The Friday Night Rosary begins at 6:30 pm. Free Tours are available beginning at 4:00 pm every Friday. Impromptu rosaries are started and recited by visitors all throughout the weekend on Holy Family Hill. Everyone is welcome to join in.
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. OLTIV, Inc. claims no affiliation with any other group or website promoting this cause.
“In cases which concern private revelations, it is better to believe than not to believe, for if you believe and it is proven true, you will be happy that you believed, because our Holy Mother asked it of you. If you believed and it should be proven false, you will receive all the blessings as if it has been true, because you believed it to be true.” Pope Urban VIII
"What can be concluded canonically is that the devotion was both approved by
Archbishop Leibold and, what is more, was actively promoted by him. In addition, over
the years, other Bishops have approved the devotion and have participated in public
devotion to the Mother of God, under the title of Our Lady of America."
The Most Reverend Raymond L. Burke, Archbishop of Saint Louis
May 31, 2007
Thanks to all of you who joined us in spirit this past Friday night for the reciting of the 15 decade rosary and the Divine Mercy Chaplet.
posted by OLTIV @ 10:02 PM
63 Comments
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63 Comments:
I didn't see them at first because the photos are dark. Then I clicked on the photos to enlarge them. Pretty interesting.
No matter waht some of the other comments may say, I believe in these things and I am looking forward to visiting this summer with my family. We are praying that good people will come forward to assist in maintaining this holy place for all of us to come and be closer to Jesus and His mother Mary.
I would like to ask the intercession of Our Lady of America for my brother-in-law and his job.
I believe.
I don't know where to start with my story. My problem started a long time ago and has gotten steadily worse since the birth of my child. I am morbidly obese and in fear of having a heart attack.
I have tried all kinds of therapy and programs but I always seem to put more weight on and my situation was seeming hopeless. I was watching Joel Osteen one Sunday and I began to pray to Jesus to help me. I have prayed and prayed on this asking for the help and direction to save myself from my myself and be there for my child and husband.
About two weeks ago I began having a dream and in this dream a woman was telling me to go to Rome City and ask for what I needed. At first I thought nothing of it and then I kept having the same dream and the woman was getting closer and closer each time. I told my husband about it and he began looking on the internet and ran across this web page. We began to read everything on it and decided to make the drive and see if I could be helped.
It is about an 8 hour drive from our town and got there a little late in the afternoon. We drove around a bit and didn't see anybody around but there were a couple of trucks so we knew somebody had to be around. Finally, we saw a man who was raking and cleaning up. He asked if we needed anything and I said "I sure do."
I told him I believed I was told to go to Rome City in a dream I kept having and he asked me what it was I needed. He said it didn't surprise him because he hears that from a lot of folks and they all come because of some reason or another. He told us about some of the reported healings and I said we had read about many of them too. I needed one for me.
He told us that he was Larry and he took us inside and we sat and talked a bit. For some reason, I just blurted out that I wanted him to pray over me. My husband just about hit the floor because that was so unlike me to even consider anything like that. He just smiled and said he was waiting for me to ask. We went to the little chapel and he prayed to Our Lady of America for her to send her son's healing grace and most precious blood down upon me. He prayed for me and my husband to grow in courage and strength to restore my health and conquer evil in our lives.
When it was over, my husband was sobbing like I had never seen before. I think it was as much for him as it was for me. We all sat and talked a while and he told us we should learn all we could about Our Lady of America. We told him we weren't Catholic and he said "Neither was she. She was a Jew". he printed off the messages and showed us where to learn more and told us we needed to share our story so it would help others. He also said it would help me to begin writing things down and keep a journal of my experiences and progress. He also told my husband something that really got to him but which I can't say here because it was too personal. How he knew anything about it is beyond me, but it really made my husband into a believer.
We went outside and Larry looked up and told us to look at the sun. It was very bright but we could look right at it. We could see a round thing covering it and it was spinning and wobbling around and colors seemed to be coming off of it. He told us we were seeing the sun spinning like they talk about at other places like Fatima. He said because of what we had just been through, he wouldn't be surprised if we would probably be able to see it on our drive home. Well, he was right. We could see it all the way until sundown as we crossed the Illinois line.
Before we left, we got a bunch of gallon jugs full of the water from the new spring which started shooting out water on Good Friday. I can't believe how clean and cold it is just out of the ground like that.
My husband and I are full of hope this morning. When he left for work, he told me he loved me and I haven't heard him say that in a long time. Maybe years. I know I can make this change because I know I have the love of my husband and Our Lady of America who called me to her son personally.
I haven't been to regular church for over ten years. If anyone is reading this and is in need of something they think they can't do for themselves, just turn it over to Jesus. If you are within driving distance of this place, I highly recommend it as a place to visit and pray.
I will try to keep an update here. Maybe this will be a safe place for me to share my feelings and get better.
KRIS said
Dear Ames, Iowa,
May God and His dear Mother continue to bless you. Your experience as you related it so beautifully here has really inspired many I'm sure. It certainly effected me. It always seems as though Larry is there as our Lady needs him ... like one of her personal angels. I am confident that he is the man in the messages who was meant to take over this property at this time and so someone or persons will come forth to aid him in this cause that is meant for so many more ... yet to come.
Let's all keep in our prayers all of those who have come to these springs in the past and are yet to come and for those of us reading these comments who also may have special needs to be filled in ways we know not of through Our Lady of America. Each day may we pray for Our Lady of America to bless all who come to Rome City ... in person or in spirit. And if any of us also have such experiences of healing let us tell others about them here.
God bless
P.S. from KRIS
From the pictures it looks like the 4th person from the left always has a halo of orbs about his head.
