This is a naval blog and today's the great Feast of Our Lady of Victory, now known as Our Lady of the Rosary, which celebrates the utter defeat of Turkish Sea Jihad at the battle of Lepanto in 1571.
The Ottomans, some two decades fresh from conquering Constantinople, launched across the Mediterranean with the grand aim of conquering Rome itself, the Big Apple. They were smashed by a Christian fleet led by Don John of Austria, the first decisive victory of arms against the Jihad in hundreds of years.
Don John's fleet sailed under the protection of the Virgin Mother of God and miraculously routed the Moslem aggressor. You can read about the action here and as you do, don't forget GKC's Lepanto. Death light of Africa? Love light of Spain.
Poetry in mind, here at the Compound we're about to grill Turkish style kebabs on short swords in homage to the victory. For breakfast? Croissants.
Deus Vult,
LSP
It is said that the Pope ordered a victory mass within the hour of the victory at Lepanto, even though there was no way he could have possibly have known.
ReplyDeleteUnless God really does speak to man.
One of the greatest victories, and so few know about it.
Beans, it was revealed to him as it happened. A remarkable thing.
ReplyDeleteLooking back on the conflict with hindsight's 20/20, it seems heinous that the Christian West should let the East fall to the Moslems. Such wickedness. Well, Europe's paying for it now, or beginning to.
Anything is possible when you have Our Lady behind you.
ReplyDeleteOf course if Rome was a corrupt then as it is now the Ottomans might have said, "Um, Yeah, about that conquering thing? We'll pass."
Our Lady of Victory, pray for us!
ReplyDeleteBeans, it was miraculous.
ReplyDeleteOLV.
Infidel, the Moslems think we believe as whole heartedly as they do. But no.
ReplyDeleteJust you wait till the first squeals of anguish are heard from Hackney's rainbow theater collective as the first dyke is jettisoned.
Hard landing? So be it.
Dad, always!
ReplyDeleteThere is that, Infidel.
ReplyDeleteOf course today's Rome would welcome the invasion.
Ye Gods.