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St. Mary's Assumption Church (New Orleans)
Encyclopedia
St. Mary's Assumption Church is a National Historic Landmark
in New Orleans, Louisiana
.
The church was completed in 1860, built for the swelling German Catholic immigrant population in the Lower Garden District section of the city (the church across the street, Saint Alphonsus Church, was built at the same time for the swelling Irish Catholic immigrant population in the same area). Both churches are extremely beautiful and ornate.
St. Mary's Assumption is home to a shrine for Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos
, a German priest who came to the United States to minister to German-speaking immigrants. Fr. Seelos died while serving as the pastor at St. Mary's Assumption: after visiting and caring for the victims of yellow fever
, he succumbed to the disease himself in 1867. In recognition of his virtuous life, Fr. Seelos was beatified
by the Roman Catholic Church in 2000.
It was declared a National Historic Landmark
in 1974.
In 1965, the church was heavily damaged by Hurricane Betsy
, which resulted in the church being temporarily closed, and almost resulted in the church being demolished. In 2005, Hurricane Katrina
caused heavy rain and wind damage, and water infiltration damaged interior plaster and ceiling, according to the National Park Service.
Best-selling novelist Anne Rice
renewed her marriage vows at St. Mary's Assumption with her husband Stan. In addition, Anne Rice included the church in her fictional work. For example, in The Witching Hour
, two of the main characters, Rowan and Michael, were married at St. Mary's Assumption. Also, in Blackwood Farm
, the church is the setting of Aunt Queen's funeral. In 2005, Rice added text and pictures on her website that encouraged donations to St. Mary's Assumption to help repair the damage caused by Hurricane Katrina.
National Historic Landmark
A National Historic Landmark is a building, site, structure, object, or district, that is officially recognized by the United States government for its historical significance...
in New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
.
The church was completed in 1860, built for the swelling German Catholic immigrant population in the Lower Garden District section of the city (the church across the street, Saint Alphonsus Church, was built at the same time for the swelling Irish Catholic immigrant population in the same area). Both churches are extremely beautiful and ornate.
St. Mary's Assumption is home to a shrine for Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos
Francis Xavier Seelos
Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos was a German-American Roman Catholic priest and Redemptorist missionary....
, a German priest who came to the United States to minister to German-speaking immigrants. Fr. Seelos died while serving as the pastor at St. Mary's Assumption: after visiting and caring for the victims of yellow fever
Yellow fever
Yellow fever is an acute viral hemorrhagic disease. The virus is a 40 to 50 nm enveloped RNA virus with positive sense of the Flaviviridae family....
, he succumbed to the disease himself in 1867. In recognition of his virtuous life, Fr. Seelos was beatified
Beatification
Beatification is a recognition accorded by the Catholic Church of a dead person's entrance into Heaven and capacity to intercede on behalf of individuals who pray in his or her name . Beatification is the third of the four steps in the canonization process...
by the Roman Catholic Church in 2000.
It was declared a National Historic Landmark
National Historic Landmark
A National Historic Landmark is a building, site, structure, object, or district, that is officially recognized by the United States government for its historical significance...
in 1974.
In 1965, the church was heavily damaged by Hurricane Betsy
Hurricane Betsy
Hurricane Betsy was a Category 4 hurricane of the 1965 Atlantic hurricane season which caused enormous damage in the Bahamas, Florida, and Louisiana. Betsy made its most intense landfall near the mouth of the Mississippi River, causing significant flooding of the waters of Lake Pontchartrain into...
, which resulted in the church being temporarily closed, and almost resulted in the church being demolished. In 2005, Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was a powerful Atlantic hurricane. It is the costliest natural disaster, as well as one of the five deadliest hurricanes, in the history of the United States. Among recorded Atlantic hurricanes, it was the sixth strongest overall...
caused heavy rain and wind damage, and water infiltration damaged interior plaster and ceiling, according to the National Park Service.
Best-selling novelist Anne Rice
Anne Rice
Anne Rice is a best-selling Southern American author of metaphysical gothic fiction, Christian literature and erotica from New Orleans, Louisiana. Her books have sold nearly 100 million copies, making her one of the most widely read authors in modern history...
renewed her marriage vows at St. Mary's Assumption with her husband Stan. In addition, Anne Rice included the church in her fictional work. For example, in The Witching Hour
The Witching Hour (novel)
The Witching Hour by Anne Rice is the first novel in her series "Lives of the Mayfair Witches." The novel begins the tale of a family of witches, and a spirit that has guided their fortunes for generations.-Plot summary:...
, two of the main characters, Rowan and Michael, were married at St. Mary's Assumption. Also, in Blackwood Farm
Blackwood Farm
Blackwood Farm is one of the more recent books in The Vampire Chronicles and The Mayfair Witches series, written by Anne Rice.-Synopsis:...
, the church is the setting of Aunt Queen's funeral. In 2005, Rice added text and pictures on her website that encouraged donations to St. Mary's Assumption to help repair the damage caused by Hurricane Katrina.