Beginning on September 26, 1956, the Blessed Virgin Mary, under a specific appearance as "Our Lady of America," manifested Herself to Sister Mary Ephrem (Mildred Neuzil) in the Convent of the Precious Blood Sisters at Rome City, Indiana. Our Lady indicated to Sister that She had come in response to the United States having recognized Her privilege of The Immaculate Conception, especially through The Shrine of The Immaculate Conception at Washington, D.C., and Our Lady of America came with a message for the United States to focus on the virtue of purity.
Our Lady spoke about the recognition of The Indwelling Most Holy Trinity in the Christian Family, with The Holy Family (Jesus, Mary & Joseph) as a model. On October 5, 1956, Our Lady inspired Sister to write the prayer to "Our Lady of America," which prayer (and the design of a medal of Our Lady of America) subsequently received in 1963 the formal approval of Imprimatur by Monsignor Paul F. Leibold, who was then serving as auxiliary bishop and Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati.
Sister Mary Ephrem was blessed to have as her spiritual director Monsignor Leibold for many years until his death in 1972. During this period, Monsignor Leibold authorized the printing of Our Lady's messages to Sister Mary Ephrem in the form of a diary. (to read some of the messages, please see http://www.ourladyofamerica.com/messages.php )
On October 13, 1956, The Blessed Virgin Mary requested that a statue of "Our Lady of America" be enshrined in the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C., as a special place of pilgrimage and a special safeguard for our Country. Our Lady promised miracles greater than those of Lourdes and Fatima if her children heeded her warnings and fulfilled her requests. She indicated that this would be accomplished through her loyal sons, the Bishops of the United States. It is to the fulfillment of these requests that this website is dedicated and it is to Our Lady of America that it is consecrated.
(see http://www.ourladyofamerica.com/ )
Prayer to Our Lady of America, Patroness of our Land
Oh Immaculate Mother, Queen of our country, open our hearts, our homes, and our land to the coming of Jesus, your Divine Son. With Him, reign over us, O heavenly Lady, so pure and so bright with the radiance of Gods light shining in and about you. Be our leader against the powers of evil set upon wresting the world of souls, redeemed at such a great cost by the sufferings of your Son and of yourself, in union with Him, from that same Savior, Who loves us with infinite charity.
We gather about you, O chaste and holy Mother, Virgin Immaculate, Patroness of our beloved Land, determined to fight under your banner of holy purity against the wickedness that would make all the world an abyss of evil, without God and without your loving maternal care.
We consecrate our hearts, our homes, our Land to your Most Pure Heart, O great Queen, that the kingdom of your Son, our Redeemer and our God, may be firmly established in us.
We ask no special sign of you, sweet Mother, for we believe in your great love for us, and we place in you our entire confidence. We promise to honor you by faith, love, and the purity of our lives according to your desire.
Reign over us, then, O Virgin Immaculate, with your Son Jesus Christ. May His Divine Heart and your most chaste Heart be ever enthroned and glorified among us. Use us, your children of America, as your instruments of peace among men and nations. Work your miracle of grace in us, so that we may be a glory to the Blessed Trinity, Who created, redeemed, and sanctifies us.
May your valiant spouse, St. Joseph, with the holy Angels and Saints, assist you and us in "renewing the face of the earth." Then when our work is over, come, Holy Immaculate Mother, and as our Victorious Queen, lead us to the eternal kingdom, where your Son reigns forever as King.
Amen
Nihil Obstat: Daniel Pilarczyk, S.T.D.
Imprimatur: +Paul F. Leibold, V.G.
Cincinnati, Jan. 25, 1963
The medallion of Our Lady of America was granted an official Imprimatur by Archbishop Paul Leibold
The one side bears the image of Our Lady of America and around it the words, "By Your Holy and Immaculate Conception, O Mary, Deliver Us From Evil." The Coat of Arms of the Christian Family is on the reverse side of the medal. The Divine Indwelling is represented by the Triangle and the Eye on the shield of the Precious Blood, through which sanctifying grace is made possible to fallen man.
The Sanctification of the family through imitation of the Holy Family is represented by the Cross and the two lilies on each of which is depicted a burning heart. The flaming sword is a symbol of Divine Love so necessary to obtain union with God, while the rosary indicates a most profitable means of drawing closer to the Holy Family, through devout meditation on the various Mysteries.
The scroll above bears the inscription, "Gloria Patri et Filio et Spiritui Sancto" and the one below, "Jesu, Maria, Joseph." These aspirations are simply explanations of the whole theme and are also acts of praise to the Trinity and the Holy Family.
This medal is to be worn with great faith and fervent devotion to Our Lady for the grace of intense purity of the heart and the particular love of the Holy Virgin and her Divine Son.
(all information used with permission of the Our Lady of America Center)
This American apparition has the canonical approval of many Bishops with a most recent letter coming from Archbishop Raymond Burke of St. Louis.
July 4th, 2007 – Fostoria, OH
This devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary under the title of Our Lady of America enjoys complete canonical approval through former Archbishop of Cincinatti, OH, the late Paul Leibold. Through his written correspondence and public actions, Archbishop Leibold approved for public devotion this private apparition of the Blessed Virgin Mary to Sister Mary Ephrem (Mildred Neuzil).
Furthermore, many other Bishops have also shown their approval by their promotion of this devotion. The Most Reverend Raymond L. Burke, Archbishop of Saint Louis, a world renowned canon lawyer, issued a letter opinion on Our Lady of America. In his letter dated May 31, 2007, he reviews the history of Our Lady of America and the actions of Archbishop Leibold approving this devotion. From Archbishop Burke:
"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."
As such, devotion to Our Lady of America had been completely and fully canonically approved by Archbishop Leibold and confirmed by other bishops, leaving no question about the status of this apparition of the Blessed Virgin Mary to Sister Mary Ephrem (Mildred Neuzil) which began 1956.
For the full text of Archbishop Burke's letter see http://www.ourladyofamerica.com/pdf/OpinionLetter-May-2007.pdf
The pilgrim statue of Our Lady of Ameica was enshrined at the Most Blessed Sacrament Shrine at Hanceville, Alabama on May 31. 2006A procession was held for Our Lady of America in Cheyenne , Wyoming on February 19, 2006 by Most Reverend David L. RickenFor more news on events to honor Our Lady of America see http://www.ourladyofamerica.com/news.php