Kris, that is Larry.
Dear Ames:
This is a wonderful site dedicated to Our Lady. Your story isn't so different from other stories we have heard. So many blessings in this beautiful place.
I know your witness is one of many that could be posted. I hope others who have had similar experiences will post theirs too.
Thank you all for your feedback. I feel like a new person today. I know I am loved and I know I can do this for my family with the help of the Holy Family as Larry told me to rely on. He told us to model ourselves after them and learn all we could about their lives so that we could be confident in our lives.
I don't know anything about why he is there, I am just so thankful that he is. He did say something about needing to find the right group or person to take this to the next level and that he felt he needed to fade into the background so as not to take away from the messages. After reading them all the way home last night, I am beginning to understand better what it is we are here for.
Thank you again. I will ask that people remember us in their prayers as we will pray for all of you too.
What an awesome letter from the woman in Ames, IA. You must feel truly blessed to have received the special gift you have. I am so happy for you and your husband that you have found what you needed. I will be praying for you and I hope to see you in church again soon.
Kris,
are you talking about the fourth person from the left as left to right, or right to left.
You know in pictures as you look at it you see it on your right but it is really the person on youe left.
Just wondering which direction we are to be looking.
Thanks
I used to attend a monthly rosary group that held our meetings at Sylvan during the warmer months for a while after Larry took things over. It was wonderful!
I remember the processions and the wonderful talks as being very inspired. Larry had mentioned during one discussion that he felt he had been asked to bring all of Our Lady's children to this place. I personally have seen what I would call "sparkles" around his shoulders during recitation of the rosary. This was before I even had any idea who he was. I don't know what it means, I just feel there is and has been something very special about him. He exhibits a quick and joyful wit when you talk with him and you can tell he is happy to be serving Our Lord in this way.
This is just my take on things.
I do not doubt for a minute that Our Lady is there and is waiting for Her children to come. Obviously She is calling to people by the letter from the woman in Ames who I am so happy for. This is what She means when She says "Thank you for responding to my call."
I would like to see the Our Lady of America Center unite their efforts through Rome City where it all began and is still manifesting itself in so many wonderful ways. I believe the people from Ames not only received a physical healing but a spiritual healing as attested to by the woman's statement that she feels loved today. All it took was a simple act of obedience and a few hours visit to Rome City as she was asked.
Our Lord works in wonderful ways. It is so sad that some people in our midst are so reluctant to let His Holy Spirit blossom and deny that it could be right in their own midst. But then, so many of us want to say that the Eucharistic celebration is only a symbol.
We have much to pray for and be thankful for today.
from KRIS
are you talking about the fourth person from the left as left to right
Yes
P.S. from KRIS
The man behind the flowers that are behind the Divine Mercy image
That is Larry behind the flowers. He is much cleaner in this photo than when I met him last night.
This is also the chapel where he prayed over me right by that altar with the flowers. The room was very fragrant with the smell of roses.
What is the meaning of the halo of orbs? Forgive me, but I am new at this and very excited to learn all I can.
Kris, thank you. for the answer on the picture.
Now I feel like I am seeing things
The orbs I am seeing in that photo are above the taller man next to the shorter dr. haired man.
What am I seeing that no one else seems to be seeing?
Or is it not just me?
I am seeing what you are seeing too. There are more prominent orbs above the taller man. His name is Irv and he is the one that carved the statue that some have said played a role in their healings at Sylvan Springs at the first pilgrimage conducted last July.
There are smaller orbs above Larry too. The photos are dark, but if you click on them and lighten the settings on your monitor, they become much more evident because the photos are so dark.
KRIS said
Well, when I click on "original image" it is much clearer and you only see the one or two round orbs in their different places in each picture, much higher above the individuals - as if floating. You see none of the other blurred effects around the heads that I saw before. They may be due to fitting the size for display or something, causing blurring of the image. But the orbs in the original look just like those in other shrine pictures - as I said, like they're floating about.
Thanks to the last answers form JL and Kris.
I know these men also, and have spent hours with them at the Springs. I believe they are both very, very holy men. I don't know if either of you have spent time with them or even have met them; but it doesn't take orbs of light to know they are "spcecial men." There is one other man who is not in the picture who is John who also fits the description of Larry and Irv.
I thank God for these 3 men every day. The special gifts given to them by the Holy Spirit and Our Lady is a gift to me.
thanks again, because I see everything that Kris saw now; and JL saw, just what I did originally.
To Kris,
Also Kris, I orginally saw some blurred affects and even a halo when I first saw the image around these men and a woman. Funny is that now when I click back on them I only see the orbs we all see.
Unusual I am sure, but can't figure it out. It has never happened with any of the pictures that way for me before.
These orbs are to be expected at places like this and around such well-rounded people who are doing Our Lord's work. The woman behind the flowers is the woman who has been leading the prayer group for nearly six years every Friday night. I believe she is also one to be recognized for her special devotion and diligence at helping to keep this effort alive. I think she is the one who has taken some of the miraculous photos too. I have seen other photos from this same evening in which there are even more prominent orbs and a cloudy image over the assembled group. I understand they are being examined more closely before possibly being posted.
I had an opportunity to visit Sylvan Springs today and filled several jugs with water from what has become known as "the Good Friday well". It is REALLY flowing. I suggest if you are going to visit that you take some empty jugs with you.
I also was able to make my way in and re-examine the blue room with the walls that are exuding oil. I examined this room several weeks ago and it is still seeping...over every wall surface...and not on the ceilings or any other surface.
It is definitely oil and there is no apparent source of its origin. I AM POSITIVE OF THIS! I do not doubt that this is Holy Ground.
