Monsignor Kern, Blessing of the Sword at St. Louis Cathedral St. Joan in Armor Krewe of St. Joan of Arc Parade, New Orleans
Joan of Arc,
"The Maid of Orléans"
This year we are are celebrating a very special saint in the Church, St. Joan of Arc! It is her 600th birthday! She is so instrumental for these times not only for our country but in fact for the whole Christian world!
Here in New Orleans, Louisiana on Friday, January 6th amid the Saints and LSU Football Fans we had one of our new Mardi Gras parades, Krewe De Jeanne D' Arc (St. Joan of Arc) in the French Quarter! It happen to fall on the 12 day of Christmas and Feast of the Epiphany which we celebrate on Sunday! New Orleans has such a rich Catholic Heritage! New Orleans is a sister city to Orleans, France. In Orleans France, St. Joan was just a 17 year old girl who had to fight for the city's liberation. Joan also led the French Army to several important victories which paved the way to the coronation of Charles VII.
In New Orleans this weekend, Drew Brees led the Saints to another victory game, hopefully leading the team toward another superbowl and also many undefeated LSU Tigers and Bama Fans were in New Olreans waiting to play the BCS Narional Championship game on Monday!
As we celebrate our victories we should ask, what are the true victories in life and who are the true heroes? We can look to St. Joan of Arc because she had a strong will and foresight given to her by God to fight for what was right in the political onslaught of her time! Her purity and chastity gave her strength making her a powerful soldier for Christ!
Football is great especially when you are on top but let us remember as it says in Ephesians 6 :12 "For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood; but against principalities and power, against the rulers of the world of this darkness, against the spirits of wickedness in the high places!" by Tricia Parsons, editor
St. Joan of Arc Parade
Krew de Jeanne D'Arc Blog
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200 Year Old Mass Celebrated
in Thanksgiving to Our Lady of Prompt Succor
The National Shrine of Our Lady of Prompt Succor
2635 State St
New Orleans, LA 70118
(504) 866-0200
Patroness of the State of Louisiana
History of Our Lady of Prompt
Succor Statue
Mother St. Michel Gensoul, an Ursuline Sister from France wished to serve in the New Orleans mission but was told by her bishop that she had to get permission from the Pope who was Pope Pius VII at the time. Mother St. Michel Gensoul promise Our Lady she would have her honored under the title of Prompt Succor (quick help) if she would receive a prompt and favorable reply from the Pope. Mother St. Michel received a prompt reply allowing her to go to New Orleans. So, Mother St. Michel had a large statue carved, painted in gold, and given the special name of Our Lady of prompt Succor. Mother St. Michel arrived with the Our Lady of Prompt Succor statue in New Orleans at the Old Ursuline Convent on December 30, 1810. On January 7-8, 1815 while the Battle of New Orleans was being fought, the Ursuline Sisters and the women of New Orleans prayed during the night in front of the statue of Our Lady of Prompt Succor. There were many odds against them but after winning the Battle of New Orleans, Andrew Jackson publicly acknowledged that the American victory was won by heavenly intervention.
A Thanksgiving Mass has been celebrated each year to commemorate this event.
In 1894, Pope Leo XIII issued a decree granting the "Solemn Coronation of the Miraculous Statue of Our Lady of Prompt Succor, exposed to public veneration in the chapel of the Ursuline Convent, New Orleans." For the coronation of the statue,the people of New Orleans donated their jewels for the making of both crowns on the statue, Our Lady and baby Jesus. This statue is now positioned on the altar of the this National Shrine of Our Lady of Prompt Succor.
Go to our Our Lady of Prompt Succor page here for more info..
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Seelos Birthday Healing Mass with Sacrament of Anointing
Hundreds Celebrate Fr. Seelos Healing Mass!!
Celebrant: Fr. Byron Miller, C.Ss.R., Vice Postulator for the Canonization Cause
National Seelos Shrine / St. Mary’s Assumption Church 919 Josephine Street (Corner of Josephine & Constance Streets) New Orleans, LA 70130
Seelos Center
See the story about the "mysterious blue/holy spirit" bird at a healing mass.
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LOUISIANA LIFE MARCH
Saturday, January 21, 2012 Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Three to four thousand gathered at the "Old State Capitol for the 2nd annual "Life March"in Louisiana! The March ended at the steps of the "New State Capitol" with quest speakers. Buses came from around the state! Some from as far as Houma and New Orleans to the Capitol City. David Vitter spoke to the crowd as well as the retired Most Rev. Dominic Carmon (Catholic Bishop of New Orleans Diocese) and several protestant ministers!
One of the speakers last year at the Life March was Fr. Shenan Bouquet from the Diocese of Houma Thibodaux, Louisiana. Fr. Shenan Boquet who was also named this past year the President of Human Life International. HLI is an international life mission in 105 countries founded in 1981 by Rev. Paul Marx, O.S.B., HLI Fr. Bouquet earlier this month was the keynote speaker at the Bishop's Pro-life Rally at the Diocese of Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Louisiana has much to celebrate on the life issue! According to Americans United for Life "Life List" a ranking of all 50 states based on the way each deals with a comprehensive list of life issues – from abortion to euthanasia. For the second time in three years, Louisiana tops the list, followed closely by Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Nebraska, and Arkansas.
by Tricia Parsons Editor
