Anne O’Brien, Deputy CEO: Mission, People & Culture, presents our Gospel Reflections this week and today reads from the Gospel of Luke (1: 26-38), in which Mary accepts God’s call to be the mother of Jesus. Afterwards Anne shares a little our today’s memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary.

Anne says, the Memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary is the observance that commemorates and honours Mary, specifically in her role as the Lady of the Rosary.

The Rosary is a very special prayer which helps us meditate on key events in the lives of Jesus Christ and Our Lady.

The Memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary is particularly associated with the Battle of Lepanto, a naval battle fought on October 7, 1571, in which the Christian Holy League, led by the Papal States and supported by the Spanish Empire, defeated the Ottoman Empire. Pope Pius V attributed the victory to the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary through the Rosary, and he established the feast of Our Lady of Victory to honour her. Later, Pope Gregory XIII changed the name of the feast to the Memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary.

The date of October 7 was chosen for this memorial to commemorate the Battle of Lepanto. On this day, Catholics are encouraged to pray the Rosary and reflect on the life of Jesus and Mary, seeking their intercession for personal intentions. It’s a day to promote our awareness to the Rosary as a powerful way to pray and spend time in spiritual reflection.

Anne invites us to pray together by say this special prayer to Our Lady – the Hail Mary:

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen