7th OCTOBER - FEAST OF OUR LADY OF VICTORY, CALLED OUR LADY OF THE ROSARY

The Battle of Lepanto, by Paolo Veronese

On Sunday 7 October 1571 combined Christian fleets under the leadership of the young Don John of Austria achieved a significant naval victory over the Turks in the Straits of Lepanto.

The Turkish fleet, until then considered invincible, was destroyed in their first great defeat at sea. Tens of thousands of Christian slaves were liberated.

In gratitude to God and Our Lady, Pope St Pius V, who saw the actual victory in a vision while in a meeting in the Papal Palace, declared an annual commemoration of Our Lady of Victory.

Pope Gregory XIII transferred the feast to the first Sunday in October with the title Most Holy Rosary since the victory was won through invocation of Our Lady of the Rosary.

In the reform of the liturgy the feast was returned to its original date.

The Order of St John of Jerusalem, of Rhodes and of Malta has a very special interest in this feast. The Order’s fleet and its many officers in other fleets of the Papal Alliance gave great service in this extremely important battle in the history of Western Civilization.

For an excellent overview of the devotion of the Holy Rosary within the life and Tradition of the Church, you are directed to this article from New Liturgical Movement.

The Rosary is recited weekly throughout the year in the Conventual Church at 8.30 every Thursday morning.  It will also be recited at 6.15 on Thursdays during the month of October, before the evening Mass.