The story behind the celebration
+ Devotion to Mary under her title “Our Lady of Prompot Succor”—“Quick Help”—dates back to 1727 and the establishment of a community of Ursuline Sisters in New Orleans, Louisiana.
+ Although this community suffered extreme difficulties in their early years, the sisters persevered and, in 1809, Pope Pius VII gave permission for more sisters to travel to America to help the struggling community in New Orleans. Having entrusted their hope for additional sisters to the Blessed Virgin, the Ursuline superior commissioned a statue of “Our Lady of Prompt Succor” in thanksgiving and began to promote devotion to Mary under this title.
+ In 1810, the completed statue was brought from France and placed in the convent chapel. The sisters have credited Our Lady of Prompt Succor with protecting them in times of fire, during the Battle of New Orleans, and during various storms and hurricanes over the years.
+ Our Lady of Prompt Succor is honored as the patron of New Orleans and the state of Louisiana.
For prayer and reflection
“We see that a creature was assumed into the Glory of the Risen Jesus Christ, and that creature could not have been but her, the Mother of the Savior. We see that Mary, the new Eve, is in heaven, together with Christ, the New Adam; she is also there, and this gives us comfort and hope on our pilgrimage here below.”—Pope Francis
Spiritual bonus
On this day we also remember Blessed Titus Zeman. A Salesian priest, he helped the members of his community escape the oppressive regime in Czechoslovakia after the Communists outlawed religious communities in 1950. He was arrested in 1951 as he tried to leave the country and, after being interrogated and tortured, he was sentenced to 25 years in prison. The abuse he endured destroyed his health and, although he was released from prison in 1964, his health never recovered, and he died on January 8, 1969. Because his death was directly related to the suffering he endured in prison, he is regarded as a martyr for the faith and he was beatified in 2017.
Prayer
O Mary, Mother of God, who amid the tribulations of the world, watch over us and over the Church of your Son, be to us and to the Church, truly Our Lady of Prompt Succor. Make haste to help us all in our necessities, that in this fleeting life you may be our succor, and obtain for us (here ask the particular favor you desire). As you once saved our beloved city from ravaging flames and our country from an invading army, have pity on us and obtain for us protection from hurricanes and all other disasters. Be to us truly Our Lady of Prompt Succor now and especially at the hour of our death.
(from the website of the National Shrine of Our Lady of Prompt Succor)
Saint profiles prepared by Father Silas Henderson, S.D.S.
And today we celebrate...