Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women. // Luke 1:28 (from Gospel for Memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary)

Fumbling in the dark, I reached for a plastic rosary in my nightstand. I don’t think I had ever prayed a full Rosary. I didn’t know the mysteries and had no real relationship with Mary, but I knew that you were supposed to say one Our Father on the single bead and ten Hail Marys on the string that followed.

I was living a middle school nightmare. Somehow I’d ended up in a co-ed physical education class. I was chubby and insecure, a deadly combination, and had to spend an hour every day attempting to be athletic in front of preteen boys. It was brutal, and they weren’t very kind. 

Too mortified to tell anyone, instead, I lay in bed and prayed a decade of the Rosary maybe for the first time. I thought of every one of the boys who snickered or ignored me. I pictured each face, said his name, and prayed a single Hail Mary for him. And after that night they never teased me again.

Today we celebrate Our Lady of the Rosary, also known as Our Lady of Victory. On October 7, 1571, a group of sailor soldiers called the Holy League faced down the formidable Turks of the Ottoman Empire in the sea Battle of Lepanto. With the blessing of Pope Pius V, they sailed out to meet the intruders, warships advancing in the shape of the cross. The outnumbered Christians invoked the protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary by praying the Rosary (on their knees!) and were miraculously victorious. Their faith and courage prevented the Muslim faith from spreading into Europe.

The Mother of Jesus is our Mother too. Like any good mother, whether she’s defending her spiritual children in war or gym class, she fights for us. Her maternal heart intercedes powerfully for you and for me. Whatever battle you’re facing, our Lady wants to help. 

So tonight as you tuck into bed, reach for your rosary. Share your troubles with Mary and entrust everything to her fierce and faithful love. For when you hold those rosary beads, you are really holding your Mother’s hand.