January 8 is officially the anniversary of the Battle of New Orleans (a state holiday in Louisiana, or at least it was when I was growing up). Unofficially, by "vox popoli," it is the feast of Our Lady of Prompt Succor, patroness of New Orleans. The threat to the city back then was from the British, and the last battle of the war took place right outside of New Orleans (unknown to the soldiers and their leaders, a peace accord had already been signed). The people prayed through the night with the Ursuline sisters in front of their precious statue of Mary: "Our Lady of Prompt Succor, hasten to help us!" And the rag-tag American army routed the redcoats at Chalmette. New Orleans was spared. At least, it was spared that time.
When Hurricane Katrina did not spare New Orleans, the precious statue of Mary (the original one) left in the boats with the sisters. She is back home, and so are they. And we still pray, "Our Lady of Prompt Succor, hasten to help us!"
4 comments:
Since Katrina I have embedded a medal of our Lady of Prompt Succor into the mortar of my brick home.
The city of New Orleans was also spared a great fire through her intercession. When she was invoked, the winds shifted away from our "door". harv
Katrina missed New Orleans--it was the Army Corps of Engineers that hit us!!
One thing which was conspicuous by its absence was the visit which Andrew Jackson made to the Ursuline nuns to thank them in person for their prayers and for the care of his wounded soldiers. spqr
Post a Comment