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

The Angel Of Peace

The next incident took place in the fall of the year 1954, when I was stationed at a different house of the Congregation. I do not remember the exact date, as I did not intend ever saying anything about it. I was sitting in the room next to the kitchen with the intention of saying some of my prayers. Almost at the very moment I began to pray, I saw an Angel. I knew this immediately, although the apparition did not reveal itself as such until later. I saw the Angel standing before me towards the left. He was dressed in a white robe or garment, which was perfectly plain and perfectly white. The whiteness of his robe stood out against the darkness about him. It was like a light in the midst of darkness. He was holding a green palm and a drawn sword in his left hand, the tips of both palm and sword resting against his left shoulder. I saw all this at a glance. The Angel said to me, "Receive the palm of victory.” I became suspicious. I could not think of any victory of mine that deserved such a reward. Besides, it sounded a bit like flattery to me. I have always been wary of words of praise; they put me on my guard. Why was the palm not given to someone else more deserving of it than I? So I shook my head and resolutely went back to my prayers. But the Angel would not go. He spoke again, "You do not believe me. Will you accept the cross?" For me this struck more nearly home. I said, "Yes, I will accept the cross." To this he replied, "Then you will accept the palm and the sword. With the sword the saints conquered themselves, the world, and the devil. I am the Angel of Peace. I come to those whose hearts are attuned to the Voice of God. To such as these I remain a perpetual light through blinding darkness. I was sent by Him Who said, 'I am the Light of the world.' "

Later it was made known to me that the Angel of Peace was St. Michael.
Our Lady of America diary page 7

Photo courtesy of Harrison Richardswise

Our Lady's Beloved Son

The Catholic Telegraph,reports on the instalation of Archbishop Paul Leibold.

1969: “Installation ceremonies Oct. 2 in St. Peter in Chains Cathedral will make Dayton-born Archbishop Paul F. Leibold the seventh Ordinary of the Cincinnati archdiocese. Ordained in 1940, he was consecrated Auxiliary Bishop of Cincinnati June 17, 1958, and installed as Bishop of Evansville, Ind, June 15, 1966. Announcement of his appointment to the Cincinnati see was made July 23. Pope Paul VI, who gave him his appointment, has described the consecration of a bishop as ‘a source of grace, a gift of God, a spiritual treasure, a higher sanctification. It is not just a transmission of liturgical, teaching and juridical power, but a perfection conferred upon the one consecrated, who before sanctifying others is himself sanctified.’ ” (See related story, The Catholic Telegraph, October 2, 1969)

Archbishop Paul Leibold was Sister Mary Ephrem's spiritual director until his untimely death in 1972. Sister Mary Ephrem prophesied that Monsignor Leibold would be elevated to Archbishop. This of course came to pass.

He was able to fulfill many of Our Lady's requests. One of them was to have a medal cast as requested by Our Lady.

Those who wear the medal with great faith and fervent devotion to Our Lady will receive the grace of intense purity of heart and the particular love of the Holy Virgin and her Divine Son. Sinners will receive the grace of repentance and the spiritual strength to live as true children of Mary. This blessed medal will be as a sheild to protect them against the evil spirits, and St. Michael himself will be at their side to allay their fears at the final hour.
*as reported by Sister Mary Ephrem, page 26 Our Lady of America