2011-10-07

October 7th: Feast of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary

Today marks a feast day in the Catholic Church in honor of the Feast of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary. Numerous popes and saints have written about the efficacy of the Holy Rosary. Pope Leo XII wrote:

O Venerable Brethren, We desire that, this year, this prayer should be offered with such greater fervor of heart as is demanded by the increased urgency of the need. We well know the Rosary's powerful efficacy to obtain the maternal aid of the Virgin. By no means is there only one way to pray to obtain this aid. However, We consider the Holy Rosary the most convenient and most fruitful means, as is clearly suggested by the very origin of this practice, heavenly rather than human, and by its nature. What prayers are better adapted and more beautiful than the Lord's prayer and the angelic salutation, which are the flowers with which this mystical crown is formed? With meditation of the Sacred Mysteries added to the vocal prayers, there emerges another very great advantage, so that all, even the most simple and least educated, have in this a prompt and easy way to nourish and preserve their own faith.

Also of interest this day is the reason that feast day was set. In the late 1500's the Battle of Lepanto was fought. The details of the battle from a historic standpoint are something of interest. The victory came by the intersession of the Blessed Virgin Mary through the use of the Rosary... thus the reason for the feast day being set.

The Battle of Vienna should also be of interest. Again, the success of the battle is attributed to our Blessed Mother, and by it the feast of the Holy Name of Mary was set. The Polish King and leader of the Hussars sought the intercession of Our Lady of Czestochowa before entering into battle. The dates of the battle should look familiar, as they tie into a modern day retaliatory attack. (I do not believe the date similarity to be coincidental.)

If you regretfully have no devotion or very little devotion to the Holy Rosary, I encourage you to persevere.

I also advise you to become familiar with these two historic battles. Without the success of Christendom in these battles, historians believe that our world would look very different today. Western Civilization would have stagnated while the Ottoman Empire went on to rule the world.

As usual Audio Sancto has a few sermons on these topics that should be of great interest:
There Is No Problem That Cannot Be Overcome By The Rosary
Why Can the Muslims Take Over Europe?
Our Lady of Czestochowa and How To Get The Most Grace From The Rosary

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