Our Lady of America
Encyclopedia
Our Lady of America is a title of the Blessed Virgin Mary based on private revelation
s reported by Sister Mary Mildred Neuzil (then using the name Sister Mary Ephrem) of the Congregation of the Sisters of the Most Precious Blood of Jesus. Devotion to Our Lady of America was approved and promoted by Paul Francis Leibold
, Archbishop of Cincinnati. However, the Catholic Church's Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith
has not officially recognized or approved the alleged apparitions according to the personal diary of Sister Mary Ephrem (Mary Mildred).
to Our Lady of America has its source in a personal diary by Sister Mary Ephrem in which she describes apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary she claims to have experienced some time prior to 1956. A booklet containing the contents of the revelation, and bearing the Imprimatur
of Archbishop Leibold, Sister Mary Ephrem's spiritual director, was published in 1960 and again in 1971.
A known statue of Our Lady of America has also not been approved by the Catholic Church as a devotional religious icon, as accordingly prescribed by Roman Canon Law.
. According to Sister Ephrem's personal diary, where the alleged apparitions are based, these visits requested devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary and asked Sister Ephrem to propagate them. She then turned to Monsignor Paul Leibold
. Monsignor Leibold, later Archbishop of the Cincinnati archdiocese, who would be her spiritual director until 1972.
Archbishop Leibold became so convinced of the alleged apparition that he approved Sister's writings and placed his Imprimatur
on the design of the medal. However, private revelations such as diaries are not required an Imprimatur
according to Roman Catholic canon law. It is also said that Sister Ephrem was asked to struck a medal
that would bear the image of Our Lady of America on the front and the symbol of the Christian Family and the Blessed Trinity on the back.
The Virgin Mary was reported to have appeared to Sister Mary Ephrem up to the date of her death on January 10, 2000. Most of the apparitions occurred at no less than three3 separate and distinct apparition sites located in and around the city of Fostoria, Ohio. Sister Ephrem detested the location at Rome City, Indiana and stated that, when there, she felt as though she had been surrounded by a "ring of evil." The sanitarium at Rome City was eventually closed by the Sisters of the Precious Blood. The Sisters of the Precious Blood thereafter sold the Rome City property to a cult.
Reports and claims of healings upon the grounds at Rome City, Indiana have not been verified and approved by the Catholic Church. The Roman Catholic Diocese of Cincinnati has stated that the Devotion to Our Lady of America, as a matter of private revelation, has not been canonically approved despite the claims of some individuals.
Sister Ephrem and other contemplative sisters eventually separated from the congregation of the Sisters of the Precious Blood and formed an autonomous congregation, the Contemplative Sisters of the Indwelling Trinity, which survives to the present day even though they never received approval or have been recognized by the local Toledo, OH Bishop.
Now in the Philippines, in the Chapel of Our Lady of America now in Baguio Cathedral
in Baguio City
and some main Catholic churches and parish churches in Baguio City
, La Trinidad, Benguet
in Northern Luzon and Quezon City
in Metro Manila
with the other devolties from the local Filipinos to praying to the church of Our Lady of America here in the Philippines.
The Contemplative Sisters of the Indwelling Trinity (CIT) and the Our Lady of the Nativity Convent have been given special status by Pope Paul VI, who has designated them a PAPAL ENCLOSURE, subject only and directly to the authority of the Pope. The local bishop has absolutely no authority over this religious Congregation.
Private revelation
In the teaching of the Catholic Church, a private revelation refers to visions and revelations from God to a specific Christian which have taken place since the completion of the New Testament...
s reported by Sister Mary Mildred Neuzil (then using the name Sister Mary Ephrem) of the Congregation of the Sisters of the Most Precious Blood of Jesus. Devotion to Our Lady of America was approved and promoted by Paul Francis Leibold
Paul Francis Leibold
Paul Francis Leibold was an American clergyman of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Evansville and Archbishop of Cincinnati .-Biography:...
, Archbishop of Cincinnati. However, the Catholic Church's Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith
Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith
The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith , previously known as the Supreme Sacred Congregation of the Roman and Universal Inquisition , and after 1904 called the Supreme...
has not officially recognized or approved the alleged apparitions according to the personal diary of Sister Mary Ephrem (Mary Mildred).
History
The devotionCatholic devotions
A Roman Catholic devotion is a gift of oneself, or one's activities to God. It is a willingness and desire to dedicate oneself to serve God; either in terms of prayers or in terms of a set of pious acts such as the adoration of God or the veneration of the saints or the Virgin Mary.Roman Catholic...
to Our Lady of America has its source in a personal diary by Sister Mary Ephrem in which she describes apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary she claims to have experienced some time prior to 1956. A booklet containing the contents of the revelation, and bearing the Imprimatur
Imprimatur
An imprimatur is, in the proper sense, a declaration authorizing publication of a book. The term is also applied loosely to any mark of approval or endorsement.-Catholic Church:...
of Archbishop Leibold, Sister Mary Ephrem's spiritual director, was published in 1960 and again in 1971.
A known statue of Our Lady of America has also not been approved by the Catholic Church as a devotional religious icon, as accordingly prescribed by Roman Canon Law.
