Thursday, October 07, 2004

Deo Gratias! Dominus Vincit, per Mariam, St. Pio (Pius) V, et Don Juan!

[Updated on 18 February 2009 to fix inactive images.]



Bartolomé Murillo's "The Virgin Presenting the Rosary
to St. Dominic", 1638-40


Today is the feast day of Our Lady of the Rosary. This commemoration was instituted by Pope St. Pius V, after the victory of the Holy League's fleet over the Ottoman Turkish fleet at the Battle of Lepanto, which took place on this date in 1571. While this battle was raging in the sea off the coast of Greece, the Pope, along with thousands of faithful Catholics, prayed the Rosary, asking for Our Lady to intercede on the behalf of the Christian forces. After four hours of combat at sea, the Christian fleet emerged victorious. Pope St. Pius V had a vision of the battle, while he was meeting with some of his cardinals. He gave thanks to God for the victory, and the Pope, along with Catholics everywhere who heard of the Christian fleets triumph, credited Our Lady's intercession for granting this victory.



The Battle of Lepanto


In this time of Islamic terrorism, let us follow the example of Pope St. Pius V, and take up the Rosary, as a prayer to ask God, through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, for His protection, and for leaders that will stand up and defend us.

To learn more about the Battle of Lepanto, go to the following links:

The Battle of Lepanto

Poem: G.K. Chesterton's Lepanto

0 Comments:

Post a Comment

<< Home