Posted on 01/07/2010 10:14:42 PM PST by Salvation
|
Our Lady of Prompt Succor
NOTE: The above image is the Spanish, more elaborate version of Our Lady of Prompt Succor as we do not have a suitably large enough image of the French one. We have provided a tiny full length image in the presentation below.  DURING the French Revolution of the late 18th century, priests and religious were persecuted and often had to go into hiding in order to administer the Sacraments and keep their vocation and apostolates. This is what happened with the Ursuline nuns of the Convent of Pont-Saint-Esprit. One of the nuns, Agathe Gensoul, who could no longer use her religious name, Mother St. Michel, still lived her vocation, starting a school with another Ursuline, Sophie Ricard. Agathe had a cousin who was an Ursuline also, but who lived in America, in New Orleans, which had been at that time under Spanish domain, but had been taken back by the French. Fearing French persecution, the Spanish Ursulines there went back to Spain, which left the convent in need of more nuns. So Agathe or Mother St. Michel, applied to the bishop for the transfer to New Orleans, who refused her request because of the trouble in France. He told her that the Pope would have to approve her move. He, however was under house arrest. The situation was near impossible. But this did not discourage Agathe, who immediately wrote a letter to Pope Pius VII, but after three months, she was still without means to send it. One day, while praying before a statue of Mary, she was inspired with this prayer: "O Most Holy Virgin Mary, if you obtain a prompt and favorable answer to my letter, I promise to have you honored in New Orleans under the title of Our Lady of Prompt Succor." She not only found a way to send the letter a few days later, but the Pontiff replied within a month! He granted his permission, blessing her new undertaking, which surprised the bishop who asked to bless the statue that Mother St. Michel had carved to take with her to New Orleans. The statue was enshrined in the Ursuline convent there on December 30,1810. Two years later, another miracle would be attributed to the Virgin under this title. A terrible fire ravaged the city in 1812, and the wind was rapidly driving it in the direction of the convent of the Ursulines. One of the nuns, Sister St. Anthony, placed a small replica of Our Lady of Prompt Succor in her window that faced the approaching fire, while Mother St. Michel prayed aloud, asking Our Lady for help. Immediately the wind changed direction of the flames.  Mary's help has been sought from the shrine ever since, both in time of war [the Battle of New Orleans] and during the threat of hurricanes, a persistent peril on the Gulf Coast. Her Feast is January 8. The internet address for one of the shrines in New Orleans is: The URL for the convent shrine was inactive at the time this page was uploaded, that is the one provided by our resource was no longer on line. http://www.neworleanschurches.com/promptsuc/promptsuc.htm There is a slightly different version of the Our Lady of Prompt Succor which adorns various chapels: Our Lady's crown is more elaborate and she wears the traditional white and blue gown. The image on the left is the one most seen in the United States and is thought to be the oldest image of Our Lady in the United States. |
Litany of Our Lady of Prompt Succor
Holy Mary, pray for us.
O Almighty and Eternal God, Who sees us surrounded by so many dangers and miseries, grant in Thine infinite goodness that the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of Thy Divine Son, may defend us from the evil spirit and protect us against all adversities, that always and with prompt succor she may deliver us from every evil of soul and body, and safely guide us to the kingdom of Heaven, through the merits of Our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who lives and reigns with Thee in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, world without end. Amen.
Contemplation:
If our eyes are always on Heaven and God, at the end of life we will find ourselves in His Presence.
[Recitation of the Rosary]
Imprimatur:
Joseph F. Rummel
Archbishop of New Orleans
February 11, 1936
Traditional Nine Day Novena
Here is a picture of the chapel as seen from the outside entrance.
My wife has New Orleans roots and we’ve both always had a special place in our hearts for NOLA. As a convert to the Church, I’ve always had a very special love of Mary, too - so I have tried (in vain) to locate copies of this statue suitable for a home.
Do you (or anyone else) know where one can purchase a well-done statue of Our Lady of Prompt Succor for the home? Also, IMHO, there should be some sort of guild founded to further spread devotion to Our Lady under this title, especially throughout the United States. Maybe in this age of the internet, someone could make that a reality. Hmmmm.....
That’s looks a lot larger than a mere chapel.
Our Lady of Prompt Succor
January 8
Patroness of Louisiana and the City of New Orleans
Our Lady of Prompt Succor is known for protecting, by her intercession, the city of New Orleans during the Great Fire of 1812 . On the Eve of the Battle of New Orleans (Jan 7, 1815) the Ursuline Sisters and the people of New Orleans gathered to again ask the intercession of Our Lady of Prompt Succor for victory.