I do not blame Larry and his family a bit for not promoting this more. If they did, everyone would criticize them even more for being sensationalists. I think they are doing the right thing by staying quiet, being responsive, and providing the access that they have to anyone who wishes to examine. Even though I have sent a letter, nobody from the local Diocese has responded and they have not contacted anyone at Sylvan Springs to investigate this matter. I think this is a complete disregard to their duties as our spiritual shepherds and I am very disappointed in their response so far. I hope others will join me in requesting an appropriate inquiry into these phenomena.
Once the local Bishop retires, the Springs and OLOA might finally get some recognition.
This bishop, from what I have heard, is not interested in any of this.
Should not surprise anyone who writes to him not to get a response, or if they get one it will not be in effort for Our Lady. If he were interested he would have done something a long time ago. This did not just start happening 6 months ago.
Unfortuantely it is his loss, and he will have to answer for it at the end of his life, like all the others who have dropped the ball during all these lost years.
Let us pray for him and all of those that could have moved this cause forward, but chose for reasons unclear to most,to not do the work of Our Lady.
Let us also pray long and hard for the Bishops who do care, and the priests who do care, and the people who do care. Let us ask God to give strength to all of us so we may come very soon to compleating Our Lady of America's work.
God bless
AMEN Anonymous!
I can only imagine the weight that these people are burdened with...knowing what it is they know...seeing what it is they have seen...keeping this vigil in light of the constant blockade put before them from their own Diocese.
Isn't this the way ALL apparitions have been received in their own back yards?
We need more than prayers right now. We need action in the form of an advocate for this property to come forward and help accomplish the administrative goals as outlined in the letter from the owner. His plan seems to be the most thoughtful and constructive design for success of this site to continue its role as a gathering site for Our Lady's children.
If OLOA is not approved for enshrinement at the upcoming meetings, how much more important will this particular location become in sustaining this movement for us, the faithful?
This is my first comment on this website. I was so surprised by the comment on the local bishop that I decided to write and make sure that is accurate.
Does anyone know if that anonymous comment is accurate?? Does the local bishop of that diocese know about this and is not doing anything to further the cause?
Lhea you said Amen to the comment. Do you know if it is accurate?
If anyone knows for sure that is accurate can you please comment on it. That is a sad, sad surprise to me. I thought the loca bishop was one of the ones involved in Our Lady of America.
Please, if anyone knows what diocese Sylvan Springs is in and who the bishop is please put it up on the website so I and others who don't belong to that diocese can talk to our bishops about this and also write letters to the local bishop for Sylvan Springs.
If it is already listed on this website somewhere, please point it out. But I want accuracy on that comment before I go forth with any letters.
Thank You
It is true. The local bishop is not interested and will not become involved. This is the diocese of Ft. Wayne / South Bend and the local bishop is His Excelency John D'Arcy. I also believe this is a thorn in his side. This is very sad. Anonymous for a reason.
Bishop Darcy was one of Cardinal Law's people during the Boston sex scandals. He still has a lot to answer for his lack of action in protecting the flock during that era. I have never been impressed with him as our Bishop. It's all about money with him and he hasn't kept Notre Dame in line while it has become more and more secular.
His lack of interest in these events does not surprise me in the least. He may profess to love Our Lady but he decided to abandon his courage for a "safe and obedient" career a long time before he was ever sent to Fort Wayne.
I look forward to a change for the sake of our children's future.
Be careful about hearsay as to what Bishop D'Arcy's position is on this. Has anyone talked to him face to face about Our Lady of America? And separately, about what is reported to be occurring at Sylvan Springs? In the Church's perspective, these are two very different things. Do not lump them together. He could very well support Our Lady of America and be neutral or negative about current events at Sylvan Springs. Or he could decide to shut down Sylvan Springs until an investigation can be completed. The apparition of Our Lady of America has been approved by his brother bishop, Archbishop Liebold, and the recent events at Sylvan Springs have not been approved or investigated. He will not, according to his duties as Bishop, approve the current events at Sylvan Springs without an investigation. If you want to raise the issue with him you, you might get an investigation. I recommend a very low profile about the events at Sylvan Springs and a higher profile on the already approved messages from Our Lady of America.
If the current events at Sylvan Springs result in a loss of focus on what the Blessed Virgin Mary said there in 56-57 as Our Lady of America, then I would have to conclude they are demonic. If they enhance and focus on Our Lady's message, then I would conclude they are authentic.
"By thy Holy and Immaculate Conception, Oh Mary, deliver us from evil"
Well, I am now even more confused about the stand of the local bishop. However I now know the diocese and his name, and I have no problem with writing a quick letter in regard to Our Lady of America, and keeping Sylvan Springs low keyed on all of this.
Anyway someone on the site said he was going to retire, so perhaps we should all wait until that happens. Does anyone know when that will be?
Anna
I just was emailed this article written by Jay Leno and thought I would share.
Jay Leno wrote this; it's the Jay Leno we don't often see....
The other day I was reading Newsweek magazine and came across some
poll data I found rather hard to believe. It must be true given the
source, right?The Newsweek poll alleges that 67 percent of Americans
are unhappy with the direction the country is headed and 69 percent of
the country is unhappy with the performance of the president. In
essence 2/3s of the citizenry just ain't happy and want a change.
So being the knuckle dragger I am, I started thinking, ''What we are
so unhappy about?''
Is it that we have electricity and running water 24 hours a day, 7
days a week? Is our unhappiness the result of having air conditioning
in the summer and heating in the winter? Could it be that 95.4 percent
of these unhappy folks have a job? Maybe it is the ability to walk
into a grocery store at any time and see more food in moments than
Darfur has seen in the last year?
Maybe it is the ability to drive from the Pacific Ocean to the
Atlantic Ocean without having to present identification papers as we
move through each state? Or possibly the hundreds of clean and safe
motels we would find along the way that can provide temporary shelter?
I guess having thousands of restaurants with varying cuisine from
around the world is just not good enough. Or could it be that when we
wreck our car, emergency workers show up and provide services to help
all and even send a helicopter to take you to the hospital.
Perhaps you are one of the 70 percent of Americans who own a home.You
may be upset with knowing that in the unfortunate case of a fire, a
group of trained firefighters will appear in moments and use top notch
equipment to extinguish the flames thus saving you, your family and
your belongings.
Or if, while at home watching one of your many flat screen TVs, a
burglar or prowler intrudes , an officer equipped with a gun and a
bullet-proof vest will come to defend you and your family against
attack or loss. This all in the backdrop of a neighborhood free of
bombs or militias raping and pillaging the residents. Neighborhoods
where 90 percent of teenagers own cell phones and computers.
How about the complete religious, social and political freedoms we
enjoy that are the envy of everyone in the world? Maybe that is what
has 67 percent of you folks unhappy.
Fact is, we are the largest group of ungrateful, spoiled brats the
world has ever seen. No wonder the world loves the U.S. , yet has a
great disdain for its citizens. They see us for what we are. The most
blessed people in the world who do nothing but complain about what we
don't have , and what we hate about the country instead of thanking
the good Lord we live here.
I know, I know. What about the president who took us into war and has
no plan to get us out? The president who has a measly 31 percent
approval rating? Is this the same president who guided the nation in
the dark days after 9/11? The president that cut taxes to bring an
economy out of recession? Could this be the same guy who has been
called every name in the book for succeeding in keeping all the
spoiled ungrateful brats safe from terrorist attacks?
The commander in chief of an all-volunteer army that is out there
defending you and me? Did you hear how bad the resident is on the news
or talk show? Did this news affect you so much, make you so unhappy
you couldn't take a look around for yourself and see all the good
things and be glad?
Think about it......are you upset at the President because he actually
caused you personal pain OR is it because the "Media" told you he was
failing to kiss your sorry ungrateful behind every day. Make no
mistake about it. The troops in Iraq and Afghanistan have volunteered
to serve, and in many cases may have died for your freedom. There is
currently no draft in this country. They didn't have to go. They are
able to refuse to go and end up with either a ''general'' discharge,
an ''other than honorable'' discharge or, worst case scenario, a
''dishonorable'' discharge after a few days in the brig. So why then
the flat-out discontentment in the minds of 69 percent of Americans?
Say what you want but I blame it on the media. If it bleeds it leads
and they specialize in bad news. Everybody will watch a car crash with
blood and guts. How many will watch kids selling lemonade at the
corner? The media knows this and media outlets are for-profit
corporations. They offer what sells , and when criticized, try to
defend their actions by "justifying" them in one way or another. Just
ask why they tried to allow a murderer like O.J. Simpson to write a
book about how he didn't kill his wife, but if he did he would have
done it this way. ......Insane!
Stop buying the negativism you are fed everyday by the media. Shut off
the TV, burn Newsweek, and use the New York Times for the bottom of
your bird cage. Then start being grateful for all we have as a
country. There is exponentially more good than bad.
We are among the most blessed people on Earth and should thank God
several times a day, or at least be thankful and appreciative."
"With hurricanes, tornados, fires out of control, mud slides,
flooding, severe thunderstorms tearing up the country from one end to
another, and with the threat of bird flu and terrorist attacks, "Are
we sure this is a good time to take God out of the Pledge of
Allegiance?"
Jay Leno
Well that's one man's opinion, I guess. The one freedom I agree with is we all have the freedom to complain, so don't make anyone feel guilty about that freedom. Everyone has a different take on this.
Jay Leno is not the end all of anything except, maybe, comedy. I guess I don't hold his thoughts in any higher esteem than any other person who has a right to his or her opinion.
He gave his op[inion, period. Those who agree with it great. Those that don't no problem.
That is the freedom I and most others are concerned about keeping for our country. The right to do all the things Jay Leno mentioned. Perhaps there are those out there much more capable of an opinion that is much more accurate and with less of a spin on it than Jay Leno.
Please let us not have this become a right winged website, or a far left winged website for those who ALL have a right to all think differently.
From,
Just One Other Man's Opinion
KRIS said:
Good thoughts above from that email but they weren't from Jay Leno ... just got confused with something else he had said:
http://www.snopes.com/politics/soapbox/hitnail.asp
Was really from a Craig R. Smith here:
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=53028
Kris,
Who are you and how do you know so much about everything? I have been reading your comments along with others now for months and you amaze me on how learned you seem to be on almost everything!
This is meant to be a compliment, not as a sarcastic remark. I am just awed by how much you seem to know and how well you are able to express it.
Just a thought
KRIS said:
Well, "Just a Thought", thanks, but I don't really know that much. I just use the mechanisms that the internet offers to check things out...and there's a certain instinct from the history of certain celebrities that makes one sometimes doubtful!
Anyway, re: Bishop D'Arcy, I kinda agree with an anonymous above re: the bishop's possible regard for OLOA and the positive action that certain other bishops may be taking as well as the leadership position certain of other bishops may be already handling (Burke). The bishops are respectful of one another when that happens. Usually a bishop doesn't comment on sites that are privately owned within their dioceses ... unless ... it becomes well publicized that such places may be leading the faithful astray. Otherwise it seems that only when something rather spectacular takes place and draws the attention of large crowds, and ... calls for some diocesan inquiry such as a bleeding statue, etc. We even had a Eucharistic miracle take place in the next diocese here connected to alleged apparitions, It was given an initial but non-intrusive medical exam with positive results by a trusted priest witness but since he needed the permission of the bishop for a more intrustive exam, and the bishop refused to do so, it and its fruits got lost. Our Lady tries hard for us but often things get lost...why she so often asks more prayers for her bishops and priests from the laity.
