October 7 - Today is the feast of OUR LADY OF THE MOST HOLY ROSARY

This feast was established by Pope Pius V to commemorate the great victory of the Christian army against the Turks in the Battle of Lepanto in 1571.

All soldiers on the battlefield prayed the Rosary for three hours and the wind has shifted in their favor. They were able to defeat an army three times bigger, in one of the greatest naval victory in history.

Pope Pius V named this the Feast of Our Lady of Victories, to be celebrated on October 7th.

In 1573, Pope Gregory XIII changed the title of this memorial to Feast of the Holy Rosary.

Pope Paul VI established the form that we celebrate this feast today, in 1969 under the name “Our Lady of the Rosary”.

“The celebration of this day invites all to mediate upon the mysteries of Christ, following the example of the Blessed Virgin Mary who was so singularly associated with the incarnation, passion and glorious resurrection of the Son of God.”

Fragment from the Christian Prayer (Liturgy of the Hours)

Padre Pio of Pietrelcina, praying for the conversion of sinners often said, “Love the Madonna and pray the rosary, for her rosary is the weapon against the evils of the world today.”

Fragment by Padre Pio of Pietrelcina

(http://divineoffice.org/)