Fr Peter Grace, CP

    
Today is the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary. The celebration of this
feast goes back 425 years to a sea battle between Christian and Muslim
forces that saved Christian Europe from suppression by the Turks.

    
Ever since the fall of Rhodes in 1522 Turkish vessels began raiding
Italian ports. In 1570 they demanded the surrender of Cyprus. Don Juan
of Austria organized the Christian armies of Europe to resist further
Turkish advances. In 1571 the Muslim Turks were again invading Europe.
Two hundred and six ships from various parts of Europe met a Turkish
force of two-hundred-thirty ships at the Bay of Lepanto, off the western
shore of Greece.
   
Pope Pius V realized the importance of the impending battle for all of
Christian Europe. Together with all the people of Rome he led the people
in vigils and processions as they prayed the rosary to Our Lady of
Victory. The Rosary became the spiritual weapon of the Christians and
thousands joined together in prayer.
    
October 7, 1571 was a day of fierce fighting. Nine thousand Christian
soldiers were killed. Dozens of ships were lost. Yet the Turks were
turned back and twelve-thousand Christians were released from slavery.
The people were overjoyed. To commemorate the victory Pope Pius V
proclaimed a yearly feast in honor of Our Lady of Victory. Later, Pope
Gregory XIII changed the name of the feast to Our Lady of the Rosary.
Today we celebrate the feast on October 7th, the actual date of the
victory.
    
What is the rosary? The rosary is a method of prayer that combines
mental prayer and vocal prayer. It is a way of praying whether alone or
together with others.
    
The rosary focuses on events in the lives of Jesus and his mother Mary.
We refer to these events as "mysteries".
    
The practise of praying the rosary with beads dates back to the
12th century. Rosary beads make it easy for a person to count the
different prayers without distraction. The first "Hail Mary" comes from
the Gospel of Luke which records the angel Gabriel saying, "Rejoice, so
highly favored! The Lord is with you." (Lk 1:28) The Gospel then speaks
of Mary's cousin "Elizabeth who was filled with the Holy Spirit and
exclaimed with a loud cry, "Blessed are you among women and blessed is
the fruit of your womb." (Lk 1:42)
    
You don't have to be Catholic to pray the rosary. The rosary is a
prayer that all Christians can pray. Martin Luther, even after his
separation from the Church of Rome, continued to speak of the importance
of Mary as an example for Christians. He went so far as to say, "We are
the children of Mary".
    
The rosary is our modern day spiritual weapon and is used in the battle
against abortion. Every month Bishop Thomas Daily of the Diocese of
Brooklyn leads a procession of people to the doors of abortuaries to
pray. In English and in Spanish the Bishop and his people pray the
rosary to end abortion. Yet, as at Lepanto, prayer must be accompanied
by action. Bishop Daily says, "Defenders of life must become involved at
the political level, for it is in this public arena that the struggles
for life are being resolved." (p.2, "The Tablet", Sept 28, 1996)
    
The rosary is a great personal spiritual weapon to overcome sin,
selfishness, and discouragement. Take the story of Joannes Zheng from
Beijing China. His story appeared in the July-August issue of "Tripod",
a Maryknoll magazine printed in Hong Kong.
    
"When I was an orphan of twelve receiving my elementary education at
Our Lady's Home for Children in Paotsing, Hunan, China, I saw Father
Reginald Arliss, C.P., for the first time. It was during the summer
vacation of 1939, and as we walked around the playground, Father told me
the New Testament story of Jesus turning water into wine at his mother's
request to save a young couple from embarrassment.
    
Father concluded with: "Though you have lost your earthly mohter, you
still have Mary, your heavenly Mother. She is merciful and powerful, and
loves you as Jesus' little brother. Pray to her for all your needs."
Early in the Spring of 1940 I next saw Father as he received me into
Saint Joseph's Minor Seminary. Being without both parents, I was most
grateful for his fatherly care.
    
From 1949 until 1951, Father Reginald was under house arrest and
finally expelled from China. Being his Mass server and his only
philosophy student, I was with him during those hard days. When I was
forced to leave him, he gave me as souvenirs his overcoat and mosquito
netting which I have treasured to this day.
    
Tears were in his eyes as he said farewell: "No matter what happens to
you, Johnny, say your rosary each day. If it is taken from you, use your
fingers, Mary, your mother, will protect you." My life since is testimony to 
the truth of his prophecy."
    
After thirty years of separation Johnny Zheng was able to meet again
his beloved Father Reginald. Bishop Reginald Arliss died on April 26,
1996. Johnny Zheng said, "Thanks be to God for the wonderful blessing of
having seen and heard my beloved teacher and benefactor once again
before his holy death."
    
The rosary is very special for Catholics. Our experience with the
Rosary has taught us that "Mary, your mother, will protect you."

    
Father Peter Grace, CP
	Saint Ann's Basilica
	Scranton, PA
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