Who is Our Lady of Prompt Succor?
The title “Our Lady of Prompt Succor” was given to the Blessed Virgin Mary by Mother St. Michel Gensoul, an Ursuline Sister, in the late 18th century. When the reign of terror in France forced her into exile from her convent in Pont-Saint-Espirt to Montpellier, France, she founded a boarding school for girls. A letter from her cousin, an Ursline Sister in New Orleans, arrived, pleading for Mother St. Michel’s presence there. However, Bishop Fournier worried for the new and flourishing boarding school in troubled France and refused to grant her leave, telling her that only the Pope could give that permission.
In addition to the Bishop’s refusal, Pope Pius VII at this time (1809) was the prisoner of Napoleon Bonaparte in Savona, Italy, 295 miles away. The typical means of delivering a letter in peaceful times was by post riders on horseback, horsedrawn post coaches, or packet boats, and should the letter reach its destination at all, the Pope was under strict isolation and not permitted unmonitored communication. It seemed only a miracle could help Mother St. Michel.
Undaunted, Mother St. Michel wrote a letter at once, but for three months she had no means to send it. She sought assistance from the Mediatrix of all graces, the Mother of God. Praying before her statue she said:
“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 Secours.”
In a few days, on March 18, 1809, she obtained a means to send the letter. Within a month, against all odds, the Pope’s reply came, granting his permission and praising and blessing her endeavor.
Mother St. Michel Gensoul set to work to fulfill her promise, having a wooden statue of Our Lady carved and painted gold, holding the infant Jesus. The Bishop blessed the statue and Mother St. Michel and several postulants left France for New Orleans. They arrived at the Ursuline Convent and enshrined the Statue on December 31, 1810.
In 1894, Pope Leo XIII ordered a solemn coronization be given. In order for two crowns to be made for Our Lady and the Infant Jesus, the men and women of New Orleans gave, of their own free will, jeweled earings, bracelets, brooches, necklaces, bracelets, cuff links, and even tie pins. When the crowns were finished, every church of the Archdiocese of New Orleans made a solemn novena to prepare for the ceremony.
Archbishop Francis Janssens formally crowned the statue November 10, 1895, with a large assembly of clergy and faithful attending. In the end, every church bell in the Archdiocese rang with joy. Today, Our Lord and Our Lady have two crowns: the gold one is worn all year round, but the crowns made by the donated jewels are placed on the statue once a year, January 8th, the feast day of Our Lady of Prompt Succor.
Miracle Against the Fire of 1812
It was not long after the Sisters’ arrival that the Blessed Virgin Mary would continue to show how quick and powerful her aid is.
In 1812, a raging fire broke out in the city, quickly burning away a great part of what would eventually be called “The French Quarter,” and threatening to destroy the Ursuline Convent. Mother St. Michel urged the Sisters to flee the convent. One of the Sisters would write her eyewitness account:
“Hastily the Superior, Reverend Mother Saint Michel, commanded the nuns and school children to leave the building. As she herself turned to go, she was horrified to see Sister Saint Anthony, one of the old nuns, climbing the stairs. Following her, Rev. Mother discovered she was carrying a small statue of Our Lady. As the Superior watched, Sister Saint Anthony hurried to the window on the second floor. She set the statue on the sill facing the fire, then knelt and prayed with great confidence: ‘Oh Lady of Prompt Succor, save us or we are lost!’ At that very instant, the wind veered and the flames were blown back over their path of destruction and soon died out.”
Miracle of the Battle of New Orleans
On the night of January 7-8, 1815, the Ursuline Convent was filled with the Sisters and the women of New Orleans. All were fervently praying as the Battle of New Orleans, between the United States and England, was about to fully commence. The American forces were severely outnumbered, with the majority of the troops being untrained and inexperienced, having been drafted by Gen. Andrew Jackson only a month prior. The Sisters and citizens vowed to Our Lady that if the United States won, they would always offer an annual Mass of thanksgiving.
Despite overwhelming odds, in less than two hours the Americans shot the British general and wounded 2,000 troops while losing only 65 of their own. Gen. Andrew Jackson publicly acknowledged afterward that victory was won by heavenly intervention and even personally came to the Ursuline Convent with his staff to thank the Sisters for their prayers.
Our Connection to Our Lady of Prompt Succor
The Ursulines and Franciscans have always been closely linked because the founder of the Ursulines, St. Angela Merici, was a member of the Third Order of St. Francis and was even buried wearing the Franciscan habit. Besides this, our convent in particular has a special connection with Our Lady of Prompt Succor. She is one of our special patronesses, and her image hangs within our walls. It was she herself who came to our aid when we urgently needed to find a new home. Minutes after praying to her at her shrine in June, 2025, we received a call from a benefactor who offered a home for the Sisters. In thankskgiving, we made a pilgrimage to her this past month and, within days, we received an answer to another very urgent prayer. We owe her a deep debt of gratitude and encourage all who read this to have recourse to her.
Superior of the Ursuline Convent
Capuchin Sisters of St Joseph 
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