--- title: Learn About Our Lady of Good Help description: Patrice Fagnant-MacArthur reviews 'America's Mary,' a new book by Catholic Mom contributor Marge Steinhage Fenelon. image: https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/20221213%20PMacArthur%201.png --- [![catholic-mom-logo-v2](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/images/catholic-mom-logo-v2.svg "catholic-mom-logo-v2")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) [![search-icon](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/search-icon.svg)](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/learn-about-our-lady-of-good-help#) [BOOKS](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/tag/books) # Learn About Our Lady of Good Help Dec 13, 2022 7:00:00 AM  |  by [Patrice Fagnant-MacArthur](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/patrice-fagnant-macarthur) ![featured image](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/20221213%20PMacArthur%201.png) *Patrice Fagnant-MacArthur reviews *America's Mary,* a new book by Catholic Mom contributor Marge Steinhage Fenelon.* --- In [America’s Mary: The Story of Our Lady of Good Help](https://amzn.to/3hL5VKN), Marge Steinhage Fenelon provides a thorough exploration of the only approved Marian apparition to take place in the United States.   ![Americas Mary-Marge Steinhage Fenelon](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Americas%20Mary-Marge%20Steinhage%20Fenelon.jpg?width=1650&height=2550&name=Americas%20Mary-Marge%20Steinhage%20Fenelon.jpg)   Our Lady appeared to Adele Brise, a Belgian immigrant living in Wisconsin, in October 1859. Her message was a simple but important one: “Do penance, sacrifice, receive the sacraments frequently, and teach the children their catechism.” Adele would spend the rest of her life carrying out the Blessed Mother’s wishes. The apparition was formally approved by Bishop David Ricken on December 8, 2010. Fenelon’s work does more than simply describe the apparition. She begins by providing a thorough history of the world in which Adele Brise lived. She presents the circumstances that surrounded Belgian immigration to the Door Peninsula in Wisconsin and describes the tight community these immigrants formed. They were people with an active, deep faith, but there were many challenges to practicing the Catholic faith in this rural area. There were few priests or places to worship. Adele herself had to travel 11 miles to go to church. Adele was twenty-eight years old when Our Lady appeared to her. She had minimal education and was blind in one eye. Yet, Mary trusted this simple woman to carry out her instructions and spread the faith. Adele felt ill-equipped for the challenge, but she went from village to village, offering to do housework in exchange for permission to educate children in the faith. She eventually led a group of Secular Franciscans known as the Sisters of Good Help (or the Sisters of Good Health) and opened a school. Despite setbacks and people questioning the authenticity of her vision, she trusted in God and seemed to be in constant contact with Our Lady. Fenelon also traces the development of devotion to Our Lady of Good Help, the miracles that have taken place in the holy location of the apparition, and what led to the official Church approval. [America’s Mary: The Story of Our Lady of Good Help](https://amzn.to/3hL5VKN) makes for interesting reading. It contains many photographs to enhance the information. Most importantly, it helps spread Our Lady’s message, a message that echoes those of her other approved apparitions: Do penance, sacrifice, receive the sacraments frequently, and pass on the faith. This message is as vital today as it was in 1859.   Ask for America's Mary at your local Catholic bookseller, or order on [Amazon](https://amzn.to/3hL5VKN) or from the publisher, [OSVCatholicBookstore.com](https://osvcatholicbookstore.com/product/america-s-mary-the-story-of-our-lady-of-good-help).   ![20221213 PMacArthur IG](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/20221213%20PMacArthur%20IG.png?width=1080&height=1080&name=20221213%20PMacArthur%20IG.png) --- Copyright 2022 Patrice Fagnant-MacArthur Images: Canva This article contains Amazon affiliate links, which provide a small compensation to the author of this piece when purchases are made through the links, at no cost to you. Thank you for supporting our Catholic Mom writers in this way.  ### Share this article [![Share on Facebook](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/facebook-24x24.png)](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2Flearn-about-our-lady-of-good-help%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dfacebook) [![Share on Twitter](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/twitter-24x24.png)](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2Flearn-about-our-lady-of-good-help%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2Flearn-about-our-lady-of-good-help%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&source=tweetbutton&text=Learn%20About%20Our%20Lady%20of%20Good%20Help) [![Share on Email](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/email-24x24.png)](mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2Flearn-about-our-lady-of-good-help%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail%20&body=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2Flearn-about-our-lady-of-good-help%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail) ** #### About the Author ![Patrice Fagnant-MacArthur](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/Patrice%20Fagnant-MacArthur%202024.jpg) ### [Patrice Fagnant-MacArthur](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/patrice-fagnant-macarthur) Patrice Fagnant-MacArthur has a master’s degree in applied theology and is the author of The Power of Forgiveness, Our Lady of La Salette: A Mother Weeps for Her Children, and The Life and Lessons of St. Zelie Martin. A mother of three, she is the editor of [TodaysCatholicHomeschooling.com](http://TodaysCatholicHomeschooling.com) as well as a [freelance writer and editor](http://Pfmacarthur.com). ## Related Blog Articles [ Discover Interesting Facts about American Catholicism Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/discover-interesting-facts-about-american-catholicism) [ Learn about Holiness from Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/learn-about-holiness-from-saint-elizabeth-ann-seton) [ Book Notes: Our Lady, Undoer of Knots: A Living Novena Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2015/12/16/book-notes-our-lady-undoer-of-knots-a-living-novena) ## Comments ## Donate now [![Support Catholic Mom](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545) [![CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png?width=1806&height=731&name=CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png "CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) ##### Subscribe to Catholic Momcast on iTunes or Spotify [![itunes-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/itunes-logo-black.svg)](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/catholic-momcast/id1362352357)[![spotify-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/spotify-logo-black.svg)](https://open.spotify.com/show/15CoipHL7z61IDcYErV0b8?si=hqaQJSxDQgq7S1hxCwsoxQ) ##### CatholicMom on Social Networks [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) ##### About Catholic Mom [Who We Are](https://www.catholicmom.com/about-us) [Contact Us](https://www.catholicmom.com/contact) [Support CatholicMom.com](https://www.catholicmom.com/support-us)   ##### Associated Links [Holy Cross Family Ministries](https://www.hcfm.org/) [Family Rosary](https://www.familyrosary.org/) [Family Theater Productions](https://www.familytheater.org/) [Congregation of the Holy Cross](https://www.holycrossusa.org/) [Father Patrick Peyton, C.S.C.](https://www.fatherpeyton.org/) [The Peyton Institute for Domestic Church Life](https://www.peytonfamilyinstitute.org/) ### **Stay connected!** Don’t miss a thing! 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