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Show Power of the Rosary. IN OUR historical department this week appears an interesting description de-scription of the famous battle of Lepanto and the causes which led up to it, from the pen of Rev. J. B. O'Connor, O'Con-nor, O. P. Its publication at this time serves to remind our readers of the powerful efficacy, of prayer and devotion devo-tion to the Mother of Christ, "Our Lady of Victory," for it was by reason rea-son of her intercession, invoked through the rosary, that the hand of God "hurled back the hosts of Selim II in defeat and prevented forever the invasion in-vasion of western Europe by the followers fol-lowers of Mahomet. In this great battle the Christians were greatly outnumbered by the enemy, en-emy, both in ships and soldiers, and the Turks enjoyed the prestige of being the best and most skilful fighters in the world at that day. Hence the victory of the Christians at Lepanto should be regarded as a miracle, for, taking everything ev-erything into consideration from the material standpoint, their defeat and slaughter at the hands of the Turks should not cover more than sixty minutes. min-utes. Nothing like it had occurred since the fight at the Pass of Thermopylae, Ther-mopylae, where the Spartans routed the Persians, although the army of Xerses outnumbered the brave Greeks ten to one. The galleases mentioned in the description de-scription of the battle were large ships, that is to say, as the word large, applied ap-plied to naval architecture, was comprehended com-prehended in that time. Galleases were used for the first time in the battle i of Lepanto. They carried forty or fifty pieces of cannon, had very little speed and were majined by three convicts. On another page is printed a "Story of the Holy Rosary," also reproduced from the Rosary Magazine. Its perusal perus-al will enable the reader to form new thoughts in contemplation of the mysteries mys-teries which make up the fifteen decades dec-ades of the rosary, which pious persons per-sons can apply in their own way towards perfecting themselves as Christians and conforming to the Divine Di-vine Will in all the things of this life. The story will be continued in three parts, the first taking in the Joyful Mysteries and ending with the Glorious Mysteries, as this Month of the Rosary approaches its finale. |