When a Saint Addressed the US Bishops

Posted on by charliej373

(My friend, Dan Lynch, who has worked tirelessly promoting devotion to Jesus King of All Nations, Our Lady of Guadalupe, and Our Lady of America, and St. John Paul, sent this piece to me for reprint. Lynch is in the middle of his Advent Appeal. He spends the year getting images of Our Lord and Our Lady out to individual Parishes throughout the country, making presentations on the rich treasures of faith we hold in these earthen vessels. He is the most steadfast champion of getting the statue of Our Lady of America enshrined in the National Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, a project which I passionately believe in.-CJ)


By Dan Lynch
November 29, 2018

Let us pray, as did Servant of God Sister Thea,
“Cardinals, archbishops, bishops, my brothers, please help me to get home!”

Servant of God, Sister Thea Bowman, F.S.P.A. (Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration), addressed the US Bishops at their annual meeting held in 1989.

Sister Thea, the granddaughter of a slave, was born in 1937 and decided to become a Catholic at the age of nine. A few years later, she asked to join the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration and became the first African-American member of the Order.

She took the name “Sister Mary Thea” in honor of the Blessed Mother and her father, Theon. Her name in religious life, Thea, literally means “God”. She became a teacher and taught at all grade levels, eventually earning her doctorate and becoming a college professor of English and linguistics.

Sister Thea became a highly acclaimed evangelizer, teacher, writer, and singer sharing the joy of the Gospel and her rich Black cultural heritage throughout the United States. In 1984, she was diagnosed with breast cancer and lost her hair as shown in the painting below due to her chemotherapy treatments. She said, “I will live until I die.”

She also said, “My goal is to share good news. I want people to know that happiness is possible.” I witnessed her sharing her good news during one of her last public singing performances at St. Michael’s College in Colchester, Vermont. Sister was in the audience a few rows ahead of me sitting in her wheelchair in the aisle when she was spontaneously called to come up front and join the Black gospel choir to sing. She sang with all her heart, “I sing because I’m happy, I sing because I’m free, For His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.”

In 1989 Sister Thea made one of her last public appearances when she addressed from her wheelchair the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. She began by singing the opening line of a Black Spiritual, “Sometimes I feel like a motherless child.” Perhaps she was implying that Holy Mother Church was not nurturing her or the Black people.

She asked the bishops, “Will you help me Church?” Then she continued singing, “I’m a long way from home.” Then she said, “Cardinals, archbishops, bishops, my brothers, please help me to get home!”

Contemporary Catholics can ask Sister Thea’s question of our own bishops, “Will you help me Church?” We can also plead with them as she did, “Please help me to get home!” Many Catholics feel that our bishops have left us with little hope after their 2018 annual meeting where they apparently did very little to resolve the clerical sexual abuse crisis and the crises of clerical enablers of sexual abusers and clerical enablers of sexually active homosexual priests.

Sister Thea died at the age of 52 on March 30, 1990. She said that she wanted her tombstone inscribed, “She tried”. Let us also try to encourage our bishops to respond to the requests of Our Lady of America for purity in our Church and to solemnly process and permanently display her statue in the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception as her promised safeguard for our country.

We need to pray that our bishops receive the grace to do this. Please pray the novena to her and sign our petition for them to do so here.  If any bishops initiate a movement for the solemn procession and display, we will submit these petitions to them to support their cause.

In the meantime, our apostolate sponsors Visitations of the image of Our Lady of America. Perhaps you could host one. For more information, click here.

In April of 1957, Our Lady of America said, “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.”

The statue of the Queen of Our Country must be displayed in our National Shrine as a safeguard for our country to avoid her prophesied punishment.

Jesus said, “My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and act on it.” (Luke 8:21). Many of our bishops and the administration of our National Shrine have heard the words of God spoken through His mother for her requests of purity and the display of her statue, but they have not acted on them.

They need the grace to believe Our Lady’s requests and to act on them. We need to pray that they receive this grace.

We also need to pray for our priests. Our Lady of America asked our priests, “to practice self-denial and penance in a special manner, because it is you who must lead my children in the way of peace. . . . 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.” May they help us get home!

We recommend that everyone do at least one of these four things:

  1. Pray the Novena to Our Lady of America for True Change and Hope for America
  2. Sign the Petition for the Solemn Procession and Placement of the Statue of Our Lady of America in our National Shrine
  3. Host a Visitation with an image of Our Lady of America and pray A Holy Hour of Prayer for Purity, Peace and Protection.
  4. Venerate her image in your home

Our Lady of America promised that the placement of her image in the home would be a safeguard for the family. Click here for more information about the image and statue.

