The Special Connection Between the Feast of the Assumption and Louisiana

Today feast day of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary has special significance in Louisiana. Mary of the Assumption is the Patroness of the Acadians (this was confirmed by the Pope) and thus the Cajun People.

The above Flag that is the Flag of the Louisiana Acadians (Cajuns) more an that later is based on the Flag of Acadia in Canada.

The flag of Acadia (Seen at this link) was adopted on August 15 1884, at the Second Acadian National Convention held in Miscouche, Prince Edward Island by nearly 5, 000 Acadian delegates from across the Maritimes The Priest that designed it stated

"It has been proposed by the Secretary and seconded by Reverend M.-F. Richard that: 'The tricoloured flag be the national flag of the French Acadians. As a distinctive mark of the Acadian nationality, a star, representing Mary, will be placed in the blue section of the flag, which is the symbolic colour of the people who are devoted to the Virgin Mary. This star, Stella Maris, that must guide the small Acadian colony through storms and pitfalls, will be yellow in order to show our sacred attachment to our mother, the Holy Church.' " [Unofficial translation]


The Cajun Flag pictured above ""Cajun" Acadian Flag" we learn
was Commissioned by France-Amérique de la Louisiane Acadienne, Dr. Thomas Arceneaux, of USL, designed a similar flag in 1965 to in honor of the 200th anniversary of the arrival of Acadians in Louisiana. It divides the 3 colors a bit differently (see image to the right). On the flag are 3 symbols. The gold castle on the red field represents the Spanish kingdom, who allowed and even assisted the Acadians in settling their
new homeland. The silver fleur-de-lis on the blue field represents their French heritage. The gold star on the white background respresents the Virgin Mary, patron saint of the Acadians. So this flag is identified with Acadians who migrated to Louisiana. Louisiana made this flag the offical flag of the Acadiana area in 1974.


This Flag is flown widely in large parts of South Louisiana.

A Catholic Priest in Louisiana has more details on this page. He states in part:


Its colors resemble the Acadian Flag and the French Flag which are the origins of the Cajun people.

To further symbolize the French origin of the Cajuns, a portion of the arms of their mother country -- three fleurs de lis, are in silver on a blue field. Most flags omit the silver color and the fleurs de lis are in white. The gold star is the official symbol of the Virgin Mary, under the title of "Our Lady of the Assumption." This symbol has special religious significance for the Acadians, since they left France for the New World during a period of great devotion to Mary. It was at that time that the King of France, Louis XIII, declared Mary the "Patroness of the Kingdom," and so on August 15, 1638, France and her colonies were consecrated to Mary under the title of "Our Lady of the Assumption." Then in 1938, Pope Pius XI solemnly proclaimed "Our Lady of the Assumption" as the patroness of all Acadians -- those in Canada as well as those in Louisiana and elsewhere. Shortly after the arrival of the displaced Acadians in Louisiana, the American colonies started their struggle for independence. At that time, Louisiana was a Spanish colony. It is significant to recall the fact that Spain decided to champion the cause of the 13 American colonies in their revolution against the same nation that had so cruelly exiled the Acadians.


Thus the gold castle reminds of us our Spanish friends. Many Acadians of Louisiana, serving under Galvez, the Governor of Spanish Louisiana, actively participated in the battles of Manchac, Baton Rouge, Mobile and Pensacola -- all very important and decisive victories which contributed to the successful conclusion of the American Revolution.

Since the Acadians were citizens of Spain at the time of the American Revolution, their star could not appear on the first American flag. Thus, the gold star on the Louisiana Acadian Flag also serves as a reminder of Louisiana's participation in the American Revolution and of the significant contributions of Louisiana Acadians during the struggle for the establishment of our nation.

God Bless Louisiana and Our Lady :)