A Message from Bishop Marshall: Prayers for the Calming of Storms

Dear sisters and brothers in Christ.

On this Memorial of St. Louis, King of France, the patron of our state, we are taking precautions against two storms in the Gulf of Mexico.  It is always appropriate for us to turn to the Lord God and ask that all may be kept safe and that we might be spared damage and injury from the storms.  In the midst of this pandemic, we are already anxious.  We pray as well that we may be freed from any additional anxiety and that our Lord may not only calm the storms but bring peace to our hearts.  This prayer is taken from the Church’s collection of Votive Masses:

O God,
to whose command all the elements give obedience,
we humbly entreat you,
that the stilling of fearsome storms may turn a powerful menace
into an occasion for us to praise you.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you
in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.  Amen.

In times of need, we seek the intercession of our Blessed Mother, under the title of Our Lady of Prompt Succor.  The beautiful Memorare of St. Bernard of Clairvaux puts our feelings into words.

Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary,
that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection,
implored thy help, or sought thy intercession was left unaided.

Inspired with this confidence,
I fly to thee, O Virgin of virgins, my Mother;
to thee do I come;
before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful.
O Mother of the Word Incarnate,
despise not my petitions,
but in thy mercy hear and answer me. Amen.

I join my prayers to yours this day and throughout the hurricane season that God will continue to be our guide and our protection.

Live Jesus in our hearts,

Most Reverend Robert W. Marshall, Jr.
Bishop of Alexandria