Our Lady of the Rosary
Our Lady of the Rosary The Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary Saint Pius V established the feast of Our Lady of Victory to thank God for the Christian defeat of the Turks at Lepanto—a victory attributed to praying the rosary . In 1573, Pope Gregory XIII changed the name to Feast of the Holy Rosary – originally celebrated on the first Sunday in October. Pope Clement XI extended the feast to the Universal Church in 1716. And in 1913, Saint Pius X set the date for the feast that we know today, October 7. The Rosary The purpose of the Rosary is to help us meditate on the great mysteries of our salvation. Pius XII called it a compendium of the Gospel. The main focus is on Jesus, our redeemer — his birth, life, death, and resurrection. The “Our Fathers” remind us that Jesus’ Father is the initiator of salvation. The “Hail Marys” remind us to join Mary in contemplating these mysteries. They also make us aware that Mary was and is intimately joined with her Son in all the mysteries of his earth