Our Lady of the Rosary is the title of the Blessed Virgin Mary in relation to the Rosary. This feast falls on October 7th and was formerly known as the feast of Our Lady of Victory. The title of Our Lady of the Rosary can be traced back to a supposed apparition of the Blessed Virgin Mary to St. Dominic. According to Dominican tradition, in 1208, St. Dominic was in Prouille, France attempting to convert the Albigensians. Dominic was meeting little success until one day he received a vision of the Blessed Virgin, who gave him a tool against the heretics.

    Though Mary's giving the rosary to St. Dominic is recognized as a legend, the development of this prayer form owes much to the followers of St. Dominic. In thanks for the victory of the battle of Muret in 1213, Simon de Montfort, 5th Earl of Leicester built the first shrine dedicated to Our Lady of Victory. In 1571, Pope Pius V instituted "Our Lady of Victory" as an annual feast to commemorate the victory in the battle of Lepanto. The victory was attributed to the Blessed Virgin Mary, as a rosary procession had been offered on that day in St. Peter's Square in Rome for the success of the mission of the Holy League to hold back Muslim forces from overrunning Western Europe. In 1573, Pope Gregory XIII changed the title of the "Feast of Our Lady of Victory" to "Feast of the Holy Rosary". This feast was extended by Pope Clement XI to the whole Latin rite, inserting it into the Roman Catholic calendar of saints in 1716, and assigning it to the first Sunday in October.

    Pope Pius X changed the date to 7th October in 1913, as part of his effort to restore celebration of the liturgy on the Sundays. Devotion to the rosary is especially associated with the Order of Preachers (Dominicians). Three great Dominicians helped to spread devotion to Our Lady of the Rosary. Several centuries after St. Dominic, a Dominician friar from Brittany became one of history's greatest promoters of the rosary. His zeal both for his Order and for the Blessed Virgin Mary was so great that Alan de la Roche (1428-1475, also called Alan de Rupe) was convinced that the rosary was undoubtedly

Dominican in origin. De la Roche wrote saying that the 150 Hail Mary's in place of the 150 psalms of the Divine Office originated with St. Dominic. He preached on the rosary and popularized its use widely and successfully. Another devotional success was de la Roche's idea of Rosary Confraternities, the first of which he established at Douai, from where the devotion spread widely. At dela Roche's urging, the rosary became a special apostolate of the Dominican order, which has continued to preach its spiritual benefits till today.

    Another promoter of the rosary was Pope Pius V (1566-1572), a Dominican Pontiff, who ordered all Christendom to pray the rosary to save Europe from the Ottoman Turks in 1571. The victory that turned back the Turks in the Battle of Lepanto was attributed to the praying of the rosary, and Pope Pius instituted a feast in Our Lady's honor.

A third promoter of the rosary was St. Louis de Montfort (1673-1716), a diocesan priest and Third Order Dominican whose great devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary inspired him to organize and spread devotion to the rosary. He preached thousands of missions on the rosary and also wrote books on the Blessed Mother and the rosary, including

The Secret of Mary and The Secret of the Rosary.

   Our own Father and Founder, St. John Bosco propagated devotion to the rosary and

was even willing to give up some important political friendships who asked him to

stop the practice of reciting long repetitive prayers.  

   During this month of the rosary, we should be faithful in our recitation and reflection on the rosary and its mysteries.

The devotion of the THREE HAIL MARYS is a very simple yet most efficacious devotion.

Everyday, recite Three Hail Marys, adding the invocation: "O Mary, My Mother, keep me from mortal sin." Many people recite the Three Hail Marys as part of their morning and night prayers. To practice this devotion in time of danger, stress, special need or temptation, is a sure means to obtain Our Lady's help.

Dear Mother Mary and Don Bosco, my sincere thanks for a safe delivery and the gift of a baby boy - Johann. Mr. & Mrs. Marcell & Judith, NY 

Thank you dear Jesus, Mother Mary and Don Bosco for the many graces and favors received and for healing me of severe nerve pain and headaches. Marilyn, NJ 

We are most grateful to Mary Help of Christians for all the blessings and graces received. Dear Mother do continue to bless us. Irene, PA