Our Lady of Prompt Seccor

Today I want to share with you yet another Feast Day of Our Lady. January 8 is the Feast of Our Lady of Prompt Succor. The title dates back almost three centuries. It is said that when invoked in prayer, Mary has interceded in decisive ways.

Our story open in New Orleans in 1727. A group of Ursuline nuns arrived in the city and established a convent as well as a school for girls. It was the first of its kind in what would eventually become the United States. Not long after, the territory returned to French control. At the time there was a great deal of anti-religious sentiment among the French following their revolution. Fearful, the nuns fled to Cuba. It was only after Thomas Jefferson became president that the nuns were promised protection, so they returned to New Orleans.

When one of the sisters in charge of the school in New Orleans was in need of help, she wrote to her cousin, a religious sister still in France. Her cousin requested permission from her bishop to travel to America and assist at the school. The request was denied. And so the Ursuline nun felt she had no recourse but to plead with the Pope. She then prayed to Mary, 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.” Needless to say, the pope responded favorably in record time, and a statue was commissioned of Mary holding the Christ Child.

Ever since, Our Lady of Prompt Succor has been invoked throughout the history of New Orleans. During a great fire in New Orleans in 1812, the sisters gathered around the statue and sought Mary’s intercession. The convent was one of the few buildings spared in the area. In 1815, General Andrew Jackson faced the British at the Battle of New Orleans, the final battle of the War of 1812. The night before the battle, many in New Orleans gathered around Mary and invoked her intercession. That January 8, the British lost both the battle and the war. The future President of the United States, Andrew Jackson, acknowledged Mary’s role in victory.

Today is the feast day of Our Lady of Prompt Succor. It is only fitting that we celebrate in true New Orleans fashion.

Louisiana Shrimp and Andouille Sausage Gumbo
1 Red Bell pepper, 3/4-inch pieces
1 medium Onion, coarsely chopped
1 Celery Rib, 1/2-inch pieces
2 Garlic Cloves, very finely chopped
1/2 pound Andouille Sausage, coin-cut
1/4 teaspoon Cayenne Pepper
Salt to taste
Freshly Ground Pepper
2 tablespoons Vegetable Oil
2 tablespoons all-purpose Flour
4 cups Chicken Stock
2 Thyme Sprigs
3/4 lb medium Shrimp; shelled and deveined
1 Scallion or Spring Onion, thinly sliced
1 tablespoon Flat-leaf (Italian) Parsley, finely chopped

Cut bell pepper, onion and celery. Set aside. Peel and mince garlic. Set aside. Cut Sausage, set aside.

In a large saucepan, heat the vegetable oil until shimmering. Add the red bell pepper, chopped onion, celery, chopped garlic and cayenne. Season the vegetables with salt and pepper and cook them over moderately high heat until they are softened, about 2 minutes. Add the sausage to the vegetables and cook, stirring occasionally, until lightly browned, about 5 minutes. Sprinkle the flour on top of the sausage and vegetables and stir until evenly coated. Add the chicken stock and thyme sprigs and simmer over moderate heat for 10 minutes.

Add the shrimp and scallion to the saucepan, season lightly with salt and simmer, stirring, until the shrimp are opaque and cooked through, about 2 minutes longer. Discard the thyme sprigs. Stir the parsley into the gumbo and serve at once.

Serve with steamed white rice, crusty bread and a tomato-spinach salad, this is comfort food at its best.

---

Give to the Lord, you sons of God,
give to the Lord glory and praise