Today is the Solemnity of St Joseph, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary. In this feast the Church draws special attention to the role that St. Joseph played in salvation history as the spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary, foster father of Jesus and protector of the Holy Family.
St. Joseph plays a central role in the devotion to Our Lady of America too. You can read the details by downloading the messages and looking at pages 8 and 17. He holds up the Holy Family as example worthy of imitation.
Recently, I have learned that several bishops are working to fulfill Our Lady's request as contained in her messages. This is the first time since 2003 when I first learned of this devotion that there is a coordinated effort of bishops to study, discern and hopefully fulfill her requests. Wow! That is great news indeed!
However, while the bishops do their work and study, there are a number of things that we the lay faithful can do to aid their efforts.
Prayer is the foundation to fulfilling her requests. Our Lady of America gave us two very beautiful prayers that received the Imprimatur of Archbishop Paul F. Leibold. Due to the generosity of benefactors these prayer cards are available free of charge. Please use these cards to make Our Lady of America known and encourage all to recite these prayers.
Additionally, pray for those bishops who are responding to her request. Perhaps soon Our Lady of America will be processed by the bishops into the Basilica Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington D.C. And with this the promised graces will flow upon our nation and the world.
Please order your prayer cards and do your part to spread this devotion.
And of the utmost important is prayer for those bishops who are responding to her call. Pray for them and their work. And always pray for your own bishop as well.
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"By thy Holy and Immaculate Conception, O Mary, deliver us from evil"
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