The month of October is a month with a particular dedication to our Blessed Mother. On Oct. 7, we annually celebrate the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary. For some time that feast was celebrated under the title of Our Lady of Victory. Under either name, the feast flows from a particular historical circumstance, the Battle of Lepanto that took place on Oct. 7, 1571. 

 

It is hard to overstate the stakes of that confrontation. For nearly a century, Turkish forces of the Ottoman Empire had been conquering territories of nations whose faithful were Christians, placing those regions under Islamic Law. 

 

By 1571, the Ottoman threat had reached the Mediterranean Sea with an ultimate goal of the capture of Rome.

 

In October of 1571, the navies drawn from Christian Europe gathered to confront the overwhelming Turkish navy at Lepanto, off the coast of Greece. Humanly speaking, this was an all or nothing battle in which the culture and the faith of Christian Europe was at stake. 

 

In retrospect, a vast element of our own history would have been very different had the Christian forces not prevailed that day. One might consider, for example, that a Turkish victory might have diminished the Catholic faith in Europe that was subsequently brought to the United States during the immigration from Europe of the 1800’s.

 

The battle was fought between 600 ships of the two navies, with the Christian fleet outmanned numerically. After brief but savage four hour engagement, the Christian forces had decisively defeated the Turkish navy and the threat was turned away.

 

This encounter could be chalked up to simply a matter of military strategy, prevailing winds buffeting the different ships, or even the vagaries of luck or battle. However, the faith of Christian Europe saw more.

 

Pope Pius V had long been deeply worried about the coming clash between Christian Europe and the Turkish invaders. Not trusting only in human forces or military ingenuity, the Holy Father organized a campaign of prayer to Mary to guide and guard the Christian forces in their moment of trial. It is said that the evening before the battle, the Christian sailors and soldiers on the ships soon to set forth collectively prayed the rosary. The faithful throughout Europe did likewise, although without our modern instant knowledge of the time and place of the conflict.

 

It is said that Pope Pius V learned of the results of the Battle of Lepanto 13 days later. Convinced of the role of Mary in averting disaster and protecting the faith he instituted the feast that commemorates the role of the rosary in our human affairs.

 

Pope Francis has likewise asked for a widespread intercession of our Blessed Mother for the Church and for our faith. Recently, he has asked that all the faithful recite the rosary each day of the month of October. 

 

Additionally, he has asked that at the end of the rosary this month, we recite the earliest recorded prayer to Mary, the Sub tuum praesidium as well as the Prayer to St. Michael the Archangel. 

 

The text of those prayers is:

 

We fly to thy patronage, O holy Mother of God; despise not our petitions in our necessities, but deliver us always from all dangers, O glorious and blessed Virgin. Amen; and

 

St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle. Be our defense against the wickedness and snares of the Devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray, and do thou, O Prince of the heavenly hosts, by the power of God, thrust into hell Satan, and all the evil spirits, who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.

 

Whether it be in battle at sea or confronting the temptations and trials of daily life, in Mary and in St. Michael we have sure guides and intercessors for our needs.