I do remember, though, that Bishop D'Arcy has objected publicly to Notre Dame's holding of the V Monologues and to its Lesbian and Gay festivals. Even though ND is in his diocese they answer to their own order, but they should honor the bishop's teachings ... which they did not.
http://newsinfo.nd.edu/content.cfm?topicid=16904
Enough already.
What about any efforts to help this family turn this place over to a not for profit? It doesn't look like the Our Lady of America people are doing anything so, is anyone else interested? I understand the place has been shown to several interested buyers this past week and more are being scheduled. I don't blame Larry or his family a bit for selling. Everyone else just seems to be doing nothing, so why should they take all the risk and the grief that comes with trying to make a local Bishop happy (proven historically impossible if you look at other apparitions).
We need more courageous leadership like that of Archbishop Burke who recently took a public stand in St. Louis that meant something. No more of these shadow-boxing Bishops. Give me good men of Christ who are willing to take one on the chin to set an example.
Wow, I am even more confused than I was the last time I commented on being confused. I am usually a pretty bright person and with it, but it appears I am lost in a fog over this local bishop of this diocese.
I suppose instead of writing my bishop about OLOA or this bishop, I should just wait until a new bishop is brought in, that is if whoever said he was going to retire is also accurate.
Guys, I just wanted to know if the bishop was for yea or nay on OLOA. In other words has he asked for an investigation and has one ever been done? Does anyone know FOR SURE, without slapping his Excellency around, if he is for it or not??
Perhaps no one does know for sure, but than that is unfair to the local bishop with some of the comments I have read.
I don't really care about Boston, no offense. I wasn't there and most of us were not. So I am just concerned if he has any idea of what OLOA is all about, and if so, how he feels about it and Sylvan Springs.
If no one knows for sure, that is fine. But please let's not keep beating him over the head. I don't think Our Lady, even if she may be disappointed in how long this is taking, would want us to go for his throat.
Thanks,
Anna
Now I'm confused, Anna. What about Boston?
Oh, Anna, I see ... the Cardinal Law connection.
I have a feeling though that even if someone would request the bishop get involved and do some kind of investigation of Sylvan Springs he wouldn't get involved since it's privately owned. I don't know if Larry or anyone connected to OLTIV has personally contacted the bishop about any of the phenomena.
There has been no investigation by the Diocese. If so, nobody has contacted Larry or anyone associated with anything in Rome City. It's almost like they don't even want to consider it.
I remember Larry saying he met with the Bishop back in 2001, but the Bishop showed no interest in the history or of any of the phenomena that Larry tried to report.
When I personally asked the Bishop about OLOA last year after Mass, he quickly and tersely answered that OLOA was "unapproved". He did not give me the impression that he was open to any further discussion. I don't think he is very approachable to begin with, so I did not go any further.
Maybe the next Bishop will be more receptive to acknowledging that the Holy Spirit is capable of many things that we do not give credit to because of our own pre-conceptions.
I don't think this Bishop will do anything either way since he will be making an exit some time in the near future (1-3 years at best?) It wouldn't be prudent for him to start into something that will probably take years to unfold. I feel he is acting properly.
The one thing I feel he could do is to make a pronouncement regarding the faith-building elements of this "alleged" apparition and the obvious good fruits that have been produced as a result of people coming closer to Our Lord Jesus through their experiences at Rome City. It need not be "confirmed" nor "approved" to be considered beneficial to faith-building as long as it doesn't take away from the magisterium of the Church. John Paul II made a statement regarding Medjugorje to at least give some clarity even though it is many years away from even being a candidate for "approval".
The seers of apparitions need to be deceased before any "real" discernment into these matters can be conducted. That is one reason why OLOA has only come to the forefront in recent years. Sr. Millie was still alive up until Jan. 10, 2000. Coincidentally, that was the same day Larry resigned his previous position to begin the search for a suitable property for his business venture to help build better kids through athletics (he showed me the letter several years ago when I stopped by to investigate OLOA after the Medjugorje Conference at Notre Dame in 2001).
We need to be humble enough to recognize that this is an ecumenical event. Look at how many people have placed their testimonies on this very blog who are not Catholic but have given credit where credit is due. This is for ALL the children of Our Lady. For this reason, I believe these events will continue whether or not it is "approved" immediately or not. Our Lady does not need our permission in these matters. She needs our help to foster them to the greatest benefit of her children.
Amen, AMEN!! Well said MB!
Just want to add something here. Someone mentioned that seers have to be dead before approval of apparition sites. That isn't so. Some examples: Fatima, Lourdes, Akita, Kibeho Rwanda, Betania ... and I'm sure there are more. It's usually only those places that have secrets attached or promises still to come that are held up in the neutral position before approval. Fatima was given the miracle of the sun, promised and given on the date promised, to prove its worth.
The thing here I think is that in OLOA's messages, which we have to not get side tracked and remember to pray for our Lady's desires first, have to involve the bishops in order to get Her image where She wants it - the Basilica. Once that gets approval I believe that all those places attached to the cause will follow suit. We shouldn't step out in front of Our Lady here and try to put the horse before the cart. The fruits will be even more AFTER that happens so the main cause is what is important. We just have to pray for a few more influential bishops to get it together. It's too soon to get too impatient - I mean, people are still just beginning to learn about Rome City and even OLOA's promotion hasn't been that many years compared to the history of apparition sites. The Spirit can always speed things up as deemed necessary.
