October: The Month of the Rosary

Each year on October 7th, the memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary is celebrated. In order to understand this feast it is helpful to look at it’s history.

History Lesson

In the 16th century, the Islamic Ottoman Empire was a serious threat to Western Europe. They has sent a fleet of ships to attack Christian defenses in southern Europe. Then Pope Pius V saw the danger and called for a fleet of ship to confront the Ottoman Turks. This fleet was called the Holy League.

The Battle Of Lepanto

On October 7, 1571, the Ottoman Turks and Christian defenses became involved in a battle that would decide who controlled the maritime traffic on the Mediterranean, Adriatic and the Aegean seas. The future of Western Europe depended on winning this battle. It is estimated that 500 ships and 100,000 fighters were involved, making it the largest naval battle in western history for centuries. Pope Pius V called on the Christian princes of Europe to rally to defeat the Islamic threat. He also called on his religious brothers in Rome and all over Europe to undertake special processions and to publically recite the Rosary, asking the Blessed Mother to interceed. What followed was the famous Battle of Lepanto.

Hopeless Situation

It seemed that the Christian fleet was far outnumbered and there was no "human" hope of winning. On the first Sunday of October 1571, the two opposing armies met off the coast of Greece in the Gulf of Lepanto. All over Europe, Christians prayed for the interecession of Mary. The Turks surrounded the Christian ships, but the European fleet was victorious and the expansion of the Ottoman Empire in the seas of the Mediterranean was prevented.

Our Lady of Victory

The following year, Pope Pius V set October 7 as the day to honor the Blessed Mother, who was originally called Our Lady of Victory. A few centuries later this was changed to Our Lady of the Rosary in order to make clear that prayer was powerful in the battle on that day in 1571.

Tools for Today

It is no doubt that praying the rosary is a powerful tool. Once perhaps considered old fashion, it is a beautiful meditation on the life of Jesus through the eyes of his mother. Meditation calms the spirit, strengthens our prayer life and lifts up our spirit.