MARY, OUR MOTHER

Enthronement of Statue of Our Lady of America a timely testimony for Americans

By The Universe: Franciscan Friars of The Immaculate have enthroned the statue of Our Lady of America at Our Lady of The Angels Monastery in Alabama as part of the continued devotion she continues to inspire in the US. Catholics in the States have had a special devotion to Our Lady of America ever since apparitions of the virgin appeared to Sister Mary Ephrem (Mildred Neuzil), a nun at the Precious Blood Sisters in Indiana on September 26th, 1956. "To have the enthronement of Our Lady of America statue is a timely testimony and reminder to us all of the blessing Our Lady is for all of us who live in the United States of America," the Bishop of Sacramento Richard Garcia told the Universe. "Our Lady guides and protects us in this critical time of our history when we need to value even more closely what she as a mother has taught us: to hold Christ in the Centre of our lives; to value the family and its unity; to do the will of the Father; to evangelize by pointing others to Christ." A diary of the messages given to Sr Mary Ephrem was published with the approval of her spiritual director Mgr Paul Leibold, including the message on Octover 13 1956 which stated: '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.'