Sister Mary Ephrem in a letter to Rev. Leibold, November 28,1956: “It seems that the dear Mother of God had quite a big task on Her mind. She has been revealing it to me bit by bit. As it is, the very scope of it and its tremendous importance tends to frighten me in such a way that I’ve been tempted more than once to tear everything up, destroy every bit of writing. I’ve tried to convince myself that the whole thing is an illusion, the effects of my imagination and emotions. Yet Father, it is very strange. Whenever I’m about to tear up, destroy what has been written, something deep inside of me tells me I may not, I must not. Something or maybe it is Someone, prevents it every time. Because of all this I have suffered intensely and yet, never have I had such peace, never have I felt Our Lady so close to me and never have I loved her so much as I do now.”
The Mission of Our Lady of America, The Immaculate Virgin,
can be seen as a 3-fold Heavenly Mission:
- Our Lady of America shall bring peace and purity to the world through the Divine Mandate given to the United States of America, through Her Bishops. Our Lady is Calling for the Sanctification of souls, of families, of the United States of America, and all nations. With this, all will be disposed for the Divine Indwelling.
- Our Lady of the Divine Indwelling is Preparing Her children for the Divine Indwelling, the Very Life She Herself Lived from the moment of Her Immaculate Conception.
- The Twelve Ways Our Lady Appeared to Sister Mary Ephrem point to the New Jerusalem, as do the twelve tribes of Israel, the twelve Apostles of Our Lord Jesus Christ, and the twelve Stars about Our Lady’s Crown.
On January 25, 1963 Archbishop Leibold gave his Imprimatur on the Prayer to the Indwelling Most Holy Trinity as well as the Prayer to Our Lady of America, Patroness of our Land. Daniel Palarczyk, S.T.D. gave his Nihil Obstat, to both Prayers.
Our Lady of America:
Our Lady of America to Sister Mary Ephrem, Our Lady’s first Words, September 26, 1956, Feast of the American Martyrs: “I am Our Lady of America. I desire that My children honor Me especially, by the purity of their lives.”
Same day; “I Desire, through My children of America, to further the cause of faith and purity among peoples and Nations. Let them come to Me with confidence and simplicity, and I, their Mother, will Teach them to become pure Like to My Heart that their own hearts may be more pleasing to the Heart of My Son.”
Same day: “My child, I entrust you with the message that you must make known to My children in America. I wish it to be the country dedicated to My Purity. The Wonders I will Work will be the wonders of the soul. They must have faith and believe firmly in My Love for them. I Desire that they be the children of My Pure Heart. I Desire, through My children of America, to further the cause of faith and purity among peoples and Nations. Let them come to Me with confidence and simplicity, and I, their Mother, will Teach them to become pure Like to My Heart that their own hearts may be more pleasing to the Heart of My Son.”
Our Lady of America to Sister Mary Ephrem, in letter to +Archbishop Leibold, November 15, 1956: “Behold, oh 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, oh children of America, 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. These are My Words, oh My daughter. Make them known to My children. I Desire to make the whole of America My Shrine by making every heart accessible to the Love of My Son.”
+Archbishop Leibold to Sister Mary Ephrem, December 6, 1956: “Doing the Will of God is the key to sanctity “Be ye perfect, as Your Heavenly Father is Perfect” – a command of Christ to be perfect. An object is perfect in so far as it measures up to the ideal of its maker and performs the job for which it was made. We are made to the image and likeness of God, for God’s glory and our eternal sanctification. “This is the Will of God, your sanctification” – it is God’s Will that we be saints; we become saints by doing the Will of God. Doing God’s Will is loving Him – for love seeks union with its object; our union with God cannot be in body nor emotion (He is pure Spirit), it is in that in which we are His image, mind and heart, intellect and will. Therefore, our objective is TO LOVE GOD, which is accomplished by DOING HIS WILL – to reach this objective we must: (1) Seek to KNOW God’s Will (2) accept God’s Will (3) conform to God’s Will – love Him”
Our Lady of America on True Love to Sister Mary Ephrem, February 3, 1957: “My Son, Jesus, asks of souls love, that True Love willing to sacrifice itself for the One loved. Man fears to sacrifice himself because he is selfish. If souls would place themselves into My Keeping, I would Teach them the Way of True Love. If men Truly loved My Son, they would not quarrel with each other and they would have Peace in their own hearts. Peace is from within, not from without. If mankind were at Peace with itself, there would be Peace in the world. Man will only have Peace if he has in his heart that True Love of neighbor that Springs from a whole-hearted love for My Son.”
Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary, Our Lady of America Appeared to Sister Mary Ephrem October 7, 1957: “Making the rosary a family prayer is very pleasing to Me.”
Our Lady of America March 30, 1958; “My Holy Spouse has an important part to play in bringing peace to the world.” St. Joseph spoke and Revealed His Heart the same day.
February 22, 1972: “When a picture or statue of Myself as Our Lady of America is placed in the home and honored there, then will My Son Bless His people with Peace. Believe in Me, dear child, believe in Me, My Love will never fail you.”
Our Lady to Sister Mary Ephrem, Nov. 22, 1980 – “Dear children, unless the United States accepts and carries out faithfully the mandate given to it by Heaven to lead the world to Peace, there will come upon it and all nations a great havoc of war and incredible suffering. If, however, the United States is faithful to this mandate from Heaven and yet fails in the pursuit of Peace because the rest of the world will not accept or cooperate, then the United States will not be burdened with the punishment about to fall.”
Our Lady of the Holy Family Appeared with the Child Jesus and St. Joseph, March 30, 1958: “Jesus had the appearance of a boy of about fifteen or sixteen years old. He spoke to me first. It was about the sanctification of the family. Our Lady and St. Joseph also spoke to me concerning the same subject and also about the Divine Indwelling.”
March 30, 1958, St. Joseph: “In honoring in a special way my fatherhood, you also honor Jesus and Mary. The Divine Trinity has placed into our keeping the peace of the world.”
(…) “The imitation of the Holy Family, my child, of the virtues we practiced in our little home at Nazareth is the way for all souls to that peace which comes from God alone and which none other can give.”
Sister Mary Ephrem to +Archbishop Leibold, June 22, 1959: “I will try, in my poor way, to explain as briefly as possible, the union that exists between the Apparitions and the Ultimate Goal towards which they all converge, namely, the sanctification of the family through imitation of the Holy Family’s constant awareness and adoration of the Divine Indwelling Presence.”
Our Lady of America to Sister Mary Ephrem, February 22, 1972: “When a picture or statue of Myself as Our Lady of America is placed in the home and honored there, then will My Son Bless His people with Peace. Believe in Me, dear child, believe in Me, My Love will never fail you.”
Sister Mary Ephrem to +Archbishop Leibold: “As the family is formed by individuals, the result of each member striving to live in the Divine Presence, in this way the family itself will be sanctified. The Father sent His Son to be a member of a family as an example to all families. The life of Jesus, Mary and Joseph was not an easy one. There were no miracles to make their living more bearable. They were no different than the families around them except in the depth of their love for the Divine Presence within them. It is holy families that will save the Nation, save the world and bring about the peace so long desired. It is indeed late – but there is still time to save our world. Believe that God loves you, believe with all your heart and see what He will do for you – and what you will be able to do for Him and those about you. This is a Divine partnership and nothing save our lack of faith can ever break it. Believe in Him Who lives in you and nothing will be impossible of attainment. What you cannot do He will do, only believe.”
Our Lady to Sister Mary Ephrem, November 22, 1980: “Dear children, unless the United States accepts and carries out faithfully the mandate given to it by Heaven to lead the world to Peace, there will come upon it and all nations a great havoc of war and incredible suffering. If, however, the United States is faithful to this mandate from Heaven and yet fails in the pursuit of Peace because the rest of the world will not accept or cooperate, then the United States will not be burdened with the punishment about to fall.”
St. Gabriel to Sister Mary Ephrem, November 20, 1955: “I am the Angel Gabriel. I have come to tell you that Our Lord is Pleased with your effort to do good. He asks that you go to His Mother and learn great purity of heart.”
St. Michael to Sister Mary Ephrem, May 8th, 1957: “Write! I am Michael, Angel Captain of the Lord God of Hosts. I come to Announce the Coming of the Kingdom, the Kingdom of Peace. The time is at hand. Repent, bestir yourselves, oh sons of men, repent and make ready your hearts that the King may establish His Kingdom within you. Do not delay or the time of Grace will pass and with it the peace you seek. Behold, the Queen of Angels and of men comes before hand to make all things ready for her King-Son. My little sister, the Message is a clear one, there is no doubt. Make it known, do not hesitate. I, Michael, have spoken.”
