FEAST of the OUR LADY OF THE ROSARY

 

Why is the FEAST of the OUR LADY OF THE ROSARY, on every October 7th? 

 

..... The story of the VICTORY OF OUR LADY OF THE ROSARY at the Battle of Lepanto, on OCTOBER 7, 1571.

 

IN TIMES OF ACUTE DANGER AND HARDSHIP, WE MUST ALWAYS FLY INTO THE ARMS OF THE MOST POWERFUL MOTHER OF GOD AND TURN TO THE RECITATION OF HER HOLY ROSARY. The Battle of Lepanto is a great lesson of confidence for us today. 

 

When Saint Pius V became Pope, Christendom faced the perils perhaps unequaled in its history of continual conflict with the violent followers of Mohammed. All the information and intelligence that Pope Pius V had been gathering indicated that the Ottoman juggernaut was about to roll across the Mediterranean and adjacent lands, spearheaded by the Turkish fleet, with Italy and Rome as one of its target. (The Ottoman Empire is also historically known in Western Europe as the Turkish Empire)

 

Only Spain and Venice had the resources to resist, and they hated each other along with deep mistrust. Yet Saint Pius — calling down divine grace as only a man of prayer could — forged an alliance with them as the core of an organized fleet of over 200 galleys. With his considerable tact and diplomatic skills, he not only kept them unified, but he convinced them to attack the enveloping menace.

 

The Archbishop of Mexico had an exact copy of the HOLY IMAGE OF THE LADY OF GUADALUPE sent to King Philip II, who in turn gave it to Andrea Doria, one of the three principal admirals of the fleet, who placed it in his cabin. When the Armada went from file to line abreast and attacked on the morning of OCTOBER 7, 1571 the blue standard of OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE was also flying from the masthead of Don Juan’s flagship. 

 

Pope Pius V, a Dominican prelate before becoming a Pope, did what Catholics have always done in times of acute danger: FLY INTO THE ARMS OF THE MOST POWERFUL MOTHER OF GOD. As a follower of Saint Dominic, HE KNEW THE MOST EFFECTIVE MEANS OF IMPLORING HER HELP WAS THROUGH THE RECITATION OF THE HOLY ROSARY. He ordered all monasteries and convents in Rome to increase their prayers for the impending battle and organized ROSARY PROCESSIONS in which he, as sick as he was, participated. OUR LADY’S PRESENCE THAT DAY WAS MORE ACUTELY FELT THROUGH THE HOLY ROSARY. On the eve of battle, the men of THE HOLY LEAGUE PREPARED THEIR SOULS BY FALLING TO THEIR KNEES ON THE DECKS OF THEIR GALLEYS AND PRAYING THE ROSARY.

 

At dawn on October 7, 1571, the Holy League rowed down the west coast of Greece and turned east into the Gulf of Patras. When the morning mist cleared, the Christians, rowing directly against the wind, saw the squadrons of the larger Ottoman fleet arrayed like a crescent from shore to shore, bearing down on them under full sail.

 

As the fleets grew closer, the Christians could hear the gongs and cymbals, drums and cries of the Turks. The men of the Holy League quietly pulled at their oars, the soldiers stood on the decks in silent prayer. PRIESTS HOLDING LARGE CRUCIFIXES MARCHED UP AND DOWN THE DECKS EXHORTING THE MEN TO BE BRAVE AND HEARING FINAL CONFESSIONS ……….. THEN THE BLESSED VIRGIN INTERVENED! 

 

The wind shifted 180 degrees. The sails of the Holy League were filled with the Divine breath, driving them into battle. As the Christian fleet sailed toward the great clash, MASS WAS CELEBRATED AND THE ROSARY RECITED DAILY ON EACH VESSEL….. THIS HEARTFELT REQUEST FOR DIVINE ASSISTANCE RESULTED IN A CRUSHING DEFEAT OF THE OTTOMANS AT LEPANTO THAT ENDED THEIR DOMINANCE AND CRUELTY IN THE MEDITERRANEAN.

 

OCTOBER 7, 1571, WAS THE VICTORY OF OUR LADY OF THE MOST HOLY ROSARY, EVEN IF THE CHRISTIAN FLEET WAS GREATLY OUTNUMBERED BY THE OTTOMAN FLEET.

 

TO CELEBRATE OUR LADY’S INTERCESSION AND VICTORY, THE CHURCH HAS DESIGNATED OCTOBER 7 AS THE FEAST OF OUR LADY OF THE MOST HOLY ROSARY.