That last comment:
We shouldn't step out in front of Our Lady here and try to put the horse before the cart.
should have been, naturally, "the cart before the horse" ... sorry, tired!
well, we better get our horses asses out of the way then!
Ok, I am no longer confused. There have been too many comments that sound very credible to me for me to believe, for reasons unknown, this local bishop has no interest. May we pray for him.
I will contact my bishop and please ask him to at least bring it up at the conference. Hopefully if enough of us have done that before the June conference than this local bishop of Sylvan Springs diocese will also be aware this is bigger than just the FT. Wayne/ South Bend Diocese, and it must be looked at for all the obvious reasons. We may not have 72,000 people who have seen the miracle of the sun as was promised and seen in Fatima, but we have enough to start with by shaking up the bishops. I think it is time to do that and we don't have a lot of time before the conference. Let us all consider deluging the chanceries with letters of how we all feel about Our Lady of America, and than add in also Sylvan Springs as Holy Ground since she appeared there. Two in one, but seperate.
That is what I choose to do. Is it Pie in the Sky?? I don't know, but we will never know if we don't try.
Just get out the pen and paper and write, and don't worry about protocol. I don't think the people at Fatima worried about protocol when they came in the thousands demanding someone to listen to those childre.
I agree definitely that we need to focus on getting Our Lady into the Basilica, and when that happens all the rest will fall into place. I have read other people in the past months saying very much the same thing on this website.
Sylvan Springs needs special prayers just so it goes into the ownership of someone who will continue on the work that Larry must now leave behind. We need the proper person to purchase it to keep this Shrine alive.
Why can't we pray for them both, but seperately. Afterall we all want the Springs to remain Holy Ground, and we all want Our lady in D.C. One does not have to be vitually connected to the other. We can have both, and when Our Lady does get into D.C. than the miracles and holy ground at the springs will become a Shrine for Our Lady and the Holy Family.
God pray and guide us all,
Anna
I an new here, but I do not think it will natter how many people you assemble at Rome City, 3 or 3000,000, the sun will spin and people will see it if they are open to what it is Jesus has called us to. If I could be shown the spinning sun, anyone can.
I don't see what Fatima has to do with this at allm but then again, I'm not even Catholic. I just know what happened to me.
As a friend of mine has once said,
"BELIEVE AND RECEIVE, DOUBT AND LIVE WITHOUT".God bless, and follow Our Lady.
Aimes in IA,
Fatima has nothing to do with it other than a reference that in order to get notice of the childrens messages, and eventually church approved apparition, Our Lady told the children she would show everyone that she was basically appearing to them and on a certain day She told them to tell the people to come to the spot She designated. Over something like 72,000 people came to the area on that day and the miracle of the sun was seen by each and everyone of them. It not
only spinned, but according to all those people it started to come down from the sky and frightened many of them as some ran when it happened. And than the sun went back up into the sky. It was something like that, pretty close I think. Anyway those thousands of people who witnessed it after the children had already been receiving visions and no one would listen to them now had all those people behind them to get the bishop and others to move forward. If 72,00 people came to this local bishop he would probably move forward also. It was just a frame of reference regarding we can write the letters to all of our bishops now, (It may not seem as affective as what happened at Fatima) but how do we basically know how many letters and cries of interest it will take to get the bishops to notice in enough time for the conference.
I may have some of that story not totally accurate, but I think it is close enough to help you see the reason I used it.
Blessings to you for your faith,
Anna
My point is that you can assemble as many people as you want where I was in Rome City, and if I was able to see it, so would they. It was as real as could be.
Why did 72000 go to Fatima in the first place? Did they believe more than the people that talk about this? I don't know what people are waiting for. My husband drove 16 hours in one day to take us there and it turned out to be one of the most important days of our lives. He is talking about it non-stop still.
Less talk and more action would make more believers.
KRIS said:
Yes, Anna, you are right. Here is an eyewitness account of that sun miracle of Fatima:
An Eyewitness Account by Dr. José Maria de Almeida Garrett, professor at the Faculty of Sciences of Coimbra, Portugal
http://www.fatima.org/essentials/facts/miracle.asp
also, the people had been drenched by the rain and they were in lots of mud beforehand. After that miracle of the sun they were dried off and the ground had also dried.
Since Fatima's prophecy was that "in the end My Immaculate Heart will triumph and there will be an era of peace", then it extends even into our present time and our future - and seemingly near events. It would seem, then, that the abundance of places where people have witnessed this sun phenomena, including Sylvan Springs, in the last few decades are to remind us, in these faithless times, to remember that all important message ... that, yes, in the end, we have the promise that Her Immaculate Heart will win out. So, there is that connection. And that symbol of the Eucharistic host seen in front of the sun is just how her Heart will triumph - in a Eucharistic age, as Pope John Paul II spoke of!
The other connection, as a warning, is the seeming threat to the gathered masses at Fatima of a sun whose energy appeared to be out of control and threatening to fall on the earth and the people. Many relate that uncontrolled energy of the sun to the energy harnessed in the nuclear bombs that so threaten the world. And that would be the punishment for the grave sin of a world if it did not turn back to God ... as OLOA is begging for ... through purity and the family.
KRIS said:
Hi Ames!
You asked: Why did 72000 go to Fatima in the first place? Did they believe more than the people that talk about this?
