On October 7, 1571, a Muslim invasion fleet bound for Italy was intercepted at Lepanto and sunk by the Christian fleet of the Holy League (a naval force made up of ships from Spain, Genoa, Venice and the Papal States, led by Don Juan of Austria). Pope St. Pius V had called on the whole Christian world to pray the Rosary so that the inroads Islam was making into the Mediterranean would be halted, and that Christian galley slaves might be freed.
On the day of the battle, Pius had been consulting with his cardinals at the Dominican Basilica of Santa Sabina on the Aventine Hill in Rome. He paused in the midst of their deliberations to look out the window. Up in the sky, the Blessed Mother favored him with a vision of the victory. Turning to his cardinals he said, "Let us set aside business and fall on our knees in thanksgiving to God, for he has given our fleet a great victory.”
In gratitude, Pope Pius instituted the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary, to be celebrated on the day of the victory.
Why pray the Rosary? The Rosary is a wonderful combination of vocal and meditative prayer. Beads anchor our sense of touch, the mysteries provide focus for our meditation on the lives of Jesus and Mary, and the prayers help us repeat the most fundamental expressions of our faith.
We, like Mary, are called to “hear the word of God and cherish it in our heart” (cf. antiphon for the Canticle of Mary, feast of Our Lady of the Rosary). By meditating on the mysteries of the Rosary we are able to draw near to Mary, and with her to recall the mysteries of our Redemption.
Click here to learn how to pray the Rosary.
David J. Conrad
On the day of the battle, Pius had been consulting with his cardinals at the Dominican Basilica of Santa Sabina on the Aventine Hill in Rome. He paused in the midst of their deliberations to look out the window. Up in the sky, the Blessed Mother favored him with a vision of the victory. Turning to his cardinals he said, "Let us set aside business and fall on our knees in thanksgiving to God, for he has given our fleet a great victory.”
In gratitude, Pope Pius instituted the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary, to be celebrated on the day of the victory.
Why pray the Rosary? The Rosary is a wonderful combination of vocal and meditative prayer. Beads anchor our sense of touch, the mysteries provide focus for our meditation on the lives of Jesus and Mary, and the prayers help us repeat the most fundamental expressions of our faith.
We, like Mary, are called to “hear the word of God and cherish it in our heart” (cf. antiphon for the Canticle of Mary, feast of Our Lady of the Rosary). By meditating on the mysteries of the Rosary we are able to draw near to Mary, and with her to recall the mysteries of our Redemption.
Click here to learn how to pray the Rosary.
David J. Conrad
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