Here is the YouTube link for Sister Thea’s address to the US Bishops, begin at 7:17: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2S0tD6qFIA

Here is the website for Sister Thea’s cause for canonization: http://sistertheabowman.com/

Here is a prayer for your petition through Sister Thea’s intercession: http://sistertheabowman.com/prayer/

Dan Lynch Apostolates promoting devotion to
Our Lady of Guadalupe, Jesus King of All Nations,
Our Lady of America and Saint John Paul II144 Sheldon Road, St. Albans, VT 05478
Phone: 802-524-5350
Visit our website at www.JKMI.com
E-Mail Us at JKMI@JKMI.com
The Dan Lynch Apostolates’ Facebook Page
We’re now on Twitter! Visit Us!


Dan Lynch is the Director of Dan Lynch Apostolates promoting devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe, Jesus King of All Nations, Our Lady of America and St. John Paul II. He is an author, public speaker and a former judge and lawyer in Vermont. He has appeared many times on radio and television and has spoken at conferences throughout the world. You may learn more about Dan here.

60 thoughts on “When a Saint Addressed the US Bishops”

  1. Thank you, Dan, for all your good works for God’s glory. Ever joining with the many in praying for that great day when Our Lady of America is venerated in the procession she has requested and, at long last, is placed in our National Shrine.

    Liked by 6 people

    2. Dear TNRS-ASOH family, I am passing along an urgent prayer request which I will also post at the “Prayer Requests” page; but I’m posting it here, too, so that the maximum number of people will see it. Please pray for “Beth,” who is scheduled for an abortion in a few days. “Beth” is a friend of the sister-in-law of a friend of mine.

      Liked by 9 people

      3. Praying, Mick, that “Beth” has a change of heart and is touched to welcome the new life growing within her womb. “Remember most gracious Virgin Mary that never was it known…”

        Liked by 6 people

        1. Beckita, thank you for your prayers for “Beth,” and for the reminder of the emergency Memorare novena that Mother Theresa used to pray. If I can find out which day the abortion is scheduled, I will pray that novena on that day.

          Liked by 3 people

      4. Lord, hear our prayers for Beth, that she make the right and the only decision regarding the life she is carrying. Let her be assured that she will receive strength and support. Lord, hear our prAyers.

        Liked by 6 people

  3. With a change of article, some may miss ……. So just to not let it slip under the radar….. Please read mark Malletts latest….. And pray and help in any way possible. Blessed Christmas to all.

    Liked by 6 people

      1. Thank you Mick.I an so grateful for all he has done for me and many,many others. Such a voice crying out…keeping us in the Truth.God bless and his family.

        Liked by 5 people

    3. Thanks for mentioning the Mallet family, Anne! I’m so thankful for Mark’s writings, which helped me a few years ago through a time of struggle and confusion in my heart between Catholicism and my Evangelical roots! God used him to help me understand more about the troubled times we are living in…and then I realized that the Bark of Peter is the only place of safety in this Storm!
      May God bless and keep them, cause His face to shine upon them, and give them peace.
      Here’s a link to a post that clarifies the one you mentioned: https://www.markmallett.com/blog/category/daily-journal/

      Liked by 3 people

  4. Mick – I pray our Blessed Mother touches Beth’s heart and helps her choose the life of her baby. I have said PMT for her and her baby.

    Liked by 4 people

  6. I have not been well for sometime. Had to really live a second at a time…… But…. I realize I have.needed the quiet, alone time to listen. I was thinking how recently at a school I ended up being available for the chaplain to pour her heart out over her own teens. A few days earlier in a primary music room…. Late in the year, the teacher said do what ever I like. 15 minutes before the end I said something about nanas…. Well so many wanted to talk…. I folded the lesson… Bell rang…. Some left, many gathered around and I listened as the opened up their little hearts
    . A staff member at one school was an ex high school student of mine. She I a teacher part time and part time psychologist! She often opens up to me.
    The principal has admitted its lonely at the top!!!!!
    Today, a memory came back. I filled in at a school for a month and met a staff member a few weeks later at a cinema. He said he was concerned about who cares for the carers. Shared a few ideas…. This was years ago. yEARS.ago. ThenI read about the 177 project by Beckita!
    Hmmm…. All my thoughts came together!. I am sure out can see where this going!!!interesting.
    HE is always there…. Available.

