In these dark times, we must fight evil with the most powerful weapons we have. The Rosary is foremost among them. Join the Great Rosary Campaign today at: www.GreatRosaryCampaign.com.

The Great Rosary Campaign is a yearlong mission for the conversion of cultural leaders. We will announce a weekly call to pray every Sunday for specific fallen-away Catholics and non-Catholics.

Today will be the one exception, since the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary happens to fall on a Monday this year. Originally, it was called the Feast of Our Lady of Victory, in commemoration of the victory of the naval forces of the Holy League against the Ottoman Empire at the Battle of Lepanto on October 7, 1571. St. Pope Pius V asked all the soldiers and leaders to pray the Rosary. On the day of the battle, which was hundreds of miles away, he received a revelation that the Catholic forces had won a great victory. He called for the Cardinals, priests, and officials to offer thanks to God that very day, despite the fact that he only received received final confirmation of the victory weeks later.

Countless Saints and Popes have told us that the Rosary is incredibly powerful for three things in particular:

1. Keeping the Faith

2. Moral renovation

3. Conversions of non-Catholics

The Great Rosary Campaign is