Torchbearer's Prayer

Now will I recall God's works; what I have seen, I will describe. At God's word were his works brought into being; they do his will as he has ordained for them.
As the rising sun is clear to all, so the glory of the LORD fills all his works;
Yet even God's holy ones must fail in recounting the wonders of the LORD, Though God has given these, his hosts, the strength to stand firm before his glory.
He plumbs the depths and penetrates the heart; their innermost being he understands. The Most High possesses all knowledge, and sees from of old the things that are to come:
He makes known the past and the future, and reveals the deepest secrets.
No understanding does he lack; no single thing escapes him.
Perennial is his almighty wisdom; he is from all eternity one and the same,
With nothing added, nothing taken away; no need of a counselor for him!
How beautiful are all his works! even to the spark and the fleeting vision!
The universe lives and abides forever; to meet each need, each creature is preserved.
All of them differ, one from another, yet none of them has he made in vain, For each in turn, as it comes, is good; can one ever see enough of their splendor.

Sirach 42:15-25
Our Lady of America before God's Glory intercede for us!

Words of Wisdom

Rev. A.J. Geraci. perhaps saw Archbishop Leibold for the last time publicly before his death. In a sermon given May 4th 2008 he says" Not too long ago, back in 1972, I witnessed the last ceremony of the late Archbishop, Paul Leibold. It was a large graduation ceremony at Xavier University, Cincinnati. I was there to receive my first M.A., a Master's in History. The not too old archbishop was looking desperately tired and did not participate in the distribution of diplomas, but rather retreated to a chair to the back of the stage. His posture, his composure, his physical carriage, his tiredness all communicated a message that the world could carry on without him. Remarkably the archbishop, a native of Dayton, with many Leibold cousins still around, had accomplished a post Vatican Council Diocesan Synod for the Archdiocese of Cincinnati; all nineteen counties were involved. It was as if, on the stage, he was saying, not only to the students and Jesuit instructors, but to the whole diocese, you have a plan for the future, now follow it, and you will not be needing this archbishop to help you.

That night, Archbishop Paul Leibold died of several massive strokes. In a short poem to his niece that he had recently written, he described the span of human life to be like that of the "spring tulips whose beauty lasts only a while and then are gone, back to the earth, back to God." Life is a short span of time, like spring tulips that never seem to last long enough. It was almost a poetic commentary on the end of his life. Somehow it seems he knew he was leaving us. He did. But this young Archbishop left us with a plan and that plan has been used, cited, referred to, now, for thirty-six years."

The Queen City

Cincinnati, fondly called The Queen City, has a history rich in Catholic tradition. Up to 1829 there was practically no immigration to the West. In after years the fertility and wealth of the country lying between the Eastern mountains and the Mississippi directed thither the tide of incoming Europeans. The Irish famine of 1848, and political disturbances in Germany about the same time, sent large numbers of Irish and Germans to America. Friends had preceded them, and glowing accounts of the agricultural possibilities of Ohio attracted many to the Ohio Valley. Steamboat facilities after 1830 and railroads after 1838 contributed largely to increase the population. The Civil War did not retard materially the progress of religion.
The hills and valleys of Cincinnati, along with the Ohio River that curves it way thru, reminded the brave new German inhabitants of their native homeland, Bavaria.The city would become the largest destination for those settling in America.

They wasted no time in the building of churches. Bringing from their homeland all the wealth and talent of spiritual artistry. Some of the most treasured churches in the country were dedicated to God and His Mother. Gothic and Romanesque structures graced the inland city and their spirals soared high. Treasured works of art embellished these places of worship and reflected the love the new America had for God.

One of the most cherished is The Immaculata
Built in 1859 just before the American Civil War for the German congregation in the city's Mt. Adams neighborhood. Archbishop John Baptist Purcell decided to build the church while praying during a severe storm at sea. He promised God that if he survived, he would build a vigil church dedicated to The Mother of God under her title Immaculata,on the city's highest point. The church has served since 1860 as a pilgrimage church, where on Good Friday the faithful ascend eighty-nine steps from the level of the river to the front door of the church. First wooden steps were put up, and then in 1911, the city of Cincinnati helped the church build concrete steps.

It is from this hill that The Immaculata keeps watch over her children. Archbishop Leibold called it The Holy Hill. What prayers have been answered in this pilgrim shrine dedicated the Our Lady's Immaculate Conception. Perhaps in advance Our Lady of America prepared Cincinnati to invoke her intercession for our country and one day she would respond to the love that was shown to Her here. For high above the main alter hangs a famous painting of The Immaculataby Johann Schmitt.

