Almost 20 months since the start of the Covid-19 Pandemic, the Philippines is practically back to where it started. Almost 10,000+ cases of Covid per day, hundreds of thousands of jobs lost, children and seniors in virtual “house arrest” for almost 2 years. Businesses are shutting down, and many people are struggling just to make ends meet.
Not only are the Filipino people desperately hungry, most of us are likewise spiritually hungry as well. For almost 2 years now, many Filipinos have had to resort to attending the Holy Mass via Facebook. Yes, there is spiritual communion, but this is not the same as physically receiving the Bread of Life, Jesus Christ Himself, when attending Mass live.
It has been almost 2 years, and it seems like victory in this war against the pandemic is still far from our grasp. What are we to do? How do we win this battle against an invisible enemy?
The answer is prayer, particularly the prayer of the Most Holy Rosary.
How the Rosary Helped Win a Seemingly Unwinnable War
Every October 7, we celebrate the Feast of the Most Holy Rosary. That is still a couple of months away, however, it is worth recalling the story behind this beautiful Feast of the Rosary, because it gives us and our country the blueprint for solving the crisis of these times.
In October 1571, Christian Europe was in danger of being overtaken by the Ottoman Muslim Empire. The Ottomans invaded Cyprus, and took 15,000 Christians captive. The Turkish army was far superior and outnumbered European forces, and it seemed like the entire Europe would be overrun. If that happened, Europe would cease to become Christian. The Faith established by Our Lord Jesus Christ was in danger of being exiled from Europe, the seat and bastion of Christianity.
Pope Pius V at that time commanded all Catholics around the world to pray the Rosary. Churches across the entire Europe were filled with Christians praying for a victory that was seemingly impossible.
On the morning of October 7, 1571, Don Juan of Austria led his fleet of 80,000 men against the Turks 120,000. The outnumbered fleet of Christians won. The Pope actually had a vision of the victory before news of it had even reached Rome. He reportedly woke up in the middle of the night, shouting, “The Christian fleet is victorious!”
In recognition of the extraordinary victory, Pope Pius V declared a feast day for Our Lady of Victories, which was eventually changed to the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary, which we celebrate until this day.
The Rosary is the Key to Winning the Invisible War of Today
The Philippines today is at war with an invisible enemy that spreads and multiplies exponentially, despite all worldly interventions. This is a time for all Catholics to remember the power of the Rosary. If the Rosary could save the entire Christendom from defeat way back in 1571, by all means it should also be able to help our families and our country in this seemingly unwindable war we are waging today against Covid.
If more Filipinos pray the Rosary together, as a family, every day, we will win this war through the intercession of Our Lady.
Our Mission in Laudate Mariam is to create an army of Filipino Prayer Warriors praying the Rosary every day! Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary, pray for us, our families, and our country!