All Else Confusion

The Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary was originally established as the Feast of Our Lady of Victory by Pope Pius V in 1572. The Feast was established to commemorate the victory of the Christian forces, under the command of Don Juan of Austria, over the Turkish forces in the Battle of Lepanto. This was the first decisive naval victory of the Christian forces over the Turks and prevented the Turks from taking full control of the Mediterranean. Perhaps the biggest effect of the victory was the confidence it gave Christians that Turkish victory in battle was not inevitable.

The victory in the Battle of Lepanto is attributed to the intercession of Our Lady. Pope Pius V urged all Christians to pray the rosary for success in battle. This paining by Paolo Veronese depicts the saints imploring Mary for victory. EWTN gives these details:

Knowing that the Christian forces were at a distinct material disadvantage, the holy pontiff, St. Pope Pius V called for all of Europe to pray the Rosary for victory. We know today that the victory was decisive, prevented the Islamic invasion of Europe, and evidenced the Hand of God working through Our Lady. At the hour of victory, St. Pope Pius V, who was hundreds of miles away at the Vatican, is said to have gotten up from a meeting, went over to a window, and exclaimed with supernatural radiance: "The Christian fleet is victorious!" and shed tears of thanksgiving to God.

What you may not know is that one of three admirals commanding the Catholic forces at Lepanto was Andrea Doria. He carried a small copy of Mexico's Our Lady of Guadalupe into battle. This image is now enshrined in the Church of San Stefano in Aveto, Italy. Not many know that at the Monastery of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Spain, one can view a huge warship lantern that was captured from the Moslems in the Battle of Lepanto. In Rome, look up to the ceiling of S. Maria in Aracoeli and behold decorations in gold taken from the Turkish galleys. In the Doges' Palace in Venice, Italy, one can witness a giant Islamic flag that is now a trophy from a vanquished Turkish ship from the Victory. At Saint Mary Major Basilica in Rome, close to the tomb of the great St. Pope Pius V, one was once able to view yet another Islamic flag from the Battle, until 1965, when it was returned to Istanbul in an intended friendly token of concord.

Labels: Feast Day