Our Lady of Prompt Succor, unlike other Marian Devotions that revolve around a vision or appearance of our Blessed Mother, is a devotion born of a promise. She is best known for the outcome of the Battle of New Orleans.
Long before America became the independent country it is today, a nun in New Orelans sought to help her cousin, also a nun, establish a school for girls in New Orleans. Her cousin was in France and would need permission to travel to New Orleans. Sadly, her request to the bishop to allow her to go to New Orleans was promptly denied. Not wishing to give up, she petitioned directly to the Pope. Before making her request, she prayed to Mary, asking for a swift response in favor of her request. She promised to have a statue commissioned depicting Mary and the Christ Child, to be called Our Lady of Prompt Succor. The sister’s prayer was answered and the statue as promised was dedicated to Mary in New Orleans.
This devotion to Mary and placing faith in her both protection and intersesion did not end with the establishment of a school in New Orleans. It is believed the Battle of New Orleans was won because the citizens of New Orleans asked Mary to help them. Even Andrew Jackson himself believed prayer played a key role in their victory. When a fire swept through New Orleans, the sisters gathered at the base of the statue, calling out to Mary for protection. The Church and the school were some of the few buildings in the entire city left standing. Even today the faithful pray to Our Lady of Prompt Succor during natural disasters that so frequently plague New Orleans.
God does not always spare us from pain, sorrow or loss. Bad things still happen to good people. What He does do is to stand by us faithfuly through our trials and tribulations. All we need do is offer up our sufferings to Him. He has the strength we lack to carry the load.
Banana Blueberry Pancakes
1 large Egg
1-1/2 cups frozen Blueberries, divided
1-1/2 cups Flour
2 tablespoons Sugar
2 heaping teaspoons Baking Powder
1/2 teaspoon Salt
1-1/4 cups Milk
5 medium ripe Bananas, divided
1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
Let egg come to room temperature and the blueberries defrost before beginning. Lightly whisk the warmed egg, set aside. Reserve half a cup of the blueberries for the garnish at the end.
In a bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar baking powder and salt. Set dry ingredients aside.
In the bowl with the lightly beaten egg, add milk. Peel and mash 3 bananas, add to the egg mixture. Whisk in the vanilla extract.
Stir wet ingredients into the dry ingredients until moist.
Set batter aside. Peel and slice remaining 2 bananas for a garnish.
Heat a lightly oiled griddle to medium-low heat. Ladle about a quarter cup or so on the batter per pancake onto the warmed griddle. Quickly top each pancake with a scattering of blueberries.
Cook pancakes for a few minutes, until cake is golden brown and the edges are beginning to dry. Flip, cook another few minutes until cooked through.
Butter the pancakes just before removing from the griddle, allowing butter to melt.
Stack pancakes, garnish with sliced bananas and a scattering of blueberries. Delicious with syrup and a side of meat such as bacon or sausage.
No one has ever seen God. Yet, if we love one another, God remains in us,
and His love is brought to perfection in us.
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