In the Roman Catholic Church, the month of October is dedicated to the Rosary. During the 10th month of the calendar year, emphasis is therefore placed on praying the Rosary; a string of beads for 5 x 10 times the Hail Mary, and after every 10 Hail Marys (“a decade”) an Our Father. In many parishes, gatherings are organised for groups of believers to pray the Rosary together. In addition, there are Catholics who consider praying the Rosary an individual devotion. The Blessed Virgin Mary is honoured through the praying of the Rosary as the protectress of Christendom. Praying the Rosary together is seen as a very powerful tool for believers to avert great misfortune. After May, October is the second Marian month of the calendar year.
The practice of reciting the rosary, especially during the month of October, dates back to the 19th century. The recitation of the rosary was particularly promoted by Pope Leo XIII, who was Pope from 1878 to 1903. Popes after Leo XIII continued to emphasise the importance of reciting the rosary.
On 7 October, it is the feast day of Mary, Queen of the Holy Rosary. The Rosary Month is therefore an extension of this special day throughout the entire month of October. The choice of the feast day on 7 October has a turbulent history.
Pope Pius V, Pope from 1566 to 1572, established the feast day of 7 October in 1571. This occurred following a major naval battle, namely the Battle of Lepanto on 7 October 1571, in which Christian troops, forming the Holy League, defeated the Turkish Ottomans. The naval battle took place near the west coast of Greece. The Holy League was initiated by Pope Pius V and was founded on 25 May 1571. The league consisted of many Catholic, seafaring states in and around the Mediterranean region, which together formed an army. Participating states in the Holy League included the Church of Rome, the kingdoms of Naples, Sicily and Spain, the duchies of Parma, Savoy and Urbino, and the republics of Genoa and Venice, and the Order of Malta. The Pope attributed the victory to the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This intercession was obtained through the praying of the rosary. The Ottoman invasion of Europe was thwarted by the victorious naval battle. At the moment the victory over the Turkish Muslims was achieved, a rosary procession was taking place in St. Peter's Square in Rome. In 1571, Pope Pius V added “Help of Christians, pray for us” to the Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary; the well-known Litany of Loreto. The Holy League was dissolved in 1573, shortly after the death of Pope Pius V in 1572.
In 1969, Pope Paul VI, Pope from 1963 to 1978, gave the Feast of the Rosary its current name, namely “Our Lady of the Holy Rosary”.
