Regarding Our Lady of America [Ecumenical]

EWTN.com and various ^ | May 31, 2007 | Most Reverend Raymond L. Burke

[mlizzy]

Yes, from Pelianito. And I enjoy Mark Mallett as well. They evidently know one another. I also enjoy Michael D. O’Brien who lives in Canada as well. Makes me want to move ... :)

[markomalley]

Please take a look at this document. Although from a non-Vatican website, it purports to be a copy of a 1978 CDF document on apparition discernment, Normae Congregationis.

Within that document,

II. Intervention of the competent local Authority

1. As, at the time of a presumed supernatural fact, worship or an ordinary form of devotion is born in a quasi spontaneous way among the faithful, the competent ecclesiastical Authority has the serious obligation to inform itself without delay and to carry out a diligent investigation.

2. At the legitimate request of the faithful (when they are in communion with their pastors and are not driven by a sectarian spirit), the competent ecclesiastical Authority can intervene to authorize and promote various forms of worship and devotion if, assuming the criteria given above having been applied, nothing is opposed to it. But there must be vigilance nevertheless, to ensure that the faithful do not regard this way of acting as an approval by the Church of the supernatural character of the event in question (cf. above, Preliminary Note, c).

…

III. Other Authorities entitled to intervene

1. The foremost authority to inquire and to intervene belongs to the local Ordinary.

Bottom line is if the local Ordinary has already approved this, there is no other action required.

Having said that, what's up with "Our Lady of America (registered trademark)"?????

[jacknhoo]

I am Our Lady of America

“I desire that my children honor me
especially by the purity of their lives.”

http://www.michaeljournal.org/ourladyamerica.htm

[Servant of the Cross]

ARCHBISHOP'S NEPHEW RELATES STRIKING OCCURRENCE AT AMERICAN APPARITION SITE

[mlizzy]

Uh-oh, now this is causing concern. Too much Medjugorje talk at the link. I steer clear from Spirit Daily for that reason. I’m not one who necessarily believes in the visions at Medjugorje, not that they *never* happened, just that they’re probably not IMO going on for so long of a time, although I’ll believe as the Church rules, of course. But I’ve seen far too many households disrupted (even divorces) over frequent heavy-cost reoccurring trips to Medjugorje without husbands or children coming along, when the real (proven) Miracle appears on the altar daily.

[Servant of the Cross]

Pope Benedict smiles for Medjugorje!

"the real (proven) Miracle appears on the altar daily".

Amen!

I do find it odd that you can cheer on the Green Bay WI apparition but have grave concerns over Medjugorje. How is that consistent?

By the way, have you ever experience Medjugorje first hand? Have you ever experienced the 'miracle of the sun' anywhere?

[mlizzy]

Weren't the Green Bay apparitions approved by the local bishop? Who approved the Medjugorje apparitions? There's been so much back and forth on Medj, that I long ago stopped keeping up on it, to be truthful. And, yes, I've got three acquaintances/friends whose marriages were experiencing trouble (they left their kids routinely with their husbands for their yearly trips to Yugoslavia) over their obsessions on going to Medj. I don't hear that kind of thing regarding Lourdes, Fatima.

I *did* experience the 'miracle of the sun' in a dream just a few days ago; interesting you should ask:). But no, we do not go to apparition sites that are far away. However, if I was able to travel and we had the finances available, I would make it a family vacation and go to Lourdes. But maybe I should shy away from the apparitions in Green Bay since they are not approved by Rome. They seemed to tie in more to Mary's previously approved apparitions, though; just a few visits from her (3), etc.

I think if people come off of Medj. with a boost of faith (and then some!), etc., then that is a good thing. But when it interferes with their marital/financial life, no.

[Salvation]

**Having said that, what’s up with “Our Lady of America (registered trademark)”?????**

Huh?

I am very aware that this is not a Vatican approved apparition. However, it was approved by the local bishop in Ohio, I believe.

[PatriotGirl827]

In the apparition of Our Lady of America, the Blessed Mother promised miracles greater than those at Fatima and Lourdes! I believe this apparition will eventually be fully approved.

[mlizzy]

I hope so.

[markomalley]

What's up with the ® sign?

That's the first time I've ever seen the ® sign used with any documented apparition. That's the question.

[PatriotGirl827]

Mark - there is litigation surrounding this apparition. It’s very confusing, and I am no expert, but it has to do with the original visionary leaving all of the rights to the diary, prayers, images, etc. to another sister of her order.

In recent years, another group is trying to promote the apparition, with no legal authority to do so. So we have a problematic situation here that needs prayers.

This link explains some of it: http://www.ourladyofamerica.com/message.php

Also, Unity Publishing website has studied this very in depth for years, and has some good articles about it.

[PatriotGirl827]

Another good link (if you’re interested) in reading up on the controversy, is here: http://ourladyofamerica.blogspot.com/

[Bigg Red]

Wow! I never heard of this. I sincerely hope it is not too late. Has there been any effort toward having the Vatican verify the apparitions?

[Salvation]

Our Lady of America

"Behold, O my children, the tears of your Mother! Shall I weep in vain? Assuage the sorrow of my Heart over the ingratitude of sinful men by the love and chasteness of your lives. Will you do this for me, beloved children, or will you allow your Mother to weep in vain? I come to you, O children of Amer-ica, as a last resort. I plead with you to listen to my voice. Cleanse your souls in the Precious Blood of My Son. Live in His Heart, and take me in that I may teach you to live in great purity of heart which is so pleasing to God. Be my army of chaste soldiers, ready to fight to the death to preserve the purity of your souls. I am the Immaculate One, Patroness of your land. Be my faithful children as I have been your faithful Mother." ~~ A.D. 27 September 1956

Beginning A.D. 26 September 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, expecially 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 Trinity in the Christian Family, with The Holy Family ( Jesus, Mary & Joseph ) as a model. On October 5, 1956, Our Lady inspired Sister Mary Ephrem 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 A.D. 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.ister Mary Ephrem was blessed to have as her spiritual director Monsignor Leibold for many years until his death in A.D. 1972. During this period, Monsignor Leibold authorized the printing of Our Lady's messages to Sister Mary Ephrem in the form of a diary.

On A.D. 13 October 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.

[Salvation]

Our Lady of America

“Behold, O my children, the tears of your Mother! Shall I weep in vain? Assuage the sorrow of my Heart over the ingratitude of sinful men by the love and chasteness of your lives. Will you do this for me, beloved children, or will you allow your Mother to weep in vain? I come to you, O children of Amer-ica, as a last resort. I plead with you to listen to my voice. Cleanse your souls in the Precious Blood of My Son. Live in His Heart, and take me in that I may teach you to live in great purity of heart which is so pleasing to God. Be my army of chaste soldiers, ready to fight to the death to preserve the purity of your souls. I am the Immaculate One, Patroness of your land. Be my faithful children as I have been your faithful Mother.” ~~ A.D. 27 September 1956

Beginning A.D. 26 September 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, expecially 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 Trinity in the Christian Family, with The Holy Family ( Jesus Christ, Mary & Joseph ) as a model. On October 5, 1956, Our Lady inspired Sister Mary Ephrem 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 A.D. 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.ister Mary Ephrem was blessed to have as her spiritual director Monsignor Leibold for many years until his death in A.D. 1972. During this period, Monsignor Leibold authorized the printing of Our Lady’s messages to Sister Mary Ephrem in the form of a diary.

On A.D. 13 October 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.