Acts 1:12-14 / Luke 1:26-38
The story of the Feast of the Holy Rosary is a story of the power of prayer.
Back in 1571, the powerful Ottoman Turks decided to attack Europe from the East.
The stage was set for a decisive naval battle at the Gulf of Lepanto, off the coast of Greece.
A naval victory for the Turks would secure an opening for the Turkish army to overrun Christian Europe.
The pope at that time, Pope Pius V, called for a crusade against the invading Turks.
But at that time, the Church was already weakened by the Protestant Reformation and only a few countries responded.
In fact the Christian fleet was outnumbered 3:1 and was no match for the mighty Turkish armada.
But Pope Pius V also called for a Rosary crusade to help the Christian forces.
On this day, 7th Oct 1571, the two navies fought and the mighty Turkish armada was miraculously defeated.
It was said that the Christian soldiers fought with swords in one hand and rosaries in the other.
And it also must be said that the battle was won, not with strong arms but with praying hands.
Indeed the simple, humble and powerful prayers of the Rosary can achieve miracles and work wonders.
Because Mary, the mother of Jesus, the Mother of God prays with us when we pray the Rosary.
Today, Pope Francis also calls on the Church to pray for those affected by the war in the Middle East.
Let us pray for peace and as we offer the prayer of the Rosary with our Lady, may God show us that the power of prayer will calm the storms of war and put out the fires of violence.