OCTOBER : Month of the Holy Rosary

Our Lady of the Rosary

Saint Dominic and Saint Catherine of Siena

October is traditionally the Month of the Holy Rosary.  Why?

 

Primarily because the feast of the Holy Rosary falls in the month of October - October 7th to be specific.

 

Something else happened on October 7, back in the year 1571.  The armies and navies of half a dozen Catholic nations fought against the Muslim Turks at Lepanto.  The Turks had more ships and more men, and Catholic Europe would have been laid open to Turkish invasion if the Catholic forces had lost.  Pope Saint Pius V had Catholics storm heaven by praying the rosary and the Catholic forces not only defeated, but nearly destroyed, the Turkish fleet.  It was a decisive victory that saved Catholic Europe.

 

Pope Saint Pius V happened to be a Dominican, great promoters of the Rosary.  He made October 7 the Feast of the Holy Rosary (originally the feast of Our Lady of Victory).  He also promulgated the Roman Missal that is basically the 1962 Missal we now use.

 

The Battle of Lepanto

While the earthly battle rages below, the heavenly court of saints and angels above approaches the Blessed Mother begging her assistance.