Strong Category Five Now

From NOLA.com: Weather News:

As of Sunday morning, Katrina has strengthened to Category 5 with winds of 175 mph. As of 8:30 a.m., winds were 160 mph winds. Winds of 155 or greater mark a Category 5 storm on the Saffir-Simpson scale. Katrina is comparable to Hurricane Camille in intensity, which devastated the New Orleans area in 1969; the difference is that Katrina is larger.

The entire Southeastern Louisiana area is under hurricane warning. The area extends from Morgan City eastward to the Alabama/Florida border--including metro New Orleans and Lake Ponchartrain.

From Our Lady of Prompt Succor:

It is customary for devout citizens of New Orleans to gather to pray before the statue of Our Lady of Prompt Succor whenever a hurricane threatens New Orleans. They know they can depend upon Our Lady’s succor and her promptitude. Our Lady of Prompt Succor, ora pro nobis.

Prayer to Our Lady of Prompt Succor:

Lord Jesus, we know You are the ultimate power. We know that when You grant graces through Your mother they can come to us faster than the speed of light, with unfathomable power. Dear Lord, let us grow closer to You through Our Lady of Prompt Succor, that we may please God and that He may come to our assistance in a hasty fashion.

Grant us the faith, that we too may see miracles in our lives, and grant us the inspiration and grace to pray fervently during Mass and at the Blessed Sacrament.

And oh Mary, you have come so many times through history to aid your children. Come now to our aid. Come to the prompt aid of our families. Come to the aid of the United States, which has sunken into materialism and unholiness and darkness.

Save us, Blessed Mother. Save our nation. Save the heritage that men like General Jackson fought for. Save this great country founded upon the precepts of Christianity. Bring back holiness, oh Lord. Bring back goodness. Rescue our nation as quickly as possible!

In our own lives, instill a fervent faith and love. Oh Blessed Mother, let us feel love for all human beings. Let our hearts soften. Let us become your vessels of purity and charity.

(Response: be with us):

Oh Virgin so gracious,

Oh Virgin who saved France,

Oh Virgin, who beckons New Orleans,

Oh Virgin who can save our own nation,

Oh Virgin of quick response,

Oh Virgin who instills charity,

BE WITH US

Ejaculation:

Virgin Mary of Prompt Succor, be ever and quickly attendant to our needs!

Angelus:

V: The angel spoke God's message to Mary

R: And she conceived of the Holy Spirit

(Hail Mary, full of grace...)

V: "I am the lowly servant of the Lord:

R: Let it be done to me according to your word."

(Hail Mary...)

V: And the Word became flesh

R: and dwelt amongst us.

(Hail Mary...)

V: Pray for us, holy Mother of God,

R: That we may become worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let us pray: Lord, fill our hearts with your grace: once, through the message of an angel, you revealed to us the incarnation of your Son; now, through His suffering and death, lead us to the glory of His resurrection. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Let us further pray:

Our Lady of Prompt Succor, you are after Jesus our only hope. O Most Holy Virgin, whose merits have raised you high above angel choirs to the very throne of the Eternal and whose foot crushed the head of the infernal serpent, you are strong against the enemies of our salvation. O Mother of God, you are our mediatrix most kind and loving. Hasten, then, to our help, and as you did once save your beloved city from ravaging flames and our country from an alien foe, do now have pity on our misery, and obtain for us the graces we beg of you. Deliver us from the wiles of Satan, assist us in the many trials which beset our path in this valley of tears, and be to us truly Our Lady of Prompt Succor now and especially at the hour of our death. Our Lady of Prompt Succor, O Mary Immaculate, you are the model of all virtues, the path by which we go to Jesus, the mysterious channel through which divine favors are imparted to us. You have such power over the Heart of Jesus, hasten to our assistance and obtain our earnest request (here name the favor desired).

In you, O Mary, we put our trust. Let it not be said that our hopes have been frustrated. O Mother most chaste, be our strength against temptation, our help in danger, our consolation in sorrow, but especially Our Lady of Prompt Succor at the hour of our death. Amen.

Our Lady of Prompt Succor, hasten to help us. (Repeat three times and recite the Hail Mary and Our Father.)