Angels & Dragons XIX: The Angel of Peace in America

In the fall of 1954, the Angel of Peace came to prepare Sr. Mary Ephrem (1916-2000) of the Sisters of the Precious Blood of Jesus for the coming of Our Lady of America. In 1960 and 1972 these apparitions received official imprimatur approval from Archbishop Paul F. Leibold (1914-1972) and in 2007 the president of the U.S. Bishops wrote a letter to all the bishops explaining the local bishop’s official canonical approval of the apparitions https://www.ewtn.com/library/BISHOPS/burkeolamer.htm

The principal apparitions happened in the chapel of the Precious Blood of the Sisters Convent in Kneipp Springs Sanitorium, near Rome City, Indiana, USA. The Angel of Peace apparition occurred when Sister Mary Ephrem 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 then said to me, “Receive the palm of victory.”

The meek and humble sister believed the apparition was not of divine origin because it sounded like, too much adulation plus this simple, self-effacing, lowly sister believed that others were much more worthy.

“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 she ignores the Angel of Peace and returns to prayer,

“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.”

Once Sister Mary Ephrem accepted the cross the Angel of Peace gave her a palm and a sword to defeat the dragon, the world, and the flesh. (Similarly, St. Joan of Arc heard a voice of St. Michael that led her to find a precious ancient sword which laid hidden for centuries near the altar of a church which she later used in battle.) Then Angel of Peace said to Sr. Mary Ephrem,

“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.'” Lastly, Sister Mary Ephrem writes, “Later it was made known to me that the Angel of Peace was St. Michael.”

Historically, God loves to send St. Michael on May 8^th as when he appeared on Monte Sant’ Angelo at the Gargano cave (St. Michael relic stone) in 492 A.D. and at Tlaxcala, Mexico (healing & exorcistic spring) in 1630 both of which are officially approved apparitions of St. Michael. Correspondingly, St. Michael appears in America on May 8, 1957 to Sister Mary Ephrem, “On May 8, I was visited by the Archangel Michael, who spoke in these forceful words,”

“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, O 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 beforehand 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.”

This is an official drawing/sketch for the medal by St. Ephrem and signed by the bishop.

The core message https://www.ourladyofamerica.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/OLOA_Messages_Booklett-V1.54.pdf of Our Lady of America is worship of Indwelling Holy Trinity (baptismal grace)… devotion to St. Joseph as the spiritual father and protector of all families on earth… an Immaculate Conception medal for purity cast to guard against evil with the promise that “St. Michael himself will be at their side to allay (dispel) their fears at the final hour,”… the U.S. Bishops will process & enthrone Her statue at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C. to protect our country… to deeply renew the youth of America in purity with miracles of grace so that in all the above mentioned messages, our country can be a leader, model, and torch bearer for the rest of the world.

Finally, St. Michael appears one last time on February 11, 1958 to Sister Mary Ephrem exhorting her and us to spread this very important universal message of Our Lady of America,

“St. Michael came to me one evening shortly after Our Lady’s visit, holding an immense flaming torch. He held it towards me saying: “My little sister, you must carry this torch through the world.” He came again the next night in the same manner. The next day I was interiorly enlightened during Mass. It was made known to me that those, particularly the youth, who are willing wholeheartedly to follow Our Lady in her great battle against evil would bear the special title of “Torchbearers of the Queen.” This torch, of course, is Divine Love, for it is Love alone that will conquer hate and all that hate brings with it.”