During the time of His Holiness Pope Pius V, threats were being directed to the Catholic Church by the Turkish people. So he asked the European people to take action to protect the Church. As a response to the Pope's appeal they prepared an army. But they did not have enough training in war to be able to fight the enemy. On the day of the battle they went to fight while saying the Rosary devoutly. During this war, the Pope invited all the people of Europe to join in the recitation of the Rosary. There was a procession of people reciting the Rosary.
At the Battle of Lepanto they were able to defeat the Turkish army. If the Turkish people won this war, then they could have invaded Italy and a Turkish Sultan would have become the head of the Roman Empire. This victory which took place on 7th October 1571 was because of the power of the Rosary. They all believed that.
Because of this victory, Pope Pius V, in 1573, declared the 7th October as “The Feast of our Lady of Victory.” In 1573,Pope Gregory XIII, changed the feast of October 7th to “Our Lady of the Rosary.” In 1716, Pope Clement XI declared that this feast be celebrated in the whole of the Catholic Church.
The Catholic Church has had many a blessing during troubled and decisive times, by reciting the Rosary. That is why the Catholic Church recommends the recital of the Rosary by the faithful.
The History of the Rosary
The devotion of the “Rosary” has a long history in the Church.
In about the third century A.D. the monks of the Eastern Church began the devotion of the Rosary.
In the year 1214 A.D. St. Dominic Gusman, a Spanish, introduced the devotion of the Rosary. The Rosary we recite today came from St. Dominic.
When we recite the Rosary we contemplate the mysteries of salvation. These are the Birth, Passion, Death and Ressurection of Jesus Christ. As the Mission of Christ was left out in the above-mentioned mysteries, Pope John Paul II added the Luminous or Mysteries of Light.
The ordinary Rosary or the Rosary for the dead can be used. The prayers that are usually said at the Rosary can be used. It is very necessary to recite the Rosary daily as a family.
“If we wish to be united to Mary, our Mother, there is no better way than to recite the Rosary” says Pope John Paul II. So let us as a family recite the daily Rosary.
The ordinary Rosary ( said daily)
The sign of the cross.
The Apostles Creed
The Our Father
Three Hail Marys
(Before each Hail Mary the following short prayers can be said also)
Before 1st Hail Mary
Most pure Mother of God, pray for us to God to increase our faith (Hail Mary).
Before 2nd Hail Mary
Most holy Mary, Mother of Jesus, pray for us before your Son Jesus, to increase our hope.
Before 3rd Hail Mary
Most Holy Mary, filled with the Holy Spirit, pray for us to grow in our love of God.
Some of the litanies which may be used are:
Litany of the Sacred Heart ( e.g on Fridays)
Litany of our Lady
Litany of St. Anthony (e.g. Tuesdays)
Litany of St. Sebastian
Litany of St. Jude
Rosary for the Dead
May be said during the month of November, when a Christian dies
Glory be to the Father...
On the cross: Sacred Heart of Jesus I believe in you.
In place of the Our Father: O my God, I believe in You because ou are the Truth. Because You fulfil Your promises I hope in You. Because You are compassionate and merciful I love You.or at the anniversary of a death.
In place of the Hail Mary:
Jesus, Mary --- Jesus, Mary, Joseph
At the end of each decade:
Loving Heart of Jesus be my love. Loving heart of Mary, be my salvation
At the end
Jesus, Mary, Joseph I offer you my heart and soul. Jesus, Mary, Joseph, assist me in my last agony. Jesus, Mary, Joseph, may I breathe forth my soul in your peace.
Litany for the dead.
There is no better weapon to fight against the threats and challenges thrown to our Church today; also to the problems and difficulties in our personal lives. We must pray the Rosary daily as a family. Then we can be heirs to a family life filled with God's blessings.
