Holy Family is one of the few buildings in the city to have survived the Chicago Fire in 1871 . When the fire broke out , Damen was in Brooklyn preaching as a missionary . After being made aware of the fire , he invoked Our Lady of Perpetual Help to protect the church and its nearby structures and promised to light seven candles in front of her statue in the church should she intercede for its protection . The church complex was indeed spared , and seven candles ( now electric ) perpetually burn in front of her statue in the east transept . Additionally , Patrick and Catherine O'Leary , owners of the cow rumored to have started the fire , were parishioners at Holy Family
Chicago Fire
Great Chicago Fire
Holy Family Catholic Church (Chicago)