Our Lady of the Rosary

The Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary, formerly known as Our Lady of Victory and Feast of the Holy Rosary, is a feast day of the Roman Catholic Church, celebrated on 7 October, the anniversary of the decisive victory of the combined fleet of the Holy League of 1571 over the Ottoman navy at the Battle of Lepanto.

According to Dominican tradition, in 1206, St. Dominic was in Prouille, France, attempting to convert the Albigensians back to the Catholic faith. The young priest had little success until one day he received a vision of the Blessed Virgin, who gave him the Rosary as a tool against heretics. While Mary's giving the rosary to St. Dominic is generally acknowledged as a legend, the development of this prayer form owes much to the followers of St. Dominic, including the 15th-century priest and teacher, Alanus de Rupe.

The rosary was originally formulated as a prayer for those who could not read. Instead of the 150 psalms of the psalter, illiterate people were encouraged to pray 150 “Aves” or “Hail Marys.” While the clerics and religious of the Church celebrated what has become known as the Liturgy of the Hours, lay people were encouraged to join them in prayer through the rosary.

The three visionaries of Fatima, Jacinta and Francisco Marto and their cousin Lucia dos Santos, reported that the Blessed Mother asked them to spread devotion to the Holy Rosary.

The Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary is celebrated on October 7.