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FORMER SECRETARY SAYS ARCHBISHOP WAS 'VERY CLOSE' TO OHIO APPARITION

Spirit Daily

Father Francis Lammeier, former secretary to Archbishop Paul F. Leibold of Cincinnati, told Spirit Daily Wednesday that the archbishop was "very close" to apparitions reported by a nun named Mildred Mary Neuzil in Fostoria, Ohio. The events occurred from 1938 to the nun's death in January of 2000 and actually took place in several dioceses, making it unclear where Church jurisdiction will be. But it was Leibold whose archdiocese oversaw the central house of the order Sister Midred was in at the time and who served as her spiritual director for 32 years -- granting his imprimatur to her message when he was an auxiliary bishop (he became archbishop in 1969) and then having a medal struck and two plaques or "reliefs" made in commemoration of the apparitions.

According to Father Lammeier, now retired, the plaque or relief was four to five feet high and placed in a church at the chancery -- where as far as he knows it still resides. We're following up on that. "It was on the outdoor porch at St. Louis Church in Cincinatti, his home base," said Father Lammeier of the archbishop, described as a very holy man who died unexpectedly in 1972. "He certainly was in close communication with [Sister Mildred]. He published Sister Mildred's statements and had the medal struck and plaque made."

As far as official Church sanction Father Lammeier said it wasn't clear as archbishop what Leibold could have done  or whether the matter was in the hands of the Vatican but that his actions constituted a form of approval and he had no reservations about the authenticity of Sister Mildred's apparitions. He was familiar with them first as a priest, then an auxiliary bishop, and in his last years as archbishop -- dying with a letter from Sister Mildred in his hands. Sister Joseph Therese at the Our Lady of American Center in Fostoria says the archbishop was "about ready to do a great big statue of Our Lady of America, but then he passed away." Before her own death Sister Mildred claimed that Archbishop Leibold appeared to her in apparition, promising that he would help get the statue in the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington as the Blessed Mother requested in order to turn back America's moral slide. 

"I think he would have done as much as he could have done," comments Father Lammeier.

The alleged apparitions also included appearances of St. Joseph and angels, as well as locutions from Jesus, Who reportedly warned mankind that it was approaching a purification. The Blessed Mother asked America to spiritually lead the world away from the brink -- and said it was specially chosen for this. 

Sister Mildred quoted the Virgin as directing the request for the statue to all American bishops and the nun once commented that in this cause the laity would be crucial. The apparitions have been quietly known in certain circles for year but are now rising with sudden force as sisters associated with the nun are seeking to fulfill the request by Mary to be recognized as "Our Lady of America" and are organizing a campaign to seek support from bishops in every U.S. diocese. "Tell the bishops of the United States, my loyal sons, of my desires and how I wish them to be carried out," Mary had told Sister Mildred, who saw the Blessed Mother with a white veil reaching almost to her waist and a mantle and robe of pure white with no decoration. 

See previous articles:

MOVE AFOOT FOR RECOGNITION OF AMERICAN APPARITION THAT CALLS FOR U.S. TO LEAD WORLD SPIRITUALLY AT 'URGENT' HOUR

THE ASTONISHING MESSAGES FROM A U.S. APPARITION:' I COME TO YOU, O CHILDREN OF AMERICA, AS A LAST RESORT'