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The Blessed Sacrament miraculously saved the Village of Saint Louis-May 1780
A miracle did save the small, but important village during the Revolutionary War battle for Saint
Louis, beginning on the Feast of Corpus Christi, May 25, 1780 culminating the next day, May 26, 1780.
This history was unknown to us until the early 1990s, after the first gathering of Our Lady's Crusade.
Saint Louis, in 1780, was a village of about 100 stone and log houses with a population of about 700.
The village was located where the Gateway Arch now stands, comprising the open area
between the legs of the Arch and extending
north into Laclede's Landing and south as far as Chouteau Street.
The lucrative fur trade with the Indians so occupied the inhabitants that they sometimes neglected
to cultivate the fields and thus, it is alleged, earned the well-known nickname of "Paincourt"
which means in French, "short of bread".
Thursday, May 25, 1780 was the Feast of Corpus Christi, the Body of CHRIST, and the citizens of early Saint
Louis could have been seen picnicking on the 'field of Saint Louis in Sunday attire. This
'prairie' behind the village was then an open space on which downtown Saint Louis was built; it was farmland
cultivated by the people in a somewhat communal fashion.
Following the old European custom, they lived in the town and went out to the fields to work which gave them
protection from enemies & close reliance upon each other in their daily living.
On this Feast day, there was probably no work in the fields and the town was deserted. Their numbers
were increased by hunters called in from the surrounding forests, the little garrison from Ste.
Genevieve, and the visitors for the celebration. The historical record is not perfectly clear,
but it seems likely that a Corpus Christi procession was held in the fields, after Mass in the
log church, built near where the Old Cathedral now stands.
Historical commentators have wondered why these people would have been
permitted to celebrate so unheedingly this Feast outside the town, because it was
known that a large force of Indians and British from Canada (outnumbering
the villagers three to one) were approaching this small, unsecured village.
Since the Spanish Lieutenant Governor, Captain Fernando De Leyba, helped the
Americans by refusing the British the use of the river and allowing war
supplies to reach the colonies from New Orleans; the record now shows the
enemy was bent on bloody revenge.
Their overwhelming numbers on the river, only 35 miles above the town, was reported to De Leyba. "The Indians were so
close that they could reach out from their places of concealment & touch
us with their hands," reported one townsperson later. Did the Commander
include GOD in his plan to defend Saint Louis? The Capuchin Friar, Father
Bernard, had blessed the cornerstone of a tower only 39 days earlier, which formed
the center of the defenses on the high ground of what is now 4th and Walnut Streets,
with two trenches going north & south around the village on the lower ground.
The stone tower overlooking the town was to be 30 feet high, but was incomplete,
while the river was the eastern defense barrier.
Friday, May 26th, the day after their Feast date, people were going about their work.
Suddenly, at 1:00 in the afternoon, two African slaves who were working in the fields
and carrying muskets (In Saint Louis, slaves were allowed to be armed), saw the wave
of approaching Indians & British.
They fired the shots to signal those in the village. A warning cannon was fired from
the stone tower - with the air filled with the cries of the foe as they charged across
the open farmland to attack. Running to the tower, the Commander De Leyba directed
the fire of the five cannons, which were mounted in the incomplete structure.
The trenches filled quickly by defenders with muskets, who returned the fire of the
enemy who had become ensconced on the ground above the village. "But for this
prompt action," wrote the Commander, "this would have been the last day of Saint Louis."
The battle went on until about 4pm, when the enemy left the high ground where they
were able to kill a number of its inhabitants. This was after a prominent
Indian Chief was killed and some tribesmen had withdrawn. Before retreating and never
to return, they massacred or captured whomever they found outside the town. The slaughter
was in sight of the villagers, attempting to draw them out of their defense.
Cattle and crops were wantonly destroyed after failure to wipe out the community.
Some 70 people died or went into captivity, almost 1/10 of the population.
Captain De Leyba wrote to his superior: "Judge...what kind of a fate was awaiting
us, if Divine Providence, bravery and activity had not preserved us."