Our Lady of the Divine Indwelling:
Our Lord Jesus to Sister Mary Ephrem: “I ask of him (then Rev. Leibold) what I continue to ask of you, oh bride of My Heart – prayer and penance. As a priest after My Own Heart, I will be with him in all his trials and sorrows. Tell him not to become discouraged at the crosses awaiting him for I, the Great High-Priest go before him carrying the heaviest part of his cross. I seek always the humble and lowly of heart and since I have found two such, so I have entrusted to them a great Mission, but become not vain, for I have chosen him and you only because of your unworthiness and lack of virtue. Let this thought be with you always, that you may remember that it is I working through you, Who sanctify you for His Glory and the salvation of souls. You are poor instruments in My Hands, but through you a Great Work will be accomplished. I AM the Great Sculptor of souls. With hammer and chisel I form them that they may glorify My Father by their beauty and perfection. Be pliant in My Hands, oh My two lowly ones, My priest and My little white dove, and then will you be formed into My likeness and through you, I will be formed in souls.” (Letter from Sr. Mary Ephrem to her confessor Archbishop +Paul Leibold 2/20/54).
Sister Mary Ephrem, December 2, 1957: “The Appearance of Our Lady of the Divine Indwelling is of course a Call to every soul to become pure, living temples of God. Her life was very simple like ours yet in what depths of Holiness She lived. Our Mother spent Her life in Him, the Divine Presence Within Her. It is Her desire that we imitate Her above all in this. For He alone is our sanctification.”
Sister Mary Ephrem, November 22-23, 1957: “Our Lady Appeared, standing on a globe, Her right foot resting on a crescent moon, the left on the snout of a small fire breathing dragon. She was Dressed all in White and Her hair could be seen through Her transparent Veil which was long enough to half envelope the globe. The Veil was held about Her Head by a Wreath of White Roses, and a White Rose rested on each foot. On Her Breast, the Triangle and the Eye, the symbol of the Divine Indwelling, could be visibly seen. A strong Beam of Light shown from the Divine Presence within Our Lady onto the globe at Her feet. Then halfway around the figure of Our Lady above Her head Appeared a Scroll on which were written in letters of Gold the Words: “All the Glory of the King’s daughter is Within” (Psalm 44) Though it did not appear that Her Lips moved, I heard these words quite plainly:
“I am Our Lady of the Divine Indwelling, Handmaid of Him Who Dwells Within.”
Sister Mary Ephrem, August 5, 1957: “Our Lady spoke to me about the Divine Indwelling. It was Her Life and She Lived it Perfectly always conscious of His Presence, never forgetting that all Her Greatness came from within, from Him Who Dwelt there, Working, Loving, and doing Good through Her. This is what Our Lady means when She Speaks of reformation, renewal. It is this about which She is so Concerned, namely Sanctification from within… She seemed anxious to impress me with some idea of the Greatness of this Gift of God to us, namely, His Divine Presence within our souls through Sanctifying Grace.”
Sister Mary Ephrem to +Archbishop Leibold, June 22, 1959: “I will try, in my poor way, to explain as briefly as possible, the union that exists between the Apparitions and the Ultimate Goal towards which they all converge, namely, the sanctification of the family through imitation of the Holy Family’s constant awareness and adoration of the Divine Indwelling Presence.”
March 30, 1958: Our Lady of the Holy Family Appeared with the Child Jesus and St. Joseph: “Jesus had the appearance of a boy of about fifteen or sixteen years old. He spoke to me first. It was about the sanctification of the family. Our Lady and St. Joseph also spoke to me concerning the same subject and also about the Divine Indwelling.”
Sister Mary Ephrem to +Archbishop Leibold: “The need for meditation, contemplation, interior prayer is so great that it cannot be stressed enough. We are a surface-minded people for the most part, so it is imperative at last, in this late hour, to seriously look into ourselves and recognize the Glory living within, drawing us to Itself, that Divine Presence, so mysterious, yet so infinitely real, the only Reality into Which and out of Which all others flow and have their birth. We partake of the Divine Life and this is our sanctity. The Holy Spirit leads each person according to their needs and lights at the moment, but all spirituality has its basis in the Divine Trinity living within us. Because my body is the temple of God it deserves my profound respect and from this stems my attitude towards others. Body and spirit are so close that what you do to one you do to the other. The spirit must be the stronger as this is where control and discipline have their roots. Interior prayer, praying, is very simple. We speak to and with God, we listen to whatever He may have to say to us and at other times we just sit, etc., quietly in His Presence and enjoy His Company. To co operate with Him in His Work in and through us we should get into the habit of consecrating each day to His Honor and Glory. We must give Him a free hand so that every thought is filled with His Wisdom, every word speaks it and every action is sanctified by it.”
