally, happen to know some of the "pioneers" who have worked for the Center - the main website of OLOA to which this blog links - and have spoken with Sr. Joseph Therese as well as corresponded with Audrey Frank, Mike Brown and others about their work and progress. Believe me there is no "authoritarian" approach there ... only a certain humble, quiet, obedient approach to what Sister has taken upon her shoulders in all seriousness and with all of the burdens that have accompanied that "fiat". Sister desires to keep the message pure and unspoiled, and that is why she desires people who wish to work for this wonderful cause to come through her....not her idea, but what she feels Sr. Mildred has entrusted to her. She really has been given the mantle of caring for this cause and doesn't wish for anything to complicate the main effort of working with the bishops and getting our Lady's main requests answered as soon as possible. And you all know how bishops are, at least initially, about most "new" apparitions - they don't go for anything based solely on emotional response or what they consider to be more personal reactions or side issues that may not last beyond certain experiences. It's been quoted above that this was also the desire of Bishop Leibold in getting the messages and main goals rooted deeply first. It hasn't been an easy process getting all of the information out there to bishops in this day and age, or even get their attention!! IOW, one step at a time, placing first things first. I really don't see any animosity coming from there, but there should not be any dismissal of their effort because it appears too small or something...that, for instance, what is needed is more talent or money and some faster accomplishment. We should never leave out the action of the Holy Spirit in these works. That has always been the only way for the real fruit to be realized. Hopefully Sister has been consulted here as well since I feel that she has been chosen for this work at its heart. And, yes, I personally know that what the other anonymous "educator" here speaks of is true ... that what people have to trustingly go forth with to educate the public has been established through the work of the Fostoria Center. It's not a question of one area over another (for there are many, and trying to establish just which bishop should have jurisdiction due to that fact is another answer that will, I'm sure, come through the Holy Spirit). It's more a question of humbly following the procedure that seems to have been outlined by Providence. It has been this procedure by which the bishops have gotten to know about the cause. If there have been any "miracles" or good fruit due to the OLOA prayer or the medal or various kinds of pilgrimages, now is the time to personally document them and send them on to the Center so that they may be used to present to the bishops for it is the Center that the bishops have worked with up to this point of moving them to more action. The bishops are familiar with those "actors".
Perhaps this particular blog is meant more for only sharing the experiences of those familiar with this one part of the whole mission. I don't know. I just know that, for me, I would want to know a lot more about anything I was moved to give my heart to.
Just from someone who wishes to share from another perspective. I too can't seem to get this mechanism to do what I want, so I'll just sign off as
KRIS - May God bless us all in this new year.
On the official website you can now purchase the statue of Our Lady. The great gift of peace has been promised by Our Lady to those who honor her image in their homes.
please purchase one from the good sisters. Honor Our Lady and pray for that interior conversion so necessary to recognize the Indwelling Trinity.
Send the sisters of The Indwelling Holy Trinity prayers and sacrafices for Gods plan to be accomplished through them. They are the ones who have suffered for the cause of Our Lady.
+++BY THY PURE AND IMMACULATE CONCEPTION OH MARY DELIVER US FROM EVIL+
are these the same statues that were being offered for sale down at EWTN?
if so, are they boxed individually?
Info on the statue and how to order here:
http://www.ourladyofamerica.com/devotionals.php
KRIS
This is very interesting. Good info all around. Nobody has to believe anything they feel is false, but they should not stomp on anyone else's beliefs like we are seeing with other radical religious-types these days.
I had never heard of this devotion before. I ran across this link from an article on Catholic Exchange.
Is the apparition site open year-round or just during warmer months?
Where is the statue now? Is it the only one? When will it be in the Northeast US (Boston area)?
Thank you all for your wonderful wealth of knowledge. It is good to see the diversity of opinions on this subject although I do not agree with a few of the comments which seem to cast an unsubstantiated prejudice on this apparition. I think they are all from the same unhappy person and I will offer my evening rosary up for their conversion.
I love these messages and I think they are pefect for the times we live in. I trust we can get this confirmed in the near future. If not, I will still offer a devotion anyway until it is proven false.
Our Lady did choose a most spectacular place to give the messages to this particular nun. What a stunningly beautiful church!
I hope to travel to this place and feel what others have described.
Bless you all for your efforts and sacrifices on behalf of Our Lady.
KRIS
A little more info:
As far as apparition sites go re: OLOA, Sister Mildred experienced her apparitions in a total of five dioceses.
And from Mike Brown of Spirit Daily:
"The issuance by the archbishop of a medal is similar to what occurred in France during the 'Miraculous Medal' apparitions in 1830 to St. Catherine Laboure, who began experiencing mystical events at 22 -- the precise age at which Sister Mildred had her first experiences. It was one of several startling parallels between the French and American apparitions. As in the Ohio case, where St. Joseph appeared, the Miraculous Medal involved Joseph when the Virgin appeared in a chapel on Rue du Bac in Paris near a picutre of St. Joseph, and her dress was radiant white as in the alleged American apparition. In both cases a globe was at the bottom of the Virgin's feet and at one point, as in the case of St. Catherine Labore, the Virgin also held a globe -- though in Sister Mildred's case the Virgin cried as she did so and the tears fell on the globe, according to a vision on September 27, 1956.
Where in the Miraculous Medal case there was the inscription, 'O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee.' in the approved part of the Fostoria revelations the Virgin taught Sister Mildred the little prayer, 'By thy Holy and Immaculate Conception, O Mary, deliver us from evil.'
And where the Miraculous Medal shows a heart pierced by a sword, so does the Fostoria case include a vision of a heart pierced by a sword. Where in the case of Fostoria, Archbishop Leibold had a medal struck, with the Miraculous Medal it was Archbishop de Quelen of Paris."
So, OLOA is actually past the first stage of Church approval. This, according to Father Johann G. Roten, "one of the world's foremost experts on Marian apparitions," to Spirit Daily, "was constituted when the archbishop, Paul F. Leibold of Cincinnati, had a medal struck and a plaque commemorating the apparitions constructed."!
I believe!
"KRIS" has made some good points.
Sr. Mildred Neuzil did report having apparitions throughout her life in what amount to five different geographic locations. The central messages, which most all scholarly authors have pointed to as the ones that present the core of Our Lady of America's request, were all given to Sr. Neuzil while she was at her order's Rome City, IN convent and healing center.
Although more definition to the central messages were delivered after Sr. Neuzil left for her next assignments, the initial requests to be recognized as Our Lady of America, for the statue to be placed in the yet-to-be completed National Shrine to The Immaculate Conception, for the request that she pen the Prayer to The Immaculate Conception, for the children of America to lead the world by the purity of their lives...and more...all of these things happened at the Rome City, IN location.
From Mother of All Peoples:
On September 25, 1956 The Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to Sr. Mildred Ephrem Neuzil in the Our Lady Mother of Mercy chapel at Kneipp Springs in Rome City, IN as Our Lady of Lourdes. The next day, Our Lady again appeared to Sr. Neuzil, this time She announced herself as being "Our Lady of America" and that She wanted the children of America to lead the world by the purity of their lives. This was the beginning of what is now a devotion to the Virgin Mary under the title of Our Lady of America.
Although these messages from Our Lady of America continued on for years afterward, t