Real
replica in Barcelona's Maritime Museum. Real (Spanish for "Royal") was a
Spanish galley and the flagship of Don John of Austria in the Battle of
Lepanto in 1571.
Because I was once a Sailor (and loved it) and I pray the Rosary every day...
On Oct. 7, 1571, two years after the Vatican urged the Rosary for
universal use, an event took place that caused the devotion to gain
widespread popularity. One of the most famous (and bloodiest) naval
battles in history took place that day on the Bay of Lepanto, off the
coast of Greece. The opposing forces were Christians, made up of an
alliance of fleets from Spain and Italy, against a far superior Turkish
navy. The Muslim force was threatening to take over the Mediterranean
Sea and hence be in a position to attack European countries. Pope Pius V
asked the Christian faithful to pray the Rosary and seek the
intercession of the Blessed Mother to defeat the Muslim navy. Despite
being outnumbered, the Christian fleet prevailed. Accordingly, Pope Pius
established Oct. 7 as a feast day of Our Lady of Victory, thus
perpetually bringing honor to the Blessed Mother for her assistance. In
1573, Pope Gregory XIII (r. 1572-85) changed the name of the feast to
Our Lady of the Rosary, a feast the Church continues to celebrate.
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