Our Lady of the Holy Rosary

Today is the feast of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary in both the traditional and the new calendar. It arose out of the great victory over the Turks at the battle of Lepanto and was first named in honour of Our Lady of Victory. But since the victory was traditionally been attributed to the intercession of Our Lady brought about by praying of the Rosary, was changed to Our Lady of the Holy Rosary.

There is a little precis of the battle here. The Catholic Encyclopaedia article (from which the prior link takes some of its text) is here.

G. K. Chesterton's small epic (is that an oxymoron?) on the great battle is here. If you're short on time, skip the history and read the poem. And while you're at that wonderful site (!), follow the links at the end of the poem under the heading "7 October" for more on Our Lady's Rosary.

At each of the six apparitions at Fatima, Our Lady specifically asked for the praying of the Rosary. She stressed daily recitation:

May 13th - Say the rosary every day to obtain peace for the world.

June 13th - I want you to say the rosary every day.

July 13th - I want you to continue to say the orsary every day in honor of Our Lady of the Rosary.

August 19th - I want you to continue the rosary every day.

Sept. 13th - Continue to say the rosary.

Oct. 13th - I want to tell you that I am the Lady of the Rosary; continue to say the rosary every day...

-from Fr. Johnson's notes in "St. Mary's Bulletin".