Today’s feast of Our Lady of the Rosary has its roots in a feast named Our Lady of Victory. In 1571, Pope Pius V, who was a Dominican, formed an alliance between the Papal States, Spain, Venice, and several other smaller Christian states, called the Holy League, in order to stop Ottoman aggression. On October 7 of that year, the Holy League confronted the Ottoman navy in the Mediterranean and the pope called upon all of Europe to pray the Rosary for victory. Victory was achieved. In gratitude, Pope Pius V instituted the Feast of Our Lady of Victory to be celebrated on the first Sunday of October every year. Two years later, Pope Gregory XIII changed the name to the Feast of the Holy Rosary .In 1913, Pius X changed the date from the first Sunday in October to October 7 to preserve the Sunday celebration.
Our Lady of the Rosary, pray for us! #archdioceseofmobile #catholic #catholicsaints #catholicfaith #catholicchurch #catholiclife
