Memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary

The memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary commemorates an important moment in 16th-century history and the enduring power of the Rosary in Catholic devotion.

The Rosary, a string of prayer beads, has its origins in the practice of reciting 150 Hail Marys, symbolizing the 150 Psalms. This church memorial honoring our Lady of the Rosary has its origin in 1571 when Pope Pius V united Christian forces to confront the Ottoman Turks in a naval battle in the Gulf of Lepanto, Greece. On the same day, the Rosary Confraternity in Rome prayed for the Christians in battle, resulting in a remarkable victory attributed to the intercession of the Virgin Mary.

Pope Pius V initially dedicated the day as one of thanksgiving to Our Lady of Victory, later renamed the memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary by Pope Gregory XIII.

This memorial gives us a lesson in the power of Mary's prayers for us in heaven. We learn from this experience that when we face danger or are seeking help or guidance, we can turn to Mary through the Rosary.

You can celebrate this memorial by praying the Rosary of course! And you can find more information about how to pray the Rosary in the Oct. 4 print issue of the Clarion Herald our online here.

You can also watch a fun video made just for kids that guides us in how to pray the rosary online here or clicking on the image below:


If you are looking for additional ways to celebrate by yourself or with others here are a few more ideas!

• Attend Mass at Our Lady of the Rosary Church on Esplanade Ave. in New Orleans.
• Learn a new song about Mary. You can find many here.
• Ask Mary to pray for someone you know who is struggling with something.