October 23, 2024 By Mary Beth Bracy, consecrated virgin On the Memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary, formerly called Our Lady of Victory, Holy Cross Parish hosted a special evening with inspirational talks and the recitation of the Holy Rosary for peace. The Oct. 7 date coincided with the first anniversary of the conflict between Israel and Palestine, which Pope Francis asked Catholics to commemorate. Dozens of faithful gathered at Our Lady of Victory Church in Plattsburgh to celebrate the church’s patronal feast. “We will use the sorrowful mysteries because we are praying for peace in the world,” said Father Kevin D. McEwan, pastor of Holy Cross Parish. “The Holy Father asked us to pray and fast today.” Following the presentations, Father McEwan led the Rosary for Peace, including petitions for peace in the Ukraine, Gaza, peace throughout the whole world, and for peace in our country and the end of violence and the loss of life. Decades were led by Ken Racette, Sister Barbara Langlois, O.P., Kitty St. Denis, Justine Cruz, and Linda Bracy. The gathering closed with a special prayer for peace which asked the intercession of the “Virgin Mary, Mother of Hope” to “obtain the gift of peace for the Holy Land that gave birth to you and for the whole world.” Father Douglas A. Schirmer, parochial vicar for Holy Cross Parish, shared an “outline of what the feast looked like in history,” including “cool factoids.” Around 621, he related, the title Our Lady of Victory was used in the East by Byzantine Catholics when the Saracens encircled Constantinople. Our Lady intervened so that the Saracens couldn’t enter. Again, her patronage was invoked when Catholics later fought against the Albigensians. The miraculous battle occurred on October 7, 1571. The Ottomans had approximately 280 fleets compared to the Holy Leagues’ 200 fleets, Father Schirmer noted. Pope Pius V asked for prayers under the patronage of Our Lady, especially the recitation of the Holy Rosary in all of the churches. “The Battle took five or six hours,” Father Schirmer said. “The fleets were so tightly packed that you could have walked across them. The Holy League rescued over 15,000 Christian slaves that were owned by the Ottomans and forced into service on these warships.” The commander of the Christian forces, Don John of Austria, rallied the troops, saying “There is no Paradise for cowards,” recounted Father Schirmer. They sunk 60 Turkish ships and thousands of Ottomans. At one point, the Ottomans started throwing lemons and oranges. “The Christians won the battle to stop forces from invading Europe,” Father Schirmer said. The change to the title of Our Lady of the Rosary, he continued, conveyed “the emphasis of the times — Our Lady of the Rosary to build a world of peace. It is no coincidence that [this date marks] one year of fighting between Israel and Palestine. Our Lady of Victory is Our Lady of the Rosary is the Queen of Peace. When we pray the Rosary we are invoking the most powerful intercession after Jesus Christ. When we invoke Our Lady of the Rosary we are calling down to bring peace, concord, to build a world we actually want to live in.” “Spirituality involves a sense of connection with the highest being and a search for meaning in life,” added Father Jude Nnadibuagha, parochial vicar at Holy Cross Parish. “In the apostolic letter Rosarium Virginis Mariae, Pope John Paul II holds that despite all prejudices, which tend to overly despise the rosary, the rosary is a healthy exercise in communion with the mysteries of Christ through the heart of Mary.” Father Nnadibuagha explained some of the highlights of the papal letter. “The rosary consists of vocal and at the same time contemplative prayer of the mysteries of the Lord, composed of the luminous, joyful, sorrowful and glorious mysteries, which put us in living communion with Jesus through the heart of his mother,” he said. “A unique contemplation of the face of Christ with Mary. With it the Christian people are put in the school of Mary, to be introduced to the depth of her love.” Fatima Celebrations On this eve which marks the Miracle of the Sun at Fatima, those assembled also recited the Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary, an Act of Consecration to Our Lady, and other traditional prayers. This prayer service, organized by Karen Farrell, was held at noon simultaneously with other Catholics nationwide. At Our Lady of the Adirondacks House of Prayer in Ellenburg, there was also a special commemoration of the anniversary of Fatima, led by Deacon Ken Lushia. They had time for prayer and refreshments, and watched the movie “13th Day,” about the apparitions. On First Saturdays at 8 a.m., they continue to have a Communion service there, in response to Our Lady’s requests. It is followed by Eucharistic Adoration, the Rosary and Divine Mercy Chaplet. |