Our Lady of Prompt Succor Prayer Group

When Catholics are working to make positive changes in the world, prayer is just as necessary as action. With this in mind, Elisabeth Birky established Our Lady of Prompt Succor Prayer Group. Elisabeth’s goal was to support the important pro-life work of Walking with Moms in Need, which provides material, spiritual, and emotional support to mothers to encourage them to choose life.

Elisabeth chose the patronage of Our Lady of Prompt Succor in part because this title for Our Lady has a unique history in the United States and is associated with many miracles. One of the most well-known was in 1815, during the Battle of New Orleans. The forces of General Andrew Jackson were outnumbered by the British. At the Ursuline convent, where the statue of Our Lady of Prompt Succor resides, Mass was said asking for her intercession for the American forces. During Mass, news arrived of their victory. This story reminded Elisabeth of the famous Battle of Lepanto, which she relates to our current fight for a culture of life and an end to abortion and euthanasia.

“In my opinion, this is our Battle of Lepanto here,” Elisabeth says.

Elisabeth established the prayer group just this year and it is still getting its feet off the ground. She encourages anyone who would like to gather to pray to stop by and join them in prayer. It is a simple, but meaningful action. Asking the Blessed Mother’s intercession gives our humble actions more power than we might ever know.

The prayer group meets every Tuesday for about an hour to pray the Rosary and the Divine Mercy Chaplet, and to discuss different Marian apparitions. Learning about different Marian apparitions helps us to see our small battles for good as part of the great victory that God has over evil, and of which Our Lady is an instrumental part.

“I think there is a great need for people to know that the Blessed Mother has appeared over the centuries and has appeared in the last 10 years,” Elisabeth says. “I think people need to be aware of that and that in every appearance, she talks about prayer, penance, and praying the Rosary. I think those three things are really important for people to know and start practicing.”

The group prays for an end to abortion and euthanasia, but Elisabeth doesn’t limit the group to just those needs.

“Prayer right now is just so necessary,” Elisabeth says. “There are so many reasons to pray.”

The prayer group meets every Tuesday at 1 p.m. in the prayer room at the convent. All are welcome to join us. Contact Elisabeth Birky with any questions at elisabeth.birky@gmail.com .