Our Lady Of The Rosary

Baruch 4:5-12,27-29
Luke 10:17-24

Pray the Rosary to win the battle they impose to us-Saint Pius V.

Today the Church celebrates the memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary. A celebration marked by persistently and perserverance in prayer. A festival of the miraculous victory of Christendom at the battle in Lepanto against the Turkish invasion over Christian territories. A battle won through the intercession of Our Lady, ’Succour of Christians’.

The Ottoman Empire was one of the mightiest and longest-lasting dynasties in world history. This Islamic-run superpower ruled large areas of the Middle East, Eastern Europe and North Africa for more than 600 years. As at the time of this battle and famous victory at Lepanto, Selim II was Sultan of the Ottoman empire, he proposed nothing less to himself than to overrun all Christendom with his arms, and to add all the western kingdoms to his empire. Though he was himself a man enervated by drunkness and debaucheries, he was long successful in his wars by making use of veteran soldiers and experienced naval generals who had been trained by his warlike father-Selim 1.

During this time also Saint Pius V reigned as Pope, he needed to deal with internal reforms of the Church, the spread of Protestantism in the West and Turkish invasion from the East. Alarmed at the danger which threatened Christendom, St. Plus V entered into a league with Philip II, King of Spain and Venetians while other Christian princes excused themselves because of domestic broils. To avoid occasions of dissension among the princes that were engaged, the pope was declared chief of the league and expedition. The pope with his apostolic benediction, sent his prediction of decisive victory, with an order to disband all soldiers who seemed to go only for the sake of plunder and looting, whose crimes might draw down the divine indignation upon their arms.

The Holy Pope, from the beginning of the expedition had ordered public prayers and fasts, and had not ceased to solicit heaven, with uplifted hand, like Moses on the mountain. The battle was fought on the 7th of October, 1571 and the Ottomans faced a naval defeat against Spain and Italian states when they fought for the control of Cyprus. This shattered their naval fleets completely.

At the hour of battle, the procession of the Rosary, in the Church of Minerva, was pouring forth solemn prayers for the victory. It was also at this moment, the Pope opened the window suddenly and stood some time with his eyes fixed on the heavens, and then shutting the casement said to the cardinal’s he was discussing with earlier: “it is not now a time to talk any more upon business, but to give thanks to God for the victory he has granted to the arms of the Christians.” Consequently, he attributed the victory to Our Lady of the Rosary to be kept as a festival on the first Sunday of October and inserted into the Litany of Loreto, the title “Help of Christians’.

The Holy Rosary is a meditative prayer that makes us focus on the life of Jesus, our savior, and that of Mary in her role in the plan of salvation. The Holy Rosary helps us to remember and contemplate the history of our salvation and to be grateful to God our Father, who answers our prayers whenever we come to Him.

May we not take the Lord” ‘s mercy for granted but allow His will to be done on earth as it is in Heaven. Amen.

Fr Joseph Osho