The Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary, which we celebrate today, was originally known as the Feast of Our Lady of Victory. In 1571, Pope Pius V organized a coalition of Christian forces, known as the Holy League, to rescue Christians in Cyprus from the attacks of the Ottoman Empire. On the 7th of October, 1571, the Holy League sailed out to meet the Ottoman fleet in the Battle of Lepanto. Knowing that the Christian League was at a disadvantage, Pope Pius V called all of Europe to pray the Rosary for victory. Through the prayers offered by the Christian people throughout Europe, the Holy League defeated the Ottoman forces.
In 1573, Pope Gregory XIII changed the name of the feast to the Feast of the Holy Rosary, to be celebrated on the first Sunday of October. On August 5, 1716, Pope Clement XI commanded the feast to be celebrated by the Universal Church. Lastly, Pope Pius X in 1913 changed the date of the feast to October 7th.
The traditional readings for this feast taken from the Book of Proverbs 8:32-35 provide an insight into devotion to Our Lady.
"And now, my sons, listen to me: happy are those who keep my ways. Hear instruction and be wise, and do not neglect it. Happy is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting beside my doors. For he who finds me finds life and obtains favor from the Lord."
These words have a strong maternal undertone, Our Blessed Mother calls us to ‘watch daily at her gates.’ Our Lady, constantly throughout the ages, has exhorted us to pray the rosary daily for our sanctification and that of the whole world. Our Lord hears the special requests from His Blessed Mother and grants them to her. What a joy and blessing to have such a heavenly intercessor.
The Order of Preachers is known colloquially as the Order of the Blessed Virgin Mary. She is our heavenly patron who watches over us and protects us. Daily, we entreat her intercession in the recitation of the Rosary and at night prayer (compline) when we chant her praises in the Salve Regina. The mission of the Order is the salvation of souls, which is the most important thing. The purpose of our earthly sojourn is to reach heaven. As we say in the Salve Regina, ‘to thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears.’ This earthly pilgrimage is full of joy but also sadness. Many times we are in the ‘valley of tears,’ in this ‘our exile’ from our heavenly home. This time on Earth is but fleeing, and we will never be fully happy until we are united with God in Heaven. It is well known among believers that devotion to Our Lady is pleasing to the Lord, ‘obtaining favor from the Lord.’
May Our Blessed Mother intercede for us.