Our lady of the Holy Rosary feast was created to commemorate the decisive victory of the Christian fleet over the Ottoman navy.
On October 7th, we celebrate in the Roman Catholic Church the feast of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary.
The feast was created to commemorate the victory of the Christian fleet over the Ottoman navy at the Battle of Lepanto on October 7, 1571.
Ottoman Sultan Selim II wanted to take over Europe and spread Islam. The Pope at that time, St. Pius V from Dominican Order who had a great devotion to Mother of God – hearing about the upcoming battle, with tears in his eyes pleaded to Mother of God and entrusted his concerns during the Rosary prayer.
Suddenly he had a vision: it seemed that he was looking at the battle of Lepanto. He saw the big fleet preparing for the battle. Above that he saw Mary, who was looking at him with peaceful eyes.
Pope Clement XI, giving thanks for the victory over Ottoman forces in the battle of Peterovaradin (near Belgrade) in 1716, extended the feast of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary to the Universal Church of the Roman Rite.
In 1883, Pope Leon XIII introduced into the Litany of Loreto the invocation “Queen of the Holy Rosary – pray for us”, and two years later called for Rosary prayers in all churches during the month of October.
