55th Anniversary of the First Apparitions of Our Lady of America

Mother of Mercy Chapel in Rome City where Our Lady of America first appeared (circa 1950).

Today is the 55th Anniversary of the first apparitions of Our Lady of America, on Sept. 25th and 26th of 1956. On the 26th, in the chapel at Sylvan Springs, in Rome City, IN., Mary appeared to Sr. Mildred Neuzil (Sr. Mary Ephrem) as Our Lady of America, and asked for the people of America to return to purity and peace. If we did this she promised more miracles than at Fatima and Lourdes combined. She identified herself as Our Lady of America (the only known apparition where Our Lady has ever referred to herself with any geographical location as part of her title). She stated that because of the love and devotion of the people of America to her and her Son Jesus she wished to be known as Our Lady of America.  Our Lady of America also warned that the time grows late and stated that she was coming to the U.S. as a last resort.

If we heed her messages and spread the devotion (and pray that the U.S. Bishops will enthrone a statue of her as Our Lady of America in the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington D.C.),  America will lead many nations to peace. Please pray for the statue's enthronement and that everyone in the U.S. and afar will know of Our Lady of America and return to purity and peace! She also asked for a medal to be struck (which did occur and is available online), and taught Sr. this short prayer, "By Thy Holy and Immaculate Conception O Mary, deliver us from evil." 

God bless and thanks for your prayers that her requests are granted very quickly, and for spreading the news of this devotion to others!

For further information visit:  http://www.youtube.com/user/all4OLA#p/c/5D0BADC55D68EEAF/0/CLUX6hHer3Q

The Immaculate Conception and Connection to Our Lady of America

 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!

REVIVAL OF YOUTH -  STARTING IN BOSTON 

OUR LADY'S TORCHBEARERS

From the internet version of the diary of Sr. Mildred, the following excerpt contains Our Lady of America's messages about our youth as Torchbearer's (see bold print below).

 Feb. 11, 1958 :

Our Lady made known to me that she is particularly interested in the youth of our nation. It is they
who are to be the leaders of this movement of renewal on the face of the earth. Their ranks will be
swelled by the youths of other nations whom Our Lady also calls to help in the accomplishment of this great renewal.
But the youth must be prepared, and this must be done by instilling into them, not only the knowledge of the Divine Indwelling, but a serious study of It, living It in such a way that the Divine Presence becomes, as it were, an intimate and necessary part of their life and daily living. From this will flow a great love, a conflagration that will envelop the world in the flames of Divine Charity. This is what Our Lady is working for, because this is the great desire of her Divine Son, and it is to the youth of America that she is holding out this challenge. 

St. Michael came to me one evening shortly after Our Lady's visit, holding an immense flaming torch. He held it towards me saying, “My little sister, you must carry this torch through the world."
He came again the next night in the same manner. The next day I was interiorly enlightened during Mass. It was made known to me that those, particularly the youth, who are willing wholeheartedly to follow Our Lady in her great battle against evil would bear the special title of "Torchbearers of the Queen." This torch, of course, is Divine Love, for it is Love alone that will conquer hate and all that hate brings with it.

Our Lady of America, in the notes from Sr. Mildred's diary above, speaks about the major role that the youth of America will spearhead. She directly mentions a renewal of the youth (Torchbearers of the Queen) to begin and flourish, thereby capturing the attention and camaraderie of youth throughout the world. It is this renewal by our youth that will lead all nations to peace. My friend Nancy, a huge proponent of the devotion of Our Lady of America and of the apparition site in Rome City, Indiana, is a native of Boston. She has worked in youth ministry for many years. Nancy says that this renewal (which Our Lady of America first spoke about in 1958, on the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes, Feb.11th), is apparent and starting to flourish in Boston, as evidenced in the photos below, of a youth revival which happened last winter in Boston. The week long celebration of Praise and Adoration occurred throughout all regions in the Archdiocese of Boston, and culminated with Adoration at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross! Nancy envisions these type of events happening at the apparition site of Our Lady of America in Rome City! Youth ministers and youth groups throughout the nation are encouraged to begin planning  pilgrimages to the site in fulfillment of Our Lady's request, " Bring me my children, bring me all my children"  (to the apparition site in Rome City). For planning of events for the youth and groups of all ages, contact oltiv.org @ 260-854-3525 or email them at info@oltiv.org

 http://www.facebook.com/pages/ONE4Boston/112433745448371?ref=mf#!/album.php?aid=25628&id=112433745448371&page=4

Our Country and the World Cannot Afford to Lose This Apparition Site

Story and picture with caption reprinted with permission from oltiv.org                                                                                                                                                                    

 
While there have been many amazing stories of healing and miracles in Rome City, this one is especially poignant. It was merely a comment on another post, but thankfully alert devotees brought it to the moderator's attention and it was reprinted. Every time we have visited this holy ground, there have been several visitors who just showed up - some were given interior messages to go, or drove by and felt pulled to stop.  Others just ended up there (through the working of the Holy Spirit). Many more lives have been saved (spiritually and physically)....this story simply acknowledges it.

