Saint of the Day for October 7: Our Lady of the Rosary
The Story of Our Lady of the Rosary: Saint Pius V established this feast in 1573. The purpose was to thank God for the victory of Christians over the Turks at Lepanto—a victory attributed to the praying of the rosary
Our Lady of the Rosary, Clement XI extended the feast to the universal Church in 1716
The development of the rosary has a long history.
First a practice developed of praying 150 Our Fathers in imitation of the 150 Psalms.
Then there was a parallel practice of praying 150 Hail Marys.
Soon a mystery of Jesus’ life was attached to each Hail Mary.
Though Mary’s giving of the rosary to Saint Dominic is recognized as a legend, the development of this prayer form owes much to the followers of Saint Dominic.
One of them, Alan de la Roche, was known as “the apostle of the rosary”
He founded the first Confraternity of the Rosary in the 15th century.
In the 16th century, the rosary was developed to its present form—with the 15 mysteries: joyful, sorrowful and glorious.
In 2002, Pope John Paul II added the five Mysteries of Light to this devotion.
Read Also:
Saint Of The Day, October 6: Saint Bruno
Saint Of The Day, October 5: Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska
Saint Of The Day For October 4: Saint Francis Of Assisi