Letter Submission

The following letter was submitted this morning by a woman who felt drawn to Sylvan Springs by Our Lady because she needed something. Miracles come in all forms, big and small, physical and spiritual, and we need to be mindful to give thanks when we receive them. This woman's letter is a great example of just that. In spite of all her troubles, she took time to give thanks for the little miracle.

Please pray for her and her family as they come to know more about Our Lady of America and Her plea to the American family. Maybe this little miracle can be exchanged, through Our Lady's help, for an even bigger miracle for this family if we all ask together.

I had occasion to drive past Sylvan Springs two times over the past five days. My son attends Howe Military School, and last Saturday evening we drove through Rome City on our way to Kendallville for a Mother’s Day Ball. (How fitting that it was Mother’s Day we were celebrating). I looked at the “For sale” sign and my interest was immediately piqued. Having far too much on my mind (we are facing extreme financial difficulties at this time, I feel we are struggling in marriage, and most importantly, I am trying to become closer to Our Lord and lay my burdens at his feet to take his yoke), I tried unsuccessfully to remember the website address shown on the for sale sign. Off we went to the ball.


On Tuesday, I had to return my son to Howe from Louisville Kentucky. It was a one day trip (lots of miles and time), and I prayed for our Lord’s blessing as I set out in a car that was “dicey”. Typically, I exit I-69 at US 20 and come across through Lagrange. For some reason, I told my son, let’s get off in Kendallville. Again we passed by Sylvan Springs and postulated about its former “purposes”. Again we read the for sale sign, and my son said “Mom, remember oltiv.org”. I repeated it mentally over 100 times – I was truly interested in the history of the property as it reminded me of the College I attended (Seton Hill College run by the Sisters of Mercy in Pennsylvania). I thought it weird that I had no clue as to what the property was, but that it hearkened me to my Catholic college!

When I arrived home, I again was unable to remember oltiv.org. But this time, I would not be swayed into forgetting completely. I googled, and googled, and googled…was it onliv? Was it olniv? What was it?! Then I hit upon it…and spent some time reviewing your website/blog.

Although Catholic, I have not spent much time in Marian Devotion. I really have no foundation in Marian Devotion whatsoever – and couldn’t speak to Her other than through a single Hail Mary. At this point, although I have a rosary sitting next to me, I cannot even tell you how to say the rosary. And that is sad – and that will change.

The subject of this email is “Thank you”. I give thanks to you for hearing the Holy Mother’s call, for because of your heeding, I have found a missing piece of my walk with Our Lord. See, I often tell my family that “if Momma isn’t happy..no one is happy”, yet I spend my time in prayer only remembering God, the Father and asking for his intercession in life. To me, it is truly awesome that God led me past Sylvan Springs not once, but twice over the Mother’s Day holiday to remind me that in my trials upon this earth, I seem to have forgotten my Holy Mother – and one simply cannot forget one’s Mother.

So I head off on my journey to walk closer to the Mother whom I must emulate, and to walk closer to the Son, whom she so greatly wants me to know. Thank you thank you thank you for your devotion and dedication, not only to Sylvan Springs, but to our Mother, whom we rely on for all things helpful with our Lord. I pray that your work, in what ever fashion She and our Lord chooses to allow, continues to bring each and every soul closer to Him.

The next time I am near, I would love the opportunity to stop and pray to the Blessed Mother and our Father – and to thank you in person.

Blessings to you in this noble calling. (And forgive my rambling, I can only hope you understand the strength of feeling in this “tome” and see the path that the Lord has set me on…which has led right past your door).