Since the introduction of the rosary by St. Dominic all great victories have been credited to the devotion of the rosary.  The first great conquest of the Church effected by the rosary was the victory over the Albigenses, who had spread heresy in southern France and had caused great havoc in Church and State.

St. Bernard complained in those times:  “The churches are empty, the people without priests, the Sacraments without reverence.  People on their deathbed refuse the assistance of the Church, ridicule penance.”

How the weapon with which this heresy was conquered was the rosary we have related in a previous sermon.  This was the first glorious victory through the devotion of the rosary.  It was the sword with which the Church slew the proud Goliath of heresy.

Another wonderful victory through this miraculous weapon of Christianity was the defeat of the Turkish navy at Lepanto, on October 7, 1571.  The so-called reformation, of which Martin Luther was the originator, had spread over the whole of Europe, bringing in its trail destruction, dissension and war.  The Turks, who had long thirsted for vengeance upon the Christians, found situations favorable for their plans.  They gathered all their forces to assail the Christian lands.  The princes of Europe were either indifferent, or were besieged with difficulties in their own lands, and Luther even said he preferred the Turks to the papacy.  Pope Pius V alone realized the great danger that threatened Christianity and he called upon the Christian people to defend country and Church against the common enemy.

The Christian forces which could be assembled were very small compared with those of the Turks.  Nevertheless Pius V knew of another power which he realized would be a mighty ally.  With all his energy he exhorted his people to implore the Blessed Virgin and glorious Queen of heaven, through the rosary, to come to the assistance of the Christian army.  It was, as Leo xiii said in his Commendation of the rosary, an ennobling sight, which drew the eyes of the whole world; on one side, not far from the Corinthian Sea, the Christians prepared to sacrifice life for religion and country; while gathered on the other side, imploring through the rosary Mary’s assistance for the fighting Christians, were many Christians unable to take up arms.

The small army of Christians attacking the great force of the Turkish fleet was an undertaking similar to the assault of David upon the giant Goliath.  On October 7, 1571, the deciding battle was fought, in the Bay of Lepanto.  The battle raged from six o’clock in the morning until six o’clock at night.  It was one of the most terrific battles ever fought.  And, lo! in the evening, toward six o’clock, the battle ended in the victory of the Christians over their powerful enemy.  This wonderful victory of the Christians was undoubtedly due to the assistance of the Blessed Virgin.  Pope Pius V so declared, and in memory of this wonderful achievement he added to the litany of the Blessed Virgin the supplication:  “Help of Christians, pray for us!” He also ordained that the anniversary of this victory be celebrated as the feast of “Our Lady of Victory,” which Gregory xiii subsequently styled the “Feast of the Rosary.”