The amazing history and providential roots of Our Lady of America and the Immaculate Conception, to the apparition site in Rome City, and the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington D.C. can be found here.
What follows is my comment and prayer on this Feast of the Immaculate Conception:
J.M.J.
Thank you for this compelling insight into the unbreakable ties of Our Lady of America and her Immaculate Conception to Sylvan Springs and the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington DC. It is no coincidence that two of Our Lady of America's most important requests would directly revolve around these two places ... the first in 1956 asking for a statue of her likeness as Our Lady of America to be enthroned by the Bishops of the U.S. and in 2001, when she asked one devotee to "Bring me my children, bring me all my children" to Rome City. I pray that all in heaven and on earth pray, especially on this Feast Day, for the Bishops to be enlightened and act upon both of these important requests immediately, especially invoking the intercession of Our Lady of America, St. Joseph, St. Michael, St. Bernadette, Blessed Mary of Agreda and her namesake who lived and worked at the Springs, the North American martyrs, Bishop Carrol, Bishop Alerding, Archbishop Noll, Sr.Mildred, Bishop Leibold, Fr. Hoevel, AB Fulton J. Sheen, Pope John Paul II, Padre Pio, Maria Esperanza, and Frank Young, among others too numerous to mention. I pray too that all those who are experiencing pain or suffering today offer it up as redemptive suffering for these prayer requests.
I find it so providential that this country was consecrated to the Immaculate Conception exactly 300 years after Columbus discovered America proclaiming it for Our Lady and sailing under her mantle of protection. Providential too that Our Lady was named Patroness of the United States nearly two centuries before she appeared to Sr. Millie, and only 16 years after the birth of our nation! On the Immaculate Virgin's first visit to Sr. in Rome City, she referred to her favored state saying, "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". Over the next two days she appeared as and identified herself as, Our Lady of America with these words, "I am the Immaculate One, Patroness of your land". Nowhere else in the history of any apparition has Our Lady identified herself as Patroness of any land. Others may have identified her by region or country, but she has never proclaimed it herself except in this devotion.
Although countless miracles have occurred and continue to occur in Rome City, I "wait in joyful hope" for the day that she is recognized in the Basilica in Washington D.C., as Our Lady of America, the Immaculate Virgin, and the resulting miracles that she herself has promised would be more plentiful "than Lourdes and Fatima" combined! I pray too, for the preservation of the apparition site in Rome City, so that many more of her children can journey there and experience the gifts she is waiting to shower on her faithful children.
Happy Feast Day Dearest Mother...may you be known across our land and the world as Our Lady of America! Thank you for all the blessings you have showered upon me and so many other pilgrims at the holy ground in Rome City! Although the Basilica in Washington D.C. has many beautiful images of you from apparitions all over the world, it seems unfortunate that our National Shrine has yet to enthrone the devotion specific to these United States, as you have requested - Our Lady of America, the Immaculate Virgin! This devotion, which you yourself have described as so important to the future of our country and of the entire world is long overdue!
May the Holy Spirit inspire those who can bring this request to fruition. And "By Thy Holy and Immaculate Conception, Deliver us from Evil!"
All for Jesus through Mary! All for Our Lady of America!