There is a scroll that stretches the canvas. Written in German it is a request made to The Virgin by Her petitioners, it reads
O Maria, ohne Suende empfangen, bitte fuer die Bekehrung dieses Landes, Amerika.
(Oh Mary, conceived without sin, pray for the conversion of this country, America.)

For The United States consecrated to Her Immaculate Conception it is prophetic.
A theme that would be repeated decades later to Sr. Mary Ephrem.

Wise Torchbearer

Today January 25th the church celebrates the The Conversion of St.Paul The Apostle.
Archbishop Paul Leibold, Sister Mary Ephrem's spiritual director, had considered St. Paul to be his patron saint. In may of his letters to Sr. Millie, Archbishop Leibold would instruct and encourage her with St.Paul's writings.
In one such letter he encourages her to be pliable in Our Lord"s hands. As a potter molds the clay to form his work. To allow Our Lord to mold her into His beautiful work of art.

For Archbishop Leibold the conversion of St.Paul would also be connected to his work with Our Lady of America. It is on January 25th 1963 that the Imprimatur is given to specific prayers written by Sr.Millie. Perhaps in Archbishop Leibolds discernment he recognizes the great need of spiritual conversion our country and our world needs. A experience powerful like Saint Paul's, one that would bring us to our knees.

This is our prayer. For our eyes to be opened.
For St.Paul it would take a great spiritual miracle to turn his heart from sin to his creator.
And so it is with us. Let us learn from this great saint.
Do not forget that Our Lady has promised spiritual miracles greater than those granted at Lourdes or Fatima if we do as she asks. It will have to be a grace powerful like St.Paul's to turn us from the path we are headed.
May Our Lady of America, The Immaculate Virgin intercede for us.

Our Mother of Mercy

Decades before the church would call the first Sunday after Easter Divine Mercy Sunday, Our Lady shows herself to Sister Mary Ephrem as Our Mother of Mercy on the second Sunday after Easter in the year of 1957. Perhaps one day the church will honor our Mother's mercy the Sunday following Her Son's.

In a May 5, 1957 letter, Sr. Mildred Marie Neuzil speaks of Our Lady of America’s appearance to her as “Mother of Mercy.”

Our Lady showed herself to me today as the Mother of Mercy. With her arms extended, her blue mantle affording a safe refuge for the sinner, she said,

“I am the Mother of Mercy. Under my mantle I will hide my children. The justice of God will not reach them if they seek refuge beneath the protection of my mercy. My Son gives to me all those souls who come to me with confidence, calling upon my aid. Their salvation is in my hands. I will obtain for them the necessary graces to save their souls.

“Come to me, poor suffering and frightened ones. I am your Mother. Never will I forsake you. Only come to me with a wholehearted and loving trust. Place your souls into my keeping. I am that faithful Mother who never forsakes her children. Honor me by your confidence and love. This I desire and ask of you, my poor children. Do not deny the wishes of your Mother.”

Our Lady of America Newsletter

The Our Lady of America Center issued the first newsletter on the eve of The Feast of The Immaculate Conception.
Now more than ever our country needs Our Lady. Let us pray that God's will be done.

The above photo shows a group of seminarians praying in the grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes, located in the crypt chapel at Holy Cross Church atop Mount Adams, the highest point of Cincinnati. Archbishop Leibold fondly referred to Mt.Adams as "The Holy Hill"

May She Rest In Peace

Archbishop Paul Leibold's brother's wife Theresa (Martin) Leibold passed away on Nov.4th 2008, at the age of 74. She was born July 14th,1934 in Dayton Ohio. It was there that she met and married her teenage sweetheart, Jerome P. Leibold.
They were married for 54 years. I had the honor to speak with her and discuss Our Lady of America. Theresa worked often for the late archbishop. It was a privilege for her to serve him. Whenever there was a event she was the official hostess. Archbishop Leibold trusted Theresa with the letters that Sister Mildred would write. She recalled how the archbishop would guard those letters. He trusted her to file them and encouraged her to read them saying,"you know she sees the Blessed Mother" Archbishop Leibold had a great love for Our Lady. Theresa understood this. It would be Theresa who would find the archbishop as he collapsed due to a aneurysm. "The whole time we were in the ambulance he just held his arms out. Gazing beyond us at someone we couldn't see. Wanting so to embrace whomever was waiting for him." Let us pray that Theresa rest in peace and that she enjoys the presence of Our Lady and all the saints. Theresa's obituary can be read at http://www.legacy.com/Dayton/Obituaries.asp?Page=LifeStory&PersonId=119765726