Page 26 - Michael 2024 March

“With those words the vision vanished, and I
started from my seat and felt that I had seen a vision villages, towns, and cities that I saw springing up. As
wherein had been shown to me the birth, progress my ears listened to the thundering of the cannon, the
and destiny of the United States. In union she will have
her strength, in disunion her destruction.” 9
Such, my friend, were the very words I heard from
Washington’s own lips. America will do well to profit
by them.
**************************
Were these visions of Our Lady? Was it her re-
vealing to George Washington her love and interces-
sion for America at different stages in the nation’s
development and history?
It is important to realize that from its very founda-
tion, Our Lady has had a great love for America and
its people and has been leading them. The first bish-
op of the original thirteen colonies and close friend
of General Washington, Bishop John Carroll, conse-
crated the United States of America to the Immacu-
late Conception in 1792. Recently, this consecration
was renewed by all the bishops of the United States
on May 1, 2020.
May we have at heart the role we each need to
play in asking for Our Lady’s intercession for Amer-
ica. Through our own personal consecration to her,
and in reparation for the sins of America, may she
lead us to holiness. The Book of Genesis 3:15, speaks
of Our Lady who will “crush the serpent’s head”. At
Fatima, Our Lady promised that “at the end My Im-
maculate Heart will triumph.” May we always live up
to her desires for us, as Patroness of our land. v
MOST HOLY TRINITY, FATHER, SON, and HOLY SPIRIT
conclusion? Is it God’s final word? Has it been de- In union with the Blessed Virgin Mary,
layed? The town of Nineveh was spared God’s wrath we adore Your majesty and acknowledge
when “they proclaimed a fast, and all of them, great and Your supreme eternal dominion and authority.
small, put on sackcloth” (Jonah 3:5) to indicate the
sincerity of their repentance. They also changed their Most Holy Trinity, we place the United States of America
way of living and “turned from their evil way,” Jonah into the hands of Mary Immaculate
3:10) because of God’s warning through Jonah. But that in order that she may present the country to You.
Through the intercession of Mary,
was not what happened when God did not spare the cit- have mercy on the Catholic Church
ies of Sodom and Gomorrah when He could not find in the United States of America.
in the cities at least ten good men (Genesis 18:16-33).
It’s noteworthy to remember that in the horrific years of Have mercy on our President
the Civil War, President Lincoln not only spent time in and on all the officers of our government.
fervent prayer, but also called the country to join him. In Protect family life in our nation.
1861, he proclaimed a “day of humiliation, prayer and Grant the precious gift of many vocations
fasting.” And he did so again in 1863, stating “it is the to the priesthood and religious life.
duty of nations as well as of men to own their depen- Have mercy on the sick, the poor, the tempted,
dence upon the overruling power of God; to confess and all who are in need.
their sins and transgressions in humble sorrow, yet
with assured hope that genuine repentance will lead to Mary Immaculate Virgin, Our Mother,
mercy and pardon.” In 1865, he was also assassinated.. Patroness of our land, we honor you and
—Ann and Steve Ziniti ask your maternal protection and care for us.
Obtain for us the graces we need
to live and die according to
9 Washington’s clarion conclusion was that we have the Will of your Divine Son. Amen
strength in union, and destruction in disunion.
—Ann and Steve Ziniti Act of Consecration for the United States, www.nationalshrine.org

26 MICHAEL March/April 2024 www.michaeljournal.org