The Practice of the Devotion
The
elements of the devotion to Our Lady of America are the image, the statue,
the medal, the prayers, purity, the Divine Indwelling and St. Joseph. We
practice the devotion by reforming our lives; by displaying, honoring and
venerating the image or statue; by wearing the medal with great devotion;
by imitating the Holy Family and by praying the prayers and the Rosary,
especially as a family; by studying and living the Divine Indwelling; by
leading chaste lives; and by honoring St. Joseph, especially on First
Wednesdays. If we practice the devotion to Our Lady of America, she
promises us peace and protection.
Our Lady asks for
reformation of our lives and warns us, “Unless my children reform their
lives, they will suffer great persecution. If man himself will not take
upon himself the penance necessary to atone for his sins and those of
others, God in His justice will have to send upon him the punishment
necessary to atone for his transgressions. . . . What I ask, have asked,
and will continue to ask is reformation of life. There must be
sanctification from within. I will work my miracles of grace only in those
who ask for them and empty their souls of the love and attachment to sin
and all that is displeasing to my Son. Souls who cling to sin cannot have
their hands free to receive the treasures of grace that I hold out to
them.” (Diary
11-12).
Our Lady’s call to
reformation echoes the Gospel call to conversion, “The time is fulfilled,
and the Kingdom of God is at hand; repent, and believe in the Gospel.”
(Mk. 1.5). This reformation of our lives begins by faith in the Gospel and
by Baptism by which we renounce evil and gain the salvation of eternal
life through the forgiveness of sins. The call to conversion must also be
answered interiorly by our hearts throughout our lives. (Catechism
of the Catholic Church,
[hereafter
CCC]
1427-1428).
The penance that Our
Lady asks us to take upon ourselves is “sanctification from within”, an
interior penance meaning a turning from within in a conversion of the
heart by repentance whereby our whole life is reoriented towards God and
away from evil with an end of sin, a repugnance toward the sins that we
have committed and a hope in God’s mercy and the trust of His grace. (CCC
1430-1431). This
interior penance can be expressed in many ways, especially by prayer,
fasting, almsgiving and the works of mercy. (CCC
1434).
Our Lady reminds us
that “either you will do as I desire and reform your lives, or God Himself
will need to cleanse you in the fires of untold punishment. You must be
prepared to receive His great gift of peace. If you will not prepare
yourselves, God will Himself be forced to do so in His justice and mercy.”
(Diary
14).
One of the ways to
prepare ourselves is to pray the Rosary, especially in families. Regarding
families, Our Lady said that Jesus wished parents to imitate Mary and
Joseph in their holy life at Nazareth through the practice of the simple
virtues of family life with Jesus at its center. As in their sinless home,
they with sin should, as far as possible, be unheard of our homes. She
said that the Divine Trinity will dwell in our midst only if we are
faithful in practicing the virtues of their life at Nazareth. Then God
will walk among us and we will have peace. (Diary
4-5).
Our Lady also gave
special messages for priests and for youth. She called priests to be good
examples to the faithful by imitating Jesus, and by being modest in dress
and speech. She said:
It is through you that
the grace of the Sacraments is given to souls. Strive then to make
yourselves more worthy receptacles to receive these graces and transmit
them in turn to the souls under your care. Dear sons, I ask you to
practice self-denial and penance in a special manner, because it is you
who must lead my children in the way of peace. Yet this peace will come
only by way of the sword, the flaming sword of love. If, therefore, you
love my Son and wish to honor me, heed my admonition and be the first to
give the example of a life of penance and self-denial. Thus, by
sanctification from within you, you will become a bright and burning light
to the faithful, who look to you for help and guidance. (Diary
13).
Our Lady desires that
the youth of the United States lead a movement of renewal on the face of
the earth. Our Lady also calls youths of other nations to help in the
accomplishment of this great renewal.
She wishes these youth
to be prepared by instilling in them the knowledge and serious study of
the Divine Indwelling, living it in such a way that the Divine Presence
becomes an intimate and necessary part of their life. From this will flow
a conflagration of love that will envelop the world in the flames of
Divine Charity. This is what Our Lady is working for, because this is the
great desire of her Divine Son, and it is to the youth of America that she
is holding out this challenge. (Diary16).
The front
side of the medal shows the image of Our Lady of America surrounded by the
words, “By thy holy and Immaculate Conception, O Mary, deliver us from
evil.”
The
reverse side of the medal shows the Coat of Arms of the Christian family
with the Triangle and the Eye on the shield of the Precious Blood, through
which sanctifying grace was made possible to fallen mankind.
The
sanctification of the family through imitation of the Holy Family is
represented by the Cross and the two lilies, on each of which is depicted
a burning heart. The flaming sword is a symbol of Divine Love that is
necessary for union with God, while the Rosary indicates our means of
drawing close to the Holy Family through meditation on its mysteries.
The
scroll above bears the inscription, “Gloria Patri et Filio et Spiritu
Sancto”, Latin for Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy
Spirit. Below that is the Latin, “Jesu, Maria, Joseph” for Jesus, Mary and
Joseph.
Sister Mildred said,
“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 love as true children of Mary.
As in life, so in death, this blessed medal will be as a shield to protect
them against the evil spirits, and St. Michael himself will be at their
side to allay their fears at the final hour.” (Diary
17).