October is the month of the Rosary
The Catholic Church designated October as the month of the Rosary. The origin of this observance goes back to October 7, 1571, when the Catholic League* (aka Holy League) repelled the invasion of the Ottoman Empire. Below is a more detailed account of what happened:
By the 16th century, the Ottoman Empire (aka Turkish Empire) had controlled much of Southeast Europe, Western Asia, and Northern Africa. The Ottomans were on a warpath to overthrow all of Europe, killing thousands and thousands of people and forcing Islamic conversion on the survivors. Thereafter, the Ottomans attempted to invade Western Europe, eyeing the Republic of Venice as its primary target.
As the impending battle loomed, Pope Pius V called on various Catholic communities throughout Europe to join him in praying the rosary, including public recitations, asking for the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary to repel the Islamic threat. Every soldier in the Catholic League carried a rosary.
The naval fleet of the Ottomans vastly outnumbered the Catholic League; miraculously however, the Catholic League emerged victorious after a daylong battle known as the Battle of Lepanto that took place off the coast of Greece. Henceforth, Pope Pius V declared the day — October 7 — as the feast day for Our Lady of the Rosary. In 1884, Pope Leo XIII dedicated the month of October as the month of the Rosary.
*The Catholic League was composed of the Republic of Venice, the Spanish Empire (including the Kingdom of Naples, the Habsburg monarchy, the Kingdoms of Sicily and Sardinia), the Papal States, the Republic of Genoa, the Duchies of Savoy, Urbino and Tuscany, the Knights Hospitaller, and others.
The feast day of Our Lady of the Rosary is a reminder to all Catholics of the powerful intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary. On this month of the Rosary, let us pray at least one Rosary a day to reflect on the sacred mysteries of Jesus Christ our Savior and to invoke the intercession of Mary, Mother of the Church.