For this month’s Moment of Grace, we are spending some time reflecting on the moment that inspired this project for the De Mazenod Family – when St Eugene felt the Oblate Madonna’ smile’ upon him. Watch the video – Mary Full of Grace as we delve into not only this Moment of Grace for St Eugene, but how Mary can be the ultimate disciple for us as members of the De Mazenod Family.
What is Grace?
Let’s keep unpacking what Grace is on this journey throughout the coming months. Watch the video below to delve a little deeper into the origins of Grace.
Want the full text of the Mary Full of Grace video? Click here
For a downloadable PDF version of this months Moment of Grace – click here
October – month of the Holy Rosary
The month of October each year is dedicated to the Rosary. The Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary was introduced by Pope Pius V (1504-1572) in the year 1571 to commemorate the miraculous victory of the Christian forces in the Battle of Lepanto on October 7, 1571. The Pope attributed more to the “arms” of the Rosary than to the power of cannons and the valour of the soldiers who fought there. It all started in 1571 when the Catholic League entered into battle against the Ottoman Empire to protect Italy from invasion. The Turkish Empire was on a warpath to overthrow all of Europe, killing millions of people and forcing Islamic conversion on survivors. They had conquered the Middle East and Mediterranean islands of Cyrus and Crete; Italy was next. As the impending battle loomed, Pope Pius V called on various religious communities throughout Europe to join him in praying the Rosary, including public recitations, to defeat the Islamic threat. Heading into battle, every man in the Catholic League’s forces carried a Rosary. Unfortunately, their fleet was no match for the competition; they were vastly outnumbered.
Miraculously, the Catholic League returned victorious after a daylong battle known as the Battle of Lepanto that took place off the coast of Greece. In thanksgiving for Mary’s intercession and protection, Pope Pius V declared the day — October 7 — as a feast day for Our Lady of the Rosary. To celebrate, a Rosary procession was held in Saint Peter’s Square. After the feast day was established, the entire month of October was dedicated to the Rosary in 1884 by Pope Leo XIII.
Pope Pius X once said “The Rosary is the most beautiful and the most rich in graces of all prayers; it is the prayer that touches most the Heart of the Mother of God…” and we invite you to join members of the De Mazenod Family to pray a decade of the Rosary with us with the video below.
If you are interested in reading more on the Rosary, head to our website https://demazenodfamily.com.au/praying-the-rosary/ where we have a video from our China Delegation and a detailed resource you can download that includes the prayers of the Rosary, the Mysteries and reflections for meditations on the mysteries of the Rosary – written by Giovanni OMI.
Whilst joining with the rest of the De Mazenod Family in praying the Rosary, we invite you to continue to reflect on the graces you receive in your daily life. Over the coming months, we will continue to share Moments of Grace with you.