    Liked by 6 people

  7. Forgot to add…… Mark Mallett of leading others to Him! Now Mark needs quite, personal time….. So the Carer can care for the carer!

    Liked by 5 people

  8. WE desperately need some Saints to do more than address The Bishops but to Kick A** and Take Names …. Warrior Saints like St George, Louis, Ignatius and Joan! I suspect that, sadly, the need for Church Military Orders has come … again.
    Anyway! At least one Good News Story today 😉

    U.S. Makes Great Strides to Help Iraqi Christians, More Remains to Be Done
    https://freebeacon.com/national-security/u-s-taken-great-strides-help-iraqi-christians-much-remains-done/

    Suicide of the Old-n-Yong has become a serious issue in the USA but a kids funeral is not the place to speak of it! …. I also hope this Christmas not to hear of some priest telling Lil’ Ones that there is no Santa Claus!

    Catholic priest at teenager’s funeral condemns suicide
    https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-46578619

    Ukraine splits from Russian Orthodox church
    https://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2018/12/15/Ukraine-splits-from-Russian-Orthodox-church/2631544889703/?sl=13

    I’m sorry Gang … But!! … when, These-Days, I hear the Pope or Vatican/Diocesan BigShots mention the words: Migrants (AKA- Illegal Alien Invaders), Social Injustice and Climate Change my brain flashes the words: COVER-UP & DISTRACTION!
    I’ll bet 20 Yankee Dollars that before Christmas Season 2018 is over seriously bad news on The Church Scandal Front will be forthcoming ;-( Friday Afternoons and Holiday Periods are the best times to dump Bad News as the common citizenry and Pew Peons have more pleasant things on their minds. The Usual Suspects in OUR Church are using the exact same Terms, Tactics and BuzzWords of the godless Global Left! I doubt that many here are surprised by this.

    Pope: Migrants Are ‘On Move to Escape Wars, Miseries Caused by Social Injustices and Climate Change’
    https://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/cnsnewscom-staff/pope-migrants-are-move-escape-wars-miseries-caused-social-injustices

    GOD SAVE ALL HERE!!

    Liked by 5 people

    1. “WE desperately need some Saints…” Amen to that, Crew Dog. This very theme is the essence of the Ballad of the Ordinary Man, TNRS and ASOH. Saints are US, both gifted and limited, praying, yearning and striving to BE Christ’s Light in the current darkness by doing the little we can wherever we may be… many are the lightbeams all over the world.

      Liked by 6 people

      1. James, I,too was looking for a smaller statue, but failed to find any others in a few online catholic stores. However, did come across some disturbing news about someone who says she has a copyright on the statue. Below is an excerpt, and the remainder can be found here: http://jkmi.wsiefusion.net/woman-claims-trademark-on-the-statue-of-our-lady-of-america

        ‘A woman named Patricia Fuller claims control of the devotion to Our Lady of America by virtue of a copyright and a trademark. She claims that Sister Mildred, the mystic of the devotion, left her the copyright to the Diary of Our Lady’s revelations in her last will and testament. Later, in 2003, Ms. Fuller registered a trademark for statues of Our Lady of America.

        She claims that two men from another apostolate violated her copyright and trademark by distributing the Diary and creating the statue of Our Lady of America that was displayed at the United States Bishops’ Conference in 2006. Our Lady of America promised that this display of her statue would be a safeguard for our country. Ms. Fuller claims that this is a violation of her trademark!
        Ms. Fuller claims copyright and trademark ownership of revelations from heaven! Because of her
        claims, a lawsuit is now pending in a United States District Court that is affecting promotion of the devotion and delaying the solemn display of this statue in our National Shrine.

        Neither myself nor our apostolate is a party to this lawsuit. We did not violate her claimed copyright or trademark because we didn’t publish the Diary or create any statue. We promote the devotion through distribution of a newly designed image and medal and my book, Our Lady of America, Our Hope for the States, that explains how to practice the devotion.

        Our Lady of America revealed her title and her devotion to Sister Mildred. Patricia Fuller lived with Sister Mildred and always claimed that she was a nun whose name was Sister Mary Joseph Therese. However, her Bishop and the Holy See determined that she was not a nun. Sister Mildred published and distributed her Diary in the public domain for many years. Then in 1989, following someone’s suggestion, she got a copyright for it.’

        Liked by 2 people

        1. Interesting. When I went searching again for a small statue after reading your comment, James, I also found this passage you’ve shared, Marie. A PMT ascending with the intercession of St. Michael to resolve this unfortunate situation.

          Liked by 1 person

  12. Dear friends, I am asking for prayers again as this trial of darkness has come upon my family again. It hasn’t been a year and my 5th daughter lost her baby. (Last December both my daughter in-law and daughter miscarried on the 25th and 28th.you all prayed for us,and we are still remembering the anniversary. Now this.)
    My sweet girl was full term and went into labor on the 11th and our baby granddaughter passed into her eternal reward just a bit after midnight on the 12th…. our Lady of Guadalupe. She lived for a little more than an hour. She was absolutely beautiful and precious,and my daughter and husband are so sad. My whole family hardly understand what has happened. It wasn’t expected at all. I covet your prayers. On top of it she had an emergency cesarean and my poor girl is in pain trying to heal. She is taking some strong medicine and I mentioned tonight that the pain needs to be felt so she doesn’t move wrongly.
    That makes me worry too. I am staying with my daughter, husband and their toddler until the end of the week. We will travel and have the funeral in my town and be together for Christmas and beyond. Please pray as well when they return they will be able to cope with the sadness that is bound to creep upon them. I really see blessings but our hearts are breaking. Jesus have pity on our family. Mary pray for us and protect us all . My love to you all, rejoice in the Lord, thanks, Tanya

    Liked by 3 people

    1. Oh Tanya, so sorry to hear this news. Prayers ascending for your daughter, her husband and all your family. May Our Lady wrap you all in her Mantle, strengthening you and bringing consolation.

      Liked by 3 people

    2. Tanya, with a heavy heart after reading what your dear daughter, husband and grandchild suffered through, I offer my prayers to you and yours at this difficult time for healing, mind, body, soul and spirit. ❤

      Liked by 3 people

    3. Tanya, I am so very sorry for the loss that all of you have suffered. I will keep your daughter, her husband, and all of your family in my prayers.

      Liked by 3 people

  13. “Will you help me, Church?”

    There are times when we ordinary Catholics who believe and try to live according to the authentic teachings of the Church stand at the foot of the cross with some of our leaders nowhere to be found.

    Thank God we have ready access to these teachings, the sacraments (unless we’re in remote areas), prayers, and some likeminded wholehearted Catholics, if only on the Internet.

    Be strong, take heart.

    ❤

    Liked by 4 people

        1. LOVE this, Sr. Bear! It presents amazing information, presented by a powerhouse voice supported with exquisite orchestral accompaniment. Oh his singing cries! Really brings home the knowledge of life on board a slave ship, such as this: “Conditions on board ship during the Middle Passage were appalling. The men were packed together below deck and were secured by leg irons. The space was so cramped they were forced to crouch or lie down.” This, in turn, brings to mind memories for me of the days when my husband and I traveled throughout West Africa while in the Peace Corps. Visiting several castles on the coast evoked smells and memories similar to what we experienced when visiting Dachau.

          Refrain
          Come to set us free, come to make us your own.
          Come to show the way to our people, your chosen.
          Open our lives to the light of your promise.
          Come to our hearts with healing, come to our minds with power,
          come to us and bring us your life.

          Verse 1
          You are light which shines in darkness,
          Morning Star which never sets.
          Open our eyes which only dimly see,
          The truth which sets us free.

          Verse 2
          You are hope which brings us courage,
          You are strength which never fails.
          Open our minds to ways we do not know,
          But where your Spirit grows.

          Verse 3
          You are promise of salvation,
          You are God in human form.
          Bring to the world of emptiness and fear
          The Word we long to hear.

          Liked by 1 person

  14. Tanya: Praying for you, your daughter, her husband and all your family. This walk is sometimes so difficult, but Jesus is there in the midst of our hurt and grief. May his consolation fill all of you.
    JT

    Liked by 3 people

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Published by charliej373

Charlie Johnston is a former newspaper editor, radio talk show host and political consultant. From Feb. 11, 2011 to Aug. 21, 2012, he walked 3,200 miles across the country, sleeping in the woods, meeting people and praying as he went. He writes on cultural, global and political issues from an orthodox Catholic perspective. He emphasizes that we find God most surely through the ordinary, doing the little things we should with faith and fidelity. His constant refrain is that, to live real joy, we must acknowledge God, take the next right step, and be a sign of hope to those around us. He lives in the Archdiocese of Denver in the United States.