Well, when the children (seers) of Fatima began to see the Lady, they got "beat up on", literally and figuratively from everyone (although Jacinta's and Franciso's parents believed and protected them) - including Lucia's mother who was very hard on her, thinking they made it all up and that she was committing a grave sin in doing so. The children were "kidnapped" by the local communist authorities, fearing a revival of the faith and the people. There was, as usual in such cases of apparitions and messages for the world, disbelief in the beginning. So the children asked our Lady for some sign to show the people that everything they were seeing was true. They received the message that on a particular date our Lady would perform a miracle so that all would believe. The crowds then heard of that date beforehand and gathered from all over out of curiosity or faith or to prove it was all a hoax. On that predicted date was that spectacular miracle of the sun, and the pictures of the masses, etc. along with the story was printed in the Portuguese newspaper as well.
Thank you Kris for your information and also for explaining to Aimes in IA why they came to Fatima.
Aimes, I also believe more action is what is needed, but action must be endorsed first by conversation, to be able to prepare for the correct way to get this done as quickly and easily as possible. As you know, you can't just go running up to a bishop or the Vatican and say "hey I saw this miracle and it happened and you have to believe me." It obviously has been tried in some ways and has not worked. If I remember a while back, because I wrote the message down, someone said a quote from Our Lady. Where they got it I am not sure. But it went something like this: Our Lady said to gather her bishops together. I don't know if that person heard that themselves from Our Lady or saw it written somewhere in the messages. Whoever put that online never explained it. But that sounds to me like a good solid place to start to get action going. The bishops will not come to the springs because we tell them what we, who have been there, have seen. So maybe we just need to keep deluging them with letters and prayers to Our Lady for them to finally look at what they have kept hidden away for 50 years.
It is a crime towards God that this apparition has not only not been recognized by now, but not even picked up by the local bishop after the prior bishop had already approved Sister Mildred's apparitions and messages and even struck a medal before he died, and published the messages with an imprimatur. How can any bishop following up in those prior shoes ignore what the prior bishop did? This is a very sad story that has played out over these years since the present bishop has ignored one of his very own, in not believing enough to look further into what Bishop Liepold had already done.
Action will be taken, but not without regard to the correct way to go about it to Our lady's bishops and others in the church.
Sister Mildred did not obviously ask for a miracle to be believed. She was a pious nun in a very special order and her Bishop believed her and I am sure she felt it would all be taken care of; but unfortunately it was not yet completed before he died.
Think of how sad and tortured, Our Lady's visionary, Sister Mildred must have felt right up until the end of her life knowing no more was going to be done and it was swept under the carpet.
Action will be taken, but talk, letters, word of mouth, and persistency is the way to move this for now. If anyone can come up with any better ideas than just talking or writing to your bishop immediately, before the conference, please share it. Prayer and getting this information out to the bishops and letting them know We Want Something Done about this is the only thing I can think of.
A believer without seeing,
Anna
I guess, because I'm not Catholic, I don't really care what a Catholic Bishop has to say. I know what happened to me and my husband and I think a whole lot of people are missing out, Catholic or not.
Like I said, I'm new to this and this is not just for Catholics. If the Catholics want to wait for their Bishop to give them approval, I think a lot of you will be missing out in the meantime. Why do so many go to Mejugrie if it isn't approved? This doesn't make sense to me.
Just go and see for yourself.
Why do so many go to Mejugrie if it isn't approved? This doesn't make sense to me.
While Medjugorje remains in the neutral position of approval (there are three choices to choose from for the Church approval - condemned, wait and see, and approved), the commission established by the Vatican has given permission for the faithful to go on private pilgrimage and for the shrine to help the pilgrims through the sacraments and accurate history of the happenings there. It remains in the wait and see position of approval since the secrets involving a permanent, lasting miracle and other events have still to be revealed by their happening or not. But it has been seen to produce great fruit of conversions and healings for the whole world. Why Pope John Paul II saw it as a great heart of Mary for conversion for the whole world.
We must remember that our Blessed Mother is the same Mother wherever She appears - there are just different needs for different areas and times....yet they are all connected. Some places respond better than other places.
To all of those who don't understand the process.
Please know this is definitely Ecumenical and for everyone. It has nothing to do with being Catholic other than the unfortuanate process the church puts apparition and Holy Sites through. Bishop's approval is necessary for it even to be investigated.
Why do we need it investigated? Because our main goal has always been as it was for Sister Mildred, and that is to get Our Lady of America recognized by the church so She can be enshrined into the Basilica in Washington D.C. The happening at Sylvan Springs would be extremely helpful to show these miracles are of God and are real. Since we no longer have the visionary here or her Bishop who started that process and than passed away before it was completed; Cathlolics are tying to follow this process through.
Our goal as always been to do what Our Lady of America asked of Sr. Mildred. What Our Lady wanted from us was Purity of the soul and if placint her image in the Shrine in D.C. was done, Her wishes, She knew would than have been recognized. By being in the Shrine and doing what She asked required to get Her there was than a promise of constant vigil over the United States in keeping this country safe, and ALSO we would be the leaders to the rest of the world for World Peace.
I hope this helps some of you in understanding what the goals are and why it is important to do as Our Lady asked and follow the process.
God bless, and by all means enjoy the peacefulness of the Holiness and miracles of the Springs.
I'm glad I'm not Catholic then because if I was, I may never have made the trip this week.
Well, I wish you Catholics all the best in your efforts. In the meantime, all of you who aren't Catholic and don't need a Bishop's approval to believe in something, I suggest you just do yourself a favor and visit Rome City while you can.
Don't forget to take some empty bottles for the water. It is quite refreshing and I have been drinking some every day.
BTW: I have lost 5 pounds since Monday. This is the first drop in years for me. I will continue to pray the rosary that Larry gave me and the Infant Jesus Novena he instructed me to pray to ask for what I need each day. My husband has joined me each night for the rosary and he is reading all he can about St. Joseph.
one of her children said...
