Saint Pius V, by Alonso Antonio Villamayor - Museu de Belas Artes, Salamanca (Spain)
St Pius V, the Pope of the Rosary, introduced into the Litany of Loreto the invocation ‘Our Lady Help of Christians’ in thanksgiving for the intervention of Mary Most Holy at the Battle of Lepanto.
Newsdesk (01/05/2023 10:18, Gaudium Press) In 1571 the Mohammedan Turks were devastating the Balkans, and their enormous war fleet was spreading terror in the Mediterranean Sea with the intention of completely extinguishing the flame of Catholicism in Europe.
An invasion of Western Europe was imminent, and the only way to avoid it was to break the Islamic naval power. It was urgent to form an alliance of Catholic princes and to arm a fleet capable of confronting the enemy of the Christian Faith.
In the Gulf of Lepanto
In this context of extreme danger for Christendom, the reigning Pontiff was fortunately a holy Dominican: Cardinal Ghislieri, the great inquisitor of the Holy Church, had been elected Pope under the name of Pius V.
The Holy German Empire was divided between Catholics and Protestants, France was torn apart by wars of religion and on the horizon loomed the greatest threat of Islam against European civilisation…
The only country that could become the strong arm of the Church was Spain, ruled at the time by Philip II, a man of faith but extremely indecisive.
Despite this bleak outlook, Saint Pius V succeeded in organizing the Holy League to resist the Ottoman fleet.
A contemplative and passionate man with an extraordinary devotion to the Rosary, he put all the energy of his soul into action, revealing himself to be the real hero of the conflict that would be known in the future as the Battle of Lepanto.
He persistently put diplomatic pressure on the Spanish monarch, allying him with the republics of Venice and Genoa. The Papal State itself lent some ships to the Christian armada.
Don Juan of Austria, brother of Phillip II, was to be the expedition’s Commander in Chief. A young man of exceptional military qualities and almost reckless courage, Marco Antonio Colonna would be his lieutenant. This experienced Italian admiral was a gentleman from Genazzano and a great devotee of the Mother of Good Counsel.
On the day of the battle, October 7, 1571, St. Pius V was working in Rome with some Cardinals when, moved by a strong interior inspiration, he retired to the chapel.
After a few moments he came out radiant, declaring to everyone: The battle is won, the banner of the Cross has triumphed! It was only a month later that the official news arrived by messenger. Rome, however, had been celebrating for a long time.
The victory was also celebrated in Genazzano, and some of the Turkish spoils were laid at the feet of the fresco of the Virgin, as a sign of gratitude for the colossal and miraculous defeat of the adversary.
True heroism
Heroism is not only the act by which man faces the risk of losing his life or physical integrity. But it is the attitude by which man faces any great suffering or great misfortune. That characterizes the hero. There are moral sufferings and physical sufferings. And often the moral sufferings torment incomparably more, and it is more difficult to face them than physical sufferings.
Our Lady, although She did not shed Her own blood, was pierced by the sword of moral agony at the foot of the Cross of Her Son, to the point that the Church acclaimed Her as Queen of Martyrs.
Throughout the centuries, no one has suffered as She did. Well then, authentic heroism consists in firmly enduring disappointments, difficulties and all sorts of evils.
St Pius V shared this spirit, not only by his strength of soul, capable of overcoming the most persistent resistance, but above all by his heroic disposition to face and suffer everything. Especially when he was called upon to combat the factors that were causing the disintegration of Christendom: rapidly growing heresy and the great Turkish power. With faith in his Lady, he faced and conquered everything, giving Her the glory of being recognized by Catholics as Queen of Victories.
Later, St Pius V added to the Litany of Our Lady the invocation Auxilium Christianorum (Help of Christians), in thanksgiving for the victory of Lepanto.
Msgr. João Scognamiglio Clá Dias, EP.
Compiled by Roberta MacEwan