+Archbishop Leibold to Sister Mary Ephrem, July 22, 1953: “…Your attraction to the “Divine In Dwelling” is most attractive to me also. I have used it often in exhortations; as the basis of an appeal for purity as with St. Paul we consider the body as the vessel of the Holy Spirit. It impels the very angels to kneel before the man in the state of sanctifying grace. A special devotion to this mystery since childhood (of Sister Mary Ephrem) and the definite determination for seven years not to actually do something about it — surely all adds up to something more than a passing fancy or a temporary emotional attraction. – I even checked all the orders of sisters I could to see if there wasn’t surely one of them dedicated to this mystery; and could find none.”
Sister Mary Ephrem to +Archbishop Leibold, November 25, 1954: “We are each one, His paradise, Father, and He takes so much delight in dwelling in us. How sad, Father, that so few souls know this. And of those who know, what a small number make use of it. What a mission is ours Father – to make souls conscious of God dwelling in them and live a life of continual adoration. There is so much to be done, and time is so short. Yet, what a consolation to know that even in Eternity we can continue this glorious work of love. God bless you, Father. Pray always for a little, white dove.”
New Jerusalem:
“A great Sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and on her head a Crown of twelve stars;” Rev 12:1
“And it had a Wall Great and High, having Twelve Gates, and in the Gates Twelve Angels, and Names written thereon, which are the Names of the Twelve Tribes of the children of Israel. And the Wall of the City had Twelve Foundations, and in them, the Twelve Names of the Twelve Apostles of the Lamb.” Rev 21:12,15
CCC 191: In accordance with an ancient tradition, already attested to by St. Ambrose, it is also customary to reckon the articles of the Creed as twelve, thus symbolizing the fullness of the Apostolic Faith by the number of the Apostles.
CCC 726: At the end of this Mission of the Spirit, Mary became the Woman, the New Eve (“mother of the living”), the mother of the “whole Christ.” As such, she was present with the Twelve, who “with one accord devoted themselves to prayer,”at the dawn of the “end time” which the Spirit was to inaugurate on the morning of Pentecost with the manifestation of the Church.”
In the lowlands of the now known Kneipp Springs Sanitarium, were ‘twelve magnetic springs … where the institution [Sisters of Precious Blood convent in Rome City, Indiana] claimed ‘a great many invalids were annually cured of chronic ailments by drinking waters from these springs.’ These twelve magnetic springs and the cures they procured astoundingly point to the 12 Ways Our Lady Appeared to Sister Mary Ephrem beginning at this site. Our Lady Chose this site to make use of the natural for the Abundant Supernatural She Intends for the Good of Her children.
These twelve Apparitions of our Lady, bring to mind the powerful number twelve in Sacred Scripture. Not only does 12 represent the Twelve Tribes of Israel, the Twelve Apostles, the Twelve Gates of the New Jerusalem; the twelve Apparitions of Our Lady represent the culmination of all Our Lady’s Apparitions throughout the centuries. Now She says that, as Our Lady of America, this is her last resort for mankind, Her last hope for the world to embrace Peace and not be subject to Chastisements. (https://www.bookofheaven.net/our-lady-of-america-booklet/)
Humanity stands before the Throne of God in the Sanctified number of twelve—were not the carriers of the Old Covenant the twelve tribes of Israel, and the carriers of the New Covenant, the twelve Apostles round the Lord, upon whom He built His Church? As St. John the Apostle described it, this humanity will once enter into the Heavenly Jerusalem, the Eternal and Blessed City of Peace and Perfection, through Twelve Gates; the City will come down through the clouds like a spouse after the Last Judgment. (Apos. 21, 3) Everything in God and through God is full of Meaning and Wisdom, Measure and Order. Thus, a profound Meaning and a great Wisdom, a Divine Measure and a Perfected Order lie in the Twelve Gates of the New Jerusalem.(https://www.bookofheaven.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/12-Gates-of-the-New-Jerusalem_color-2.pdf)
“By Thy Holy and Immaculate Conception O Mary, deliver us from evil.”
Prayer taught by Our Lady of America to Sister Mary Ephrem on November 15, 1956.