Beautiful statue of Our Lady of Prompt Succor. She venerated as a great protector. 

Jan. 8 is the feast of Our Lady of Prompt Succor — patroness of New Orleans or anyone needing the Blessed Mother’s immediate assistance. Use of the title goes back almost three centuries. And when invoked by it, Mary has interceded in decisive ways.

A great fire threatened the Ursuline monastery in 1812. A lay sister brought the statue to the window and Mother Saint Michel prayed “Our Lady of Prompt Succor, we are lost if you do not come to our aid”.
The wind changed direction, turned the fire away, and saved the monastery.  

 

Our Lady interceded again at the Battle of New Orleans in 1815. Many faithful, including wives and daughters of American soldiers, gathered in the Ursuline chapel before the statue of Our Lady of Prompt Succor, and spent the night before the battle in prayer. They asked Our Lady for victory by Andrew Jackson’s forces over the British, which would save the city from being sacked. Jackson and 200 men from around the South won a remarkable victory over a superior British force in a battle that lasted twenty-five minutes, and saw few American casualties.It is still customary for the devout of New Orleans to pray before the statue of Our Lady of Prompt Succor whenever a hurricane threatens New Orleans.

Handmade in Colombia. Hand painted by local Artisans (Widows from the local violence)  and finely crafted. The quality can be seen throughout the workmanship. The detail in wonderful.