This weekend marks the 190th anniversary of the Battle of New Orleans in which the British were defeated. The Ursuline nuns came to New Orleans in 1727 to open a military hospital, an orphanage and a girls' school. The Order of nuns still has a Convent and Academy in New Orleans and celebrated today with a Mass at the Convent.
In 1814 General Andrew Jackson asked the Ursulines to pray that the City would be spared in battle. The nuns prayed all night and the battle was won. A promise was made that from that day forward a Mass of thanksgiving would be held every January 8. On Saturday three archbishops of Louisiana participated in the ceremony and the "Te Deum" was sung for the 190th time in keeping with the promise. See http://www.Pbase.com/image/38450804.
Hundreds of people participated and many lit votive candles for the victims of the Tsumani and for six local Louisiana National Guardsmen who were killed in Iraq on Thursday. The candles gave a warm glow to the bleak winter weather.Another view at http://www.PBase.com/image/38438529.