Feast of the Assumption and Herb Blessing Mass
Schedule
Thu Aug 15 2024 at 05:00 pm
UTC-05:00Location
2701 State Street , New Orleans, LA, United States, Louisiana 70118 | New Orleans, LA
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Please join us as we celebrate the Solemnity of the Feast of the Assumption on Thursday, August 15 at 5:00 p.m. CDT in The National Shrine of Our Lady of Prompt Succor with Rev. Victor Laroche O.P., Xavier University of Louisiana Chaplain, as our presider. During this Mass, we will also honor the Ursuline tradition of the blessing of the herbs. A blessing of crops, plants, flowers and herbs was adopted by Christians as a feast for Mary, the ultimate symbol of Mother Earth who produced the divine fruit for our spiritual nourishment, Jesus.
Each year, the Ursulines honor Sister Saint Francis Xavier Hebert, OSU, who arrived in New Orleans in 1732. Sr. St. Francis Xavier is credited as the first woman pharmacist in the United States, as well as, the first woman director of a hospital. She is known for planting an herb garden in the courtyard of the Old Ursuline Convent and for using those herbs for medicinal purposes during her ministry of healing. The city of New Orleans greatly benefited from her combinations of herbs, spices, remedies and medicines, which were used by the hospital and the local community through the Civil War. The Ursuline museum on the Academy's campus holds some of her original tools with which she used to work.
*Please note that the actual blessing of the campus garden will take place earlier in the day following an Academy Mass. Herbs blessed during the evening Mass will be planted in that garden.
This event will also be streamed via Facebook Live for those who are unable to attend in person.
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Where is it happening?
2701 State Street , New Orleans, LA, United States, Louisiana 70118Event Location & Nearby Stays:
