Our Lady of the Rosary

The meaning of the celebration

+ This celebration—originally dedicated to Mary under her title Our Lady of Victories—was introduced by the Dominican Pope Saint Pius V to commemorate the victory of the Christian fleet against the Turkish navy at the Battle of Lepanto in 1572.

+ In 1573, Pope Gregory XIII changed the title of the celebration to “Our Lady of the Rosary.” It has been celebrated by the Universal Church since 1716.

+ The texts of Mass for this feast highlight Mary’s contemplative spirit as she “held within her heart” the mysteries of the life of Jesus and her own union with God.

Spiritual bonus

October 7 is also the day the Church celebrate the memory of Pope Saint Mark. Elected bishop of Rome in 336, he is credited with establishing two important lists: the Depositio episcoporum (a list of the dates and names of the popes who did not die as martyrs) and the Depositio martyrum (a list of the martyrs venerated in Rome). These documents formed the basis of the original liturgical calendar of the Church in Rome. Pope Saint Mark died on October 7, 336, serving as pope for only eight months.

Quote

“With the Rosary, the Christian people sit at the school of Mary and is led to contemplate the beauty of the face of Christ and to experience the depths of his love. Through the Rosary the faithful receive abundant grace, as though from the very hands of the Mother of the Redeemer.”—Pope Saint John Paul II

Prayer

Pour forth, we beseech you, O Lord,

your grace into our hearts,

that we, to whom the Incarnation of Christ your Son

was made known by the message of an Angel,

may, through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary,

by his Passion and Cross

be brought to the glory of his Resurrection.

Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

(from The Roman Missal)

Profiles prepared by Br. Silas Henderson, S.D.S.