Apparition
In 1938, Sister Mary Ephrem allegedly experienced seemingly mystical spiritual experiences. These messages of Our Lady of America were said to have taken place between September 25, 1956 and November 15, 1956 in the Our Lady Mother of Mercy Chapel in Rome City, IndianaIndiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
. According to Sister Ephrem's personal diary, where the alleged apparitions are based, these visits requested devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary and asked Sister Ephrem to propagate them. She then turned to Monsignor Paul Leibold
Paul Francis Leibold
Paul Francis Leibold was an American clergyman of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Evansville and Archbishop of Cincinnati .-Biography:...
. Monsignor Leibold, later Archbishop of the Cincinnati archdiocese, who would be her spiritual director until 1972.
Archbishop Leibold became so convinced of the alleged apparition that he approved Sister's writings and placed his Imprimatur
Imprimatur
An imprimatur is, in the proper sense, a declaration authorizing publication of a book. The term is also applied loosely to any mark of approval or endorsement.-Catholic Church:...
on the design of the medal. However, private revelations such as diaries are not required an Imprimatur
Imprimatur
An imprimatur is, in the proper sense, a declaration authorizing publication of a book. The term is also applied loosely to any mark of approval or endorsement.-Catholic Church:...
according to Roman Catholic canon law. It is also said that Sister Ephrem was asked to struck a medal
Medal
A medal, or medallion, is generally a circular object that has been sculpted, molded, cast, struck, stamped, or some way rendered with an insignia, portrait, or other artistic rendering. A medal may be awarded to a person or organization as a form of recognition for athletic, military, scientific,...
that would bear the image of Our Lady of America on the front and the symbol of the Christian Family and the Blessed Trinity on the back.
The Virgin Mary was reported to have appeared to Sister Mary Ephrem up to the date of her death on January 10, 2000. Most of the apparitions occurred at no less than three3 separate and distinct apparition sites located in and around the city of Fostoria, Ohio. Sister Ephrem detested the location at Rome City, Indiana and stated that, when there, she felt as though she had been surrounded by a "ring of evil." The sanitarium at Rome City was eventually closed by the Sisters of the Precious Blood. The Sisters of the Precious Blood thereafter sold the Rome City property to a cult.
Reports and claims of healings upon the grounds at Rome City, Indiana have not been verified and approved by the Catholic Church. The Roman Catholic Diocese of Cincinnati has stated that the Devotion to Our Lady of America, as a matter of private revelation, has not been canonically approved despite the claims of some individuals.
Sister Ephrem and other contemplative sisters eventually separated from the congregation of the Sisters of the Precious Blood and formed an autonomous congregation, the Contemplative Sisters of the Indwelling Trinity, which survives to the present day even though they never received approval or have been recognized by the local Toledo, OH Bishop.
Now in the Philippines, in the Chapel of Our Lady of America now in Baguio Cathedral
Baguio Cathedral
Our Lady of Atonement Cathedral, better known as Baguio Cathedral, is a Catholic cathedral located at Cathedral Loop, adjacent to Session Road in Baguio City in the Philippines. It is distinct for its rose-colored exterior, twin spires and traditional stained glass windows make it famous and is one...
in Baguio City
Baguio City
The City of Baguio is a highly urbanized city in northern Luzon in the Philippines. Baguio City was established by Americans in 1900 at the site of an Ibaloi village known as Kafagway...
and some main Catholic churches and parish churches in Baguio City
Baguio City
The City of Baguio is a highly urbanized city in northern Luzon in the Philippines. Baguio City was established by Americans in 1900 at the site of an Ibaloi village known as Kafagway...
, La Trinidad, Benguet
La Trinidad, Benguet
La Trinidad is a 1st class municipality in the province of Benguet, Philippines. It is the capital municipality of Benguet. According to the 2007 census, it has a population of 97,810 people in 13,658 households....
in Northern Luzon and Quezon City
Quezon City
Quezon City is the former capital and the most populous city in the Philippines. Located on the island of Luzon, Quezon City is one of the cities and municipalities that make up Metro Manila, the National Capital Region. The city was named after Manuel L...
in Metro Manila
Metro Manila
Metropolitan Manila , the National Capital Region , or simply Metro Manila, is the metropolitan region encompassing the City of Manila and its surrounding areas in the Philippines...
with the other devolties from the local Filipinos to praying to the church of Our Lady of America here in the Philippines.
See also
- Marian apparitionsMarian apparitionsA Marian apparition is an event in which the Blessed Virgin Mary is believed to have supernaturally appeared to one or more people. They are often given names based on the town in which they were reported, or on the sobriquet which was given to Mary on the occasion of the apparition...
The Contemplative Sisters of the Indwelling Trinity (CIT) and the Our Lady of the Nativity Convent have been given special status by Pope Paul VI, who has designated them a PAPAL ENCLOSURE, subject only and directly to the authority of the Pope. The local bishop has absolutely no authority over this religious Congregation.
External links
- Official website for the devotion
- Catholic News ServiceCatholic News ServiceCatholic News Service is an American news agency covering the Roman Catholic Church. CNS was established in 1920 and is a leading source of news for Catholic print and broadcast media throughout the world....
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