                                              Click on this link to read the account: 

http://www.oltiv.org/2007/01/comment-of-week_20.html

This statue of Our Lady of Lourdes stands waiting in the Our Lady Mother of Mercy Chapel in Rome City, IN. In this photo, taken February 23, 2006 during a private Holy Hour, there is a noticeable cloudy shroud to the statue's right.

Is this the actual spot where Our Lady of America first presented herself to Sr. Mildred Ephrem Neuzil on September 26, 1956

Especially with the current climate in America, we MUST save this place and bring Our Blessed Mother's children here as She has requested. Now is the time for a miracle....someone or some group must step forward and save this site before it is split into tracts and the attached property (including the black marble altar) is sold to the highest bidder! 

Please pray, fast and tell everyone you know of this urgent plea. May God bless you and May Our Lady of America be recognized. May Her requests for this holy place and for the enthronement of Her  statue in the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception be fulfilled without further delay!

"By Thy Holy and Immaculate Conception, O Mary, Deliver Us From Evil" - prayer taught to Sr.     Mildred by Our Lady of America, the Immaculate Virgin

'Fascinating Rome City' Site Goes on Auction Block - Urgent Help Needed!

With permission of  oltiv.org : This photo was sent to us by Dan who recently visited Sylvan Springs from the Chicago area. He captured a great moment with the Holy Family as the sun was spinning.

http://www.news-sentinel.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100821/NEWS01/8210305

 Please click on the  link above for a newspaper article on the Rome City site of Our Lady of America.  Please forward to anyone who can help save this site.  This site is the "Lourdes" for the United States.  There have been hundreds of miracles and miraculous healings at this site through Mary's intercession under the title of Our Lady of America.  The local Bishop, Bishop Rhoades, had a meeting last month about the site.  In the meeting he accepted medical documentation of one miraculous healing at the site.  He has assigned a priest from his office to oversee the investigation.   If we do not act to save this site, the site will be sold before the Bishop finishes his investigation.  The site is set for Public Auction on Sept 10th and Sept 11th.  If you are able, please make a donation on the Web site.  Every dollar is desperately needed at this point or this Holy Apparition site of Mary will be sold on Sept 11th by public auction.We need to keep this very holy site for the Church so that the faithful can go there in their times of need to pray for physical and spiritual healing.  Please pray your hearts out that this site is saved from foreclosure prior to the Sept 10th sale date.  Calling all prayer warriors!!!!  We need this covered in much fervent prayer and prayer and fasting.  Also, please make a donation even if it is just one dollar.  If everyone we know donates what they can and tells everyone they knows to do the same we will be able to save this holy Apparition site of The Blessed Mother for all of us to go there to worship God.  Please, please, please help!  The web site is www.OlTIV.org .  click on the spot that says donations.  We are still working to raise funds/pledges to redeem the property and safeguard it in the hands of a Not- For- Profit (OLTIV) to be used as a retreat house and home for retired religious. If you know of someone willing to help in any capacity, please have them contact us immediately at 847-726-7520 or at info@oltiv.org

                      

                     

Praise God from Whom All Blessinmgs Flow

Last weekend -Friday July 9th to Sunday July 11th we made the trek to Rome City, Indiana for the fourth time in 3 years. A Day of Prayer and Healing was scheduled for the entire day on Saturday July 10th, and with the threat of possibly losing the site (the judge was to rule on July 16th), we traveled along with many other devotees to join in prayer for a miracle that would save this site and designate it as a Marian Center like Lourdes and Fatima.
The word came through yesterday that our prayers have been answered for the time being. Though we still URGENTLY need a buyer to secure the site for all of her children as Our Lady requested, the judge has once more extended the deadline to sell the property to Sept. 11th!  Thank you dear Lord for answering our prayers. Now we must pray in thanksgiving for this extension as well as for a buyer(s) to come forward NOW so that this long ordeal will be over and all of us will be able to visit this beautiful and peace filled place often.  Prayers are also needed for Bishop Rhoades, the newly installed bishop of Fort Wayne - South Bend, so that he may give this place his stamp of approval. Though already a canonically approved devotion, many people look to the Bishop before coming forward with the necessary funds to secure the site.
More will follow about the tremendous experiences and blessings we had last week as well as pictures of our trip. The picture above is one of several I took after attending the Friday Night Rosary on 7/9/2010. All of us filed outside to the front of the building and lo and behold....the sun was spinning! Most of the prayer warriors that evening saw it.... including me and my husband. We felt like pinching ourselves but knew it was really happening AGAIN. And to think we have been blessed with this miracle on two separate trips! Laus Deo!
All for Our Lady of America!