The Story of Our Lady of Prompt Succor
In 1727, a group of French Ursuline Nuns started a monastery and a school in New Orleans. As they grew short of teachers, Mother Madier asked the bishop to send more nuns who could teach. He was also short handed and could not send any help. She then wrote to the Pope, who was a prisoner of Napoleon and asked for help. She prayed to the Blessed Mother to help her with a quick answer and promised to honor her in New Orleans under the title of Our Lady of Prompt Succor. In about a month she received her letter back from the Pope granting her request for the nuns. At that time, receiving an answer from Europe, much less the Pope, in one month was unheard of and considered a miracle. At this time, Mother Madier had a statue built with Our Lady holding the infant Jesus.
Some years later a great fire threatened the Ursuline monastery. A sister brought the statue to the window and prayed; “Our Lady of Prompt Succor, we are lost if you do not come to our aid.” The wind changed, turning the fire away and saving the monastery. It is still customary for the people of New Orleans to pray before the statue of Our Lady of Prompt Succor whenever a hurricane or harm threatens their city.
The Americans declared war on Great Britain and in 1812, the final days of the war; the British troops were advancing on New Orleans for a major battle. General Andrew Jackson asked the Ursuline Nuns to pray for him and the city, because the American troops were outnumbered badly. The mother superior ordered the statue of Our Lady of Prompt Succor to be placed in the Chapel and the Ursuline Nuns, wives, mothers and old men poured out their prayers before the approaching battle. Once the battle started at dawn, it was over in thirty minutes and only seven Americans died. General Jackson stated, “The divine providence of God through the intercession of Our Lady of Prompt Succor has shielded us and granted this stupendous miracle.”
The first Catholic Church in Sulphur, Louisiana served as a mission of Immaculate Conception for twelve years before it was established as a parish in 1919. It was dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary under the title of Our Lady of Prompt Succor. Later, on June 13, 1928 in a decree from Rome, the Holy See approved and confirmed the choice of Our Lady of Prompt Succor as patroness of the city of New Orleans and the entire state of Louisiana.
It has been over 90 years since the beginning of Our Lady of Prompt Succor Church in Sulphur, Louisiana and many souls have sought her intercession with her Son, Jesus Christ.
