The National Shrine of Our Lady of Prompt Succor

The Ursuline Sisters arrived from France in 1727 and the devotion to Our Lady of Prompt Succor began to spread throughout the students, men, women, and children of New Orleans. It was believed that through her intercession and response to prayers she could provide deliverance from war, pestilence, and storms. The Ursuline Sisters opened and ran what is now the oldest school for girls in the United States, the Ursuline Academy.

In 1803 several nuns from Ursuline’s Convent and left the congregation with only seven nuns. Their departure threatened the stability of the church so Mother ST. Andre Madier asked for help from her cousin Mother St. Michel Gensoul. Mother St. Michel was a member of the Ursuline Chapter in France and was forced to leave her monastery, Pont-Saint-Espirt, because of the Reign of Terror. Mother St. Michel’s request to leave France for New Orleans was denied by Bishop Fournier who told her that only the Pope or Napoleon could grant her the permission she desired. One day she prayed before a statue of the Blessed Virgin that, “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.” Soon after Mother St. Michel was headed to New Orleans. She arrived in 1810 along with a statue of Our Lady of Prompt Succor.

In 1815 as the devotion to Our Lady of Prompt Succor grew throughout New Orleans, the gratitude for her intercessions only increased when she was credited for the miracle of the victory of General Andrew Jackson over the British in the Battle of New Orleans. The Ursulines and Bishop Louis Du Bourg promised to celebrate a Mass of Thanksgiving each year of the feast day of Our Lady of Prompt Succor on January 8. In 2015 the promise was observed for the 200th time. The statue of Our Lady of Prompt Succor that was gilded in gold, was crowned by Decree of His Holiness, Pope Leo XIII in 1895. In 1928 the Holy See approved and confirmed the naming of Our Lady of Prompt Succor as the principal Patroness of New Orleans and the State of Louisiana. The statue now stands over the main altar on State Street. 

Ursuline Academy. Accessed August 12th 2020. https://www.uanola.org/about/olps-shrine.

Our History, Shrine of Our Lady or Prompt Succor. Accessed August 12th 2020. https://www.shrineofourladyofpromptsuccor.com/history.

About the Shrine, National Shrine of Our Lady of Prompt Succor. Accessed August 12th 2020. https://20177.sites.ecatholic.com/about-the-shrine.

Gurtner, George . New Orleans History: Our Lady of Prompt Succor, Ny New Orleans. December 12th 2011. Accessed August 12th 2020. https://www.myneworleans.com/new-orleans-history-our-lady-of-prompt-succor/.