About Our Lady of Prompt Succor
Who is Our Lady of Prompt Succor?
Our Lady of Prompt Succor (Notre-Dame du Prompt Secours) refers to a Roman Catholic title given to a devotion connected to a statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary brought to New Orleans from France in 1810 by Ursuline Nun Sister de Ste. Michel Gensoul. The statue resided in the Ursuline Convent at 1112 Chartres St.
On January 7th, 1815, the evening before the Battle of New Orleans, during an all-night vigil of prayer to Our Lady of Prompt Succor, the statue was placed on top of the tabernacle of the Blessed Sacrament on the altar of the Chapel of Our Lady of Consolation by order of Mother Superior Francoise Victoria Olivier de Vezin. It was conducted by Sulpician priest Monsignor Louis-Guillaume-Valentin DuBourg, with the Ursuline nuns and townspeople.
The next morning, Sunday, January 8th, as the battle commenced, Msgr. DuBourg began the Holy Sacrifice of Mass. At the moment of Holy Communion, a courier ran in and announced the Americans were victorious, that they had defeated the British, who greatly outnumbered them. This secured the independence of the nation. Her title continues to be used when invoking the Virgin Mary for quick assistance in difficulties, be they societal or personal.
Leave your Intentions for Her
Your prayer intentions will be printed and placed on the OLPS Altar in the NY Archconfraternity's Chapel and remembered in our Masses and daily prayers. You can also email us with your petitions directly at promptsuccorprayers@gmail.com
WHO ARE THE SERVANTS OF OUR LADY OF PROMPT SUCCOR?
The Servants of Our Lady of Prompt Succor are members of the New York Chapter of the Archconfraternity of Our Lady of Prompt Succor; established in 2000. The Archconfraternity is headquartered at the National Shrine of Our Lady of Prompt Succor, New Orleans, Louisiana.
In response to Jesus’ words on the cross to Saint John the Apostle, '(John 19:27)':“Behold, Your Mother”, our mission is to take the Blessed Virgin Mary as protectress, model and Mother, to sustain the Archconfraternity statutes and proclaim God’s unconditional love through Catholic prayer and tradition. We unite as an online community of faith, reaching out in prayer and charity, striving to bring souls to Jesus Christ through the intercession of the Mother of God.
We sponsor Catholic Masses in honor of Our Lady of Prompt Succor, as well as the Byzantine Divine Liturgy. We also pray for those who request prayers, for the protection of human life in all its stages and for the holy souls. In addition the Servants also promote devotion to Her Eastern counterpart, 'Theotokos, Quick to Hear'.
When the statue of Our Lady of Prompt Succor arrived in the United States in June of 1810, Her first stop was Philadelphia, home of the Declaration of Independence and Constitution. Her second stop was Maryland; the state which would build the first Catholic Cathedral, named for Her Assumption. The sisters who accompanied the statue would finally arrive at the Ursuline convent in New Orleans in December. The statue would later be enthroned at the National Votive Shrine on State Street.
During the first visit to the Votive Shrine, those who would become New York Confraternity members encountered the miraculous statue. They were given a tour by Ursuline nun Sister Angela Murphy, who mentioned she had been praying to Our Lady of Prompt Succor for a Chapter in New York. Within 12 months, the Confraternity was established there, with approbation from the Shrine Director; who later raised it to an Archconfraternity.
We are always seeking new members to assist in the mission of Our Lady of Prompt Succor, to Her Son.