This feast was originally called Our Lady of Victories, to commemorate the conquest of the Holy League (Christians) over the Ottoman Turks (Muslims) at the battle of Lepanto on the 7^th October 1571.

This defeat was due to the prayer of the Holy Rosary, as Pope Pius V ordered the churches of Rome be opened for prayer day and night, encouraging the faithful to petition the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary with the prayer of the Rosary.

Pope Pius’ successor, Gregory XIII changed the name of this day to the feast of the Holy Rosary.

In Medjugorje, Our Lady has spoken many times about the power of  praying the Rosary.

25th June  1985  – (Tuesday)

“I invite you to call on everyone to pray the Rosary. With the rosary you shall overcome all the adversities which Satan is trying to inflict on the Catholic Church. All you priests, pray the Rosary! Dedicate your time to the Rosary! ”

On the 8^th August, Our Lady gave this message

“Dear children! Today I call you especially now to advance against Satan by means of prayer. Satan wants to work still more now that you know he is at work. Dear children, put on the armour for battle and with the Rosary in your hand defeat him! Thank you for having responded to my call. ”

Even the rosary alone can work miracles in the world and in your lives.   25^th January 1991

 I call all priests and religious brothers and sisters to pray the rosary and to teach others to pray. The rosary, little children, is especially dear to me. Through the rosary open your heart to me and I am able to help you.    25^th August 1997

When you are tired and sick and you do not know the meaning of your life, take the Rosary and pray; pray until prayer becomes for you a joyful meeting with your Saviour.    25^th April 2001

Therefore, my children, return to the prayer of the Rosary. Pray it with feelings of goodness, sacrifice and mercy. Pray, not only with words, but with merciful acts. Pray with love for all people.  2^nd December 2016

PHOTO  -/AFP/Getty Images)

Pope John Paul II said in his Apostolic Letter, ROSARIUM VIRGINIS MARIAE  ;  ”The Rosary, though clearly Marian in character, is at heart a Christocentric prayer….With the Rosary, the Christian people sits at the school of Mary and is led to contemplate the beauty on 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.”

In this month of October which is dedicated to Our Lady of the Rosary, let us make a concerted effort to pray the Rosary with our heart.

Prayer After The Rosary: O God, whose only-begotten Son, by His life, death and resurrection, has purchased for us the rewards of eternal life; grant, we beseech Thee, that, meditating upon these mysteries of the Most Holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary, we may imitate what they contain and obtain what they promise, through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.
V. May the divine assistance remain always with us.
R. And may the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.