Carrying a Wedding Rosary
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In 1809, a French nun, Mother St. Michel, asked the pope for permission to bring her order of nuns to the city of New Orleans so they could serve the people of the United States. As she awaited the pope's response, Mother St. Michel prayed to the Blessed Mother Mary by saying, " O Most Holy Virgin Mary, if you obtain for me a prompt and favorable answer to this letter, I promise to have you honored at New Orleans under the title of Our Lady of Prompt Succor. Mother St. Michel also made another promise. She told Mary that she would have a beautiful statue made to honor her when the nuns arrived in the United States.
To Mother St. Michel's delight, the pope granted her request and the nuns made their home in New Orleans. By 1810, a beautiful gold painted statue of Mary holding the Infant Jesus was placed in the chapel of their convent. They named their statue Our Lady of Prompt Succor, the lady who offers help and support in times of distress.
As the nuns worked in New Orleans, they faced the joys and troubles of everday day life. One day in 1812, a fire sparked near-by. The nuns placed their statue of Mary, in their window and prayed that the convent would be kept safe. As they prayed, the winds quickly changed directions so that the fire did not reach their home.
Our Lady of Prompt Succor has become the patron of hurricane victims due to the devotion of Mother St. Michel and because the Gulf Coast of Louisiana often faces tremendous storms. Those in the path of hurricanes can turn to Our Lady of Prompt Succor for protection.
Helen Hoffner, Ed.D. is a professor at Holy Family University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She is the author of four books for Catholic audiences: The Cross: A Universal Symbol ( Marian Press, 2024), Catholicism Everywhere ( Sophia Institute Press, 2024), Catholic Traditions and Treasures ( Sophia Institute Press, 2018), and The Rosary Collector's Guide ( Schiffer Publishing, 2013). She has also written four books for teachers: The Elementary Teacher's Digital Toolbox ( Prentice Hall, 2006), Literacy Lessons K-8 ( Corwin Press, 2010), Reading and Writing Mysteries in Grades 4-8 ( Teacher Created Materials, 2006), and A Look at Realistic Fiction ( Teacher Created Materials, 2003). Dr. Hoffner has been invited to discuss her books on television programs of EWTN and the Catholic Faith Network as well as on radio stations across the United States and Canada.
