MARY, OUR MOTHER

FEAST OF OUR LADY OF THE ROSARY

This feast of the Holy Rosary was instituted to honor Mary for the Christian victory over the Turks at Lepanto on October 7, 1571. Pope St. Pius V had called on the people of Europe to get down on their knees and pray the Rosary so that they would be saved from the vicious Turks. At that time the Turkish armies had invaded most of the continent and a great naval armada was preparing to come by sea and destroy Christendom. The people in terrible fear did as the Pope asked.

The Christians were disorganized but then Don John of Austria was able to put together a small fleet to meet the enemy in the Mediterranean Sea. It seemed impossible, and yet, as the two naval units came near each other, a great storm arose and destroyed the Turkish Fleet.

The Pope knew of this victory even before the messengers arrived with the good news. The Holy Father was certain of the sea victory, and he proclaimed that October 7 would be a Feast Day in honor of Mary, who had saved Europe from disaster. The Blessed Mother worked a great miracle to avoid the destruction of the Christian world and Western civilization.

The original Feast was called Our Lady of Victory, but in 1573 it was changed to Our Lady of the Rosary.

The Rosary is a powerful means of uniting families, communities, and nations in the Mystical Body of Christ. In reciting the Rosary we say "pray for us sinners," not "pray for me." The prayers of the Rosary take us out of ourselves by adoring and thanking God, and particularly by meditating on the doctrinal truths of the 20 Mysteries. Moreover, as Pope Leo XIII wrote. ". . . the Rosary is by far the best prayer by which to plead before her (Mary) the cause of our separated brethren."

In September of 2002, Pope John Paul II said:

"October is the month in which Mary Most Holy, Queen of the Holy Rosary, is venerated. Within the current international context, I invite all -- individuals, families, communities -- to pray this Marian prayer, possibly every day, for peace, so that the world can be preserved from the wicked scourge of terrorism.

"The terrible tragedy of September 11th will be remembered as a dark day in the history of humanity. In the face of this, the Church tries to be faithful to her prophetic charism and remind all men about their duty to build a future of peace for the human family. Certainly, peace is not separated from justice, but it must be nourished by mercy and love.

"We cannot forget that Jews, Christians and Muslims adore God as the only God. The three religions, therefore, have the vocation of unity and peace. May God allow the Church's faithful to be agents of peace, in the front line of the search for justice and the prohibition of violence.

"May the Virgin Mary, Queen of Peace, intercede for all humanity, so that hate and death never have the last word!"

Are we living these historical events again? Each day I dedicate my Rosary for the Triumph of the Immaculate Heart of Mary and World peace through Our Lady, Queen of Peace! Imagine if we all did that! Through the power of prayer, God would move mountains and change nature and grant us peace and once again Christendom will be saved! May it be so!

God Bless+