If you want to get the bishops attention, simply go to the Springs and pray. Go by the thousands and pray. When they see so many people there they will want to attend to their spiritual needs with confession and the Eucharist. Remember, someone posted "Bring me my children". Where do you think Our Lady is calling us to ? Where She said it...at Sylvan Springs. Come my children to the springs!
May 11, 2007 8:48 AM
Dear Ames,
I think there is some misunderstanding here as to just what devotees of any private revelation are taught by the Catholic Church. No one is obliged to believe or not to believe in any private revelation such as this one or others - approved or not. But, the bishops, as their predacessors, the Apostles, have been given a sacred responsibility to guide the faithful. So, they, especially today when they hear about hundreds of various people claiming to see or hear something from heaven, often do not respond well or quickly to the places that really are meant to receive their approval.
But the Church also looks to the grassroots movements by the faithful, such as we have here, in order to observe the fruits - good or bad. If you know of Padre Pio you know that it was through his devotees that his miracles and stigmata were told to the whole world while he never went anywhere and had his troubles with the authorities. It seems that all true such things go through their periods of trial and testing to prove their authenticity. All of the new and approved movements and communities that have sprung up in the last few decades came through the lay followers. So, contrary to your understanding of Catholics, the Church depends on the laity to move Her shepherds. They need to see crowds to move them to action.
The only thing that approval (or even condemnation) plays a role in is to help those who may fear honoring such a place in any continuing way. Then the Church can be a sure guide and foundation for them that all is in keeping with the faith and won't be some guise of the evil one. You may or may not know that some recent people with great followings have been negated by the Church such as the 'little pebble" of Australia and Fr. Gino and others for VERY good reasons. There are so many today to keep watch over. That is why the very fact that already there are many bishops in favor of OLOA shows their recognition for the faithful that it is a blessed cause. Catholics, therefore, also are able to check out various places of alleged miracles and see what good fruits may be there for them. They should just never make the externals the only reason for their curiosities, but maturely listen to what is at the basis - a return to God through, so often, His Holy Mother. She often gives Her "kisses" to draw Her children at the beginning but it's the ongoing conversions that count.
It just seems that Catholics make it too hard to be "correct" in their faith. Soooo many rules. I prefer to be more like a child and just try to thank Jesus for my blessings and ask him for the help I need. I'm not saying you are wrong and I am right. I'm just saying I think all these "rules" take away from the ability to believe with all your heart as I already do. Having some Bishop tell me it is approved won't make me believe any more than I already do.
I have learned this week to also ask Mary for the help I need as I have come to realize it was her in my dreams that kept telling me to go to Rome City for what I needed.
Larry did a lot to explain her role in my life as an "intercessory"(?). I hope I got that word right. Larry was really kind in explaining things to us and giving us all kinds of information and rosaries and mircle medals and water.
We wanted to give him some money, but he told us to spend it on the medals of Our Lady of America that he said he did not have there. he said we needed to get them for all our family and to print the picture and put it in our home.
First to Ames from Iowa: How happy I am that you and your husband received so many blessings at Rome. Also, you might enjoy www.ourladyofamerica.com . You can order a statue of Our Lady of America, a medal, pictures etc. at that web. Others helpful about the Catholic Faith would be www.ewtn.com , www.fatimafamily.org. I still pray to get to Rome. Sometimes situations are more complicated that people realize about getting there. All these blessings at Rome must be a prelude of even more miracles at the Basicila when she is enthroned. It seems that Our Lady of America asked that the Basilica be a place of pilgrimage and that there would be more miracles there than at Fatima or Lourdes. They would be more miracles of the soul than of the body because they give great glory to the Trinity. It is so exciting to hear of the miracles already and to just think that there will be thousands of more when She is enthroned. I am not saying that Rome is not special. It obviously is and will be. I hope to make it to both places some day and to Rome soon. When I go to daily Mass I pray for these intentions regarding Our Lady of America and especially for purity in our country and in the world. She asked that America honor her by purity of life.
One aspect that usually stands the test of time with apparitions is humility and obedience to the local Bishop. Even Divine Mercy was condemned for a time until Karol (Pope John Paul ll) approved it. No one will prevent the will of God from being accomplished. I certainly believe our prayers do help. May God's holy will be done and may Our Lady of America be soon enthroned in the Basilica. May the special place in Rome receive whomever and whatever God wants.
Dot,
Amem to that! You are definitely on the right track as far as where the importance should be, which is the wish of Our lady to be in the Basilica. Realizing that the Springs, may be one of the stepping stones to move this cause on its way is also a gift, I believe, from Our Lady.
I like the ideas of pounding Holy Family Hill with thousands of sounds of footsteps to pray there in honor of Our Lady's wishes!!
Lhea
"POUND THE HILL!!"
Our family gathered together on Friday at 7 pm after dinner to pray the rosary with the group from our own living room.
We made a little shrine on our coffee table with candles and a picture of Our Lady of America. The kids lead the rosary after I got them started. We only did the 5 decades, but it was a beginning for us as our kids are only 7 and 8 years old.
We intend to continue this Friday evening devotion and maybe someday help "pound the hill" with footsteps of our own. I like that phrase and I think we should use it as a battlecry in our movement for Our Lady of America!
"POUND THE HILL!!"
What about Ascension Thursday? Is anything planned? Would anybody care to join us there? The weather forecast is calling for sunshine.
I was watching a program that showed photos with "spirit orbs". I guess that is what these orbs represent?
I had noticed them in archive photos from the large chapel along with a misty cloud. The program had mentioned a misty cloud as representing a stronger presence than spirit orbs. I believe it was on the Discovery channel.
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