A truly New Orleans feast in honor of Our Lady of Prompt Succor

Tomorrow, Friday January 8th is the feast of Mary under the title of Our Lady of Prompt Succor. This is such a huge feast in New Orleans. Under this title Mary is the official patroness of the state of Louisiana, the City of New Olreans and the Archdiocese of New Orleans. And the reasons are plenty.

Ursuline nuns began making their way to New Orleans in the early 1700's to spread the faith and establish a school to educate young ladies. One of the nuns, Sr. Michel was compelled to leave France and become a missionary in New Orleans. Her bishop would not let her go unless she personally could convince the Pope to send her. She sent a letter but all knew the Pope was under great duress from the emperor Napolean. Sr. Michel prayed before a statue of Mary asking her intercession to let her desire happen. She promised if this request be granted promptly, she would honor Mary in New Orleans under the title Our Lady of Prompt Succor. Her letter with a favorable response from the Pope was recieved.

And Sr. Michel made her way to New Orleans, in the Vieux Carre at the Ursuline Convent with a beautiful statue of Our Lady of Prompt Succor in tow. Not long after her arrival a horrible fire broke out in the French Quarter that threatened the convent. Sr. Michel led the nuns in prayer asking for Mary's intercession and the fire was swept away with a sudden change in the direction of the wind.

And even more famously is the story of the War of 1812 and the Battle of New Orleans. In 1815 as General Andrew Jackson and his brave troops were fighting a seemingly loosing battle against the well trained British forces the nuns and Our Lady of Prompt Succor were at it again. It appeared as if all of New Orleans descended on the Ursuline convent in all night prayer invoking the help of Our Lady. During morning Mass, news made its' way to the convent that indeed the Americans prevailed. A pledge was made that every January 8th Mass would be celebrated in New Orleans in honor of Our Lady of Prompt Succor.

Now, Catholics from around the great state of Louisiana and in the Archdiocese of New Orleans particularly continue this great feast every January 8th. We also are quick to invoke her assistance every hurricane season that we be sparred all harm from storms. It would not surprise me in the least if many a faithful New Orleanian Catholic is not praying for her intercession right now, for warmer weather and perhaps some favorable results on that battlefield covered by the New Orleans Superdome!