On December 31, 1810 the statue was brought to New Orleans from France by Mother St. Michel Gensoul and several postulants came to join the Ursuline nuns in New Orleans. Mother Gensoul was only given permission from her bishop to go to New Orleans after a prayer to Our Lady and permission from the pope.
Litany to Our Lady of Prompt Succor
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.
God the Father of Heaven, have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, one God, have mercy on us.Holy Mary, ... pray for us.
Mother of the Infant Jesus, ...
Our Lady of Prompt Succor, ...
Our Lady of Prompt Succor of all who invoke you with confidence, ...
Our Lady of Prompt Succor of all who are devout toward the Infant Jesus, ...
Our Lady of Prompt Succor for obtaining a lively faith, ...
Our Lady of Prompt Succor for sustaining the hope of Christians, ...
Our Lady of Prompt Succor for obtaining and persevering in charity, ...
Our Lady of Prompt Succor for observing the law of God, ...
Our Lady of Prompt Succor for observing perseverance in virtue and good works, ...
Our Lady of Prompt Succor in every spiritual necessity, ...
Our Lady of Prompt Succor against the revolt of self-will, ...
Our Lady of Prompt Succor in the occasion of sin,...
Our Lady of Prompt Succor in every temptation, ...
Our Lady of Prompt Succor against the evil spirit, ...
Our Lady of Prompt Succor for obtaining contrition, ...
Our Lady of Prompt Succor of those wishing to re-enter the path of salvation, ...
Our Lady of Prompt Succor for the conversion of sinners, ...
Our Lady of Prompt Succor in every temporal necessity, ...
Our Lady of Prompt Succor in every affliction,...
Our Lady of Prompt Succor of afflicted families,...
Our Lady of Prompt Succor of the sick and the poor, ...
Our Lady of Prompt Succor against contagious diseases and epidemics, ...
Our Lady of Prompt Succor in every accident, ...
Our Lady of Prompt Succor against destruction by fire, ...
Our Lady of Prompt Succor against lightning and tempest, ...
Our Lady of Prompt Succor against destruction by flood, ...
Our Lady of Prompt Succor of travelers, ...
Our Lady of Prompt Succor of navigators,...
Our Lady of Prompt Succor of the shipwrecked, ...
Our Lady of Prompt Succor against the enemies of our country, ...
Our Lady of Prompt Succor in time of war, ...
Our Lady of Prompt Succor of those aspiring to the holy priesthood and the religious life, ...
Our Lady of Prompt Succor of laborers in the Lord's vineyard, ...
Our Lady of Prompt Succor of missionaries who spread the faith, ...
Our Lady of Prompt Succor of our Holy Father the Pope, ...
Our Lady of Prompt Succor for those searching for the faith, ...
Our Lady of Prompt Succor against the enemies of the Church,...
Our Lady of Prompt Succor at the hour of death, ...
Our Lady of Prompt Succor for the deliverance of the souls in purgatory,...Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world, spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world, graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.
V: Our Lady of Prompt Succor, pray for us.
R: That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
O Almighty and Eternal God, Who sees us surrounded by so many dangers and miseries, grant in Your infinite goodness that the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of Your Divine Son, may defend us from the evil spirit and protect us against all adversities, that always and with prompt succor she may deliver us from every evil of soul and body, and safely guide us to the kingdom of heaven, through the merits of Our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, Who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, world without end. Amen.
Contemplation:
If our eyes are always on heaven and God, at the end of life we will find ourselves in His Presence.
“That’s looks a lot larger than a mere chapel.”
It is impressive isn’t it? The chapels of the school can be accessed from two points. One point is from the school/convent itself, and was in my day referred to as the “inside chapel” or nuns chapel. The other access if from the entrance that is shown in the picture that I posted. Again, in my time this chapel was called the “outside chapel”. Both chapels view the same main altar. The “outside chapel” sees the altar straight on, while the “inside chapel” sees it from the side. Below is a link to a picture that shows students filing into the chapel through the outside entrance.
http://www.pbase.com/septembermorn/image/54370264
Here are views of the altar from the “inside chapel”/nuns’ chapel
http://www.pbase.com/septembermorn/image/54592641
http://www.pbase.com/septembermorn/image/54592824
http://www.pbase.com/septembermorn/image/54591921
Our Lady of Prompt Succor (pronounced "sucker" like a lollipop is a sucker)
And:
Our Lady of Prompt Succor (pronounced "Sue-core" like a girl's name + plus the word "core")
Does anyone know the correct pronunciation?
+God bless.
I’ve always said sue’ cor
vut it probably depends on how the Lousisianians pronounce. it. LOL!
http://www.wordnik.com/words/succor/pronunciations
I went to Ursuline and they pronounced it like the above.
btt
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.