Because of the 'relaxed posture' on the Feast of CHRIST's Body, it is believed
that the enemy scouts did not realize the vigilant body of believers, slave and free,
who trusted in the Power of GOD. In the end, it was the Providence of GOD, prompt
action & unity forged in the celebration of Corpus Christi that established
our foundation: JESUS: "All power in Heaven & on earth has been given to Me.
Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name
of the FATHER, and of the SON and of the HOLY SPIRIT, teaching them to observe
all that I have commanded you And behold, I am with you always, until the end of
the age. "Matthew 28:18-20"
King Louis IX, our Patron Eucharistic Saint, was known to often attend Mass
as many as three times per day. When receiving Holy Communion, he would walk
on his knees to receive his King. Our Saint invited the poor & forsaken to his
table of plenty. On August 25th, he died at 3pm - the hour of Mercy; later to
become the birthdate of Saint Faustina. JESUS desires to be the Centre of His Cities,
beginning with this Archdiocese. He desires to be publically proclaimed as King-King of
Glory, bringing His Eucharistic Presence of Love & Mercy for all to receive & share.
Our City of Saint Louis has deep roots of faith in the Real Presence of the Body,
Blood, Soul and Divinity of JESUS CHRIST. And in the 1970s it was shared by a Priest that
during a Catholic Conference in Saint Louis, many people saw the image of JESUS
as Divine Mercy, standing below the Arch, emanating rays of Blood and Water.
JESUS, we trust in You!
Our Lady and Saint Joseph, pray for us.
Saint Louis IX, all the Saints and Holy Angels, pray for us.
All you Holy Men, Women, Youth and Children, pray for us.
(Compiled from various sources, especially from Stephen Fitzgerald, a local, dedicated Catholic historian)
Our Lady's Crusade - relying on Divine Providence, gathering in Unity and taking prompt action in Prayer to honor
JESUS as King Of Glory.
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There are a number of very concerned Catholic Laity who have formed groups in response to the 'all things new' initiative...praying, fasting, and sacrificing for
Our Archbishop and Bishop, All Priests and All who are involved. WIth prayer, we/they are being led to invite others to join in asking for truth, transparency, communication and open dialog.
To access the group, please click on the name
-STL Catholics
-Our Lady's Crusade
-St. Louis Catholics Discuss All Things New
-SOS Cenacle of Prayer - Email to:[email protected]
-CM Resistance STL - Email to:[email protected]
-VIDEO: Following the Holy Spirit or High Dollar Consultants? – STL Catholics
-VIDEO:A response to Archbishop Rozanski's article in the St. Louis Review
-VIDEO:The End of the Parish Priest in Ireland
-STL Today Article: Small group with big mission hopes to save the ‘Rome of the West’ in St. Louis
Please pray; if you are being led by the HOLY SPIRIT to participate in any way, please feel free to contact them directly.
We continue to pray for All of Our Brothers and Sisters in Our Archdiocese of Saint Louis.
St. Louis IX, pray for us.
St. Rose Philippine Duchesne, pray for us.
St. Vincent de Paul, pray for us.
St. Padre Pio, pray for us.
St. Joan of Arc, pray for us.
St. Faustina, pray for us.
-----A Little History-----
Rome of the West: Normandy, Missouri - the "Little Rome of the West", part 1
Rome of the West: Normandy, Missouri - the "Little Rome of the West", part 2
Rome of the West: St. Louis Churches. (Click on a church to see photos.)
St. Joseph Church - Clayton
Rome of the West:Images of Saint Joseph at Saint Joseph Church in Clayton
(a vision of the HOLY SPIRIT took place here on the eve of Pentecost, May 18th, 1991)
With the explanation: "Even though My Church appears to be crumbling, I am rebuilding it
with the Fire of My SPIRIT, the Fire of My Cross and the Fire of My LOVE."
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"I rejoiced when I heard them say, let us go to the House of the LORD."
Psalm 122:1
Regarding 'all things new'
from JESUS
"This is not the will of My FATHER.
In all of history, WE never told anyone to close a Church - the House of the LORD.
From the beginning, the TEMPLE was built so that WE could dwell and remain with OUR People
and Our People with US.
It was the only place of sacrifice, where the Ark was present and OUR People assembled.
WE desire now for Our Children to understand and to see from Our Prospective.
These Churches - these Houses of the LORD are more than stone and mortar.
These are OUR Homes where WE invite All - All of Our Children to 'come and rest awhile" and to remember who they are.
They are OUR Precious Children, whom WE have created and called to be OUR Children: to know, to love and to serve a Living GOD,
bringing salvation to all - inheriting an Eternal Home - Heaven.
It is here that WE - the Living GOD have called Our Children through the ages to sacrifice and build Our Home - their Home with US.
It is within these walls where OUR Love and Mercy flows and sustains Our Journey of OUR History and OUR Life with OUR Children.
Here WE are present not only to welcome, nourish, clothe, cleanse, give grace, consolation, peace and rest,
but offer a holy, consecrated Home where Heaven and earth meet, gathering to give Worship and Praise, receiving and restoring that which is lost!
It is here that I come as the LIVING BREAD come down from Heaven.
I give My Very Self as Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity.
Take and eat; take and drink. Do this in remembrance of ME.
In receiving ME, each then becomes a Living Tabernacle, radiating OUR LIGHT.
Become LIGHT and SALT in these times of darkness, preserving Truth - GOD LIVES - for I AM the WAY, the TRUTH and the LIFE.
You are My Disciples of these times - today.
Without Our Homes, Houses of the LORD, Our Children will be lost and forsaken as they will be 'homeless' without US - Their GOD.
WE, too, will be homeless and forgotten.
With any closing, WE ARE BEING EVICTED.
GOD is being EVICTED!
WE Call You Now - to remember WHO GOD IS and to remember who You are!
You are OUR Beloved Children, upon whom OUR FAVOR RESTS!
I AM is the LIGHT of the world, a Light no darkness can extiguish.
You are called NOW to be LIGHT and Salt.
As always, the invitation remains the same:
Deny yourself, pick up your cross and follow ME.
Are You ready to get in the boat with ME, to be fishers of souls?
-for the salvation of Souls - Your Brothers and Sisters - OUR CHILDREN?
-for Your Love of Your LIVING GOD: Your FATHER, WHO created You,
the SON, who saves you and raises You up and the HOLY SPIRIT,
WHO gives You breath and life?
Will you give your 'FIAT'?
WE AWAIT YOU - COME!
COME, HOLY SPIRIT, LIVING FIRE, COME AFRESH and make new and restore.....
Your JESUS of Mercy
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Proclaimed July 25, 1997, Twenty Five years ago in Saint Louis, the Feast of Saint James:
"I desire to be the Center of MY Cities.
I desire to begin here in the United States in MY Chosen City of Saint Louis.
Here seeds were sown from the beginning of those whose call was to be sent from
homelands to go to the furthest ends of the world.
I desire to be publicly proclaimed as KING - the KING of GLORY.
I desire that MY People raise their voices in praise and in thanksgiving.
As I gave authority to Peter and to MY Disciples, I am giving a wake-up call to You,
MY People, this day and in this City.
The FATHER from the beginning has chosen this Archdiocese of Saint Louis and its
surrounding areas as a City of Love and of Mercy. The LIGHT that will radiate to all
the world is MY LIGHT for I AM The LIGHT of the World.
I AM is revealing to YOU - HIS FACE - unveiled in the MOST HOLY SACRAMENT OF THE ALTAR."
Your JESUS of Mercy
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From Archbishop Rozanski's homily of July 17th, 2022 in the Review:
"Be fearless in living out the faith.
It's the greatest example we can give."
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"Behold, I make all things new."
Revelation 21:5
Questions or comments, please email:
[email protected]
Our Lady's Crusade Website (centreformercy.org/OurLadysCrusade)
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