If you get to know Mary, Our Lady of the Rosary, she can change your life. Sound cliché? Think again. After all, she did change the course of world history. 

In 1571, the Ottoman Empire was advancing through the Mediterranean. Their naval fleet had the momentum to spread into the rest of Europe, but something stood in their way: the Christian naval fleet. On October 7, the two forces met and began the Battle of Lepanto.  

Pope Pius V entreated Catholics everywhere to pray the rosary for a Christian victory. If the Ottomans won, they could have conquered most of the Western world. Thus, civilization as we know it would have ended up totally different. But thanks to the prayers of the rosary, the underdog Christian fleet defeated the Ottomans. 

In thanksgiving, the pope instituted the Feast of Our Lady of Victory. The name was later changed to Our Lady of the Rosary. It is still celebrated every year on October 7.

But that wasn’t the first time Mary won a victory through the rosary. In 1214, St. Dominic was at his wit’s end. He was trying to convert a troublesome (but popular) group of Albigensian heretics — and failing miserably. So he prayed to Mary to help him. Tradition holds that she appeared to him and instructed him to preach about the rosary. When St. Dominic began doing this, he succeeded massively. Plus, the rosary took off as a devotion all over the world. 

The famous Marian apparitions at Lourdes and Fatima also involved the rosary. When Mary appeared to St. Bernadette at Lourdes, she appeared with a rosary in her hands. When she appeared to the three children at Fatima, she referred to herself as the Lady of the Rosary and told them: “Pray the rosary every day in honor of Our Lady of the Rosary, in order to obtain peace for the world and the end of the war, for she alone can be of any avail.”

So why does Mary, Our Lady of the Rosary, love the rosary so much? First of all, because it’s a quick and easy way to grow closer to Jesus. Secondly, it’s a simple prayer. Anyone can learn it. And it’s easy to take your rosary with you anywhere you go. 

Saints, sinners, popes, everyday people like us… anyone can turn to Our Lady of the Rosary in times of trouble. Whether it’s a physical battle like Lepanto, a spiritual battle like St. Dominic and the heretics, or everyday battles with stress or anxiety, Our Lady of the Rosary is always there for us. 

So have hope! Get to know Our Lady of the Rosary. It’s easy to begin; start by praying the rosary every day. You’ll be amazed at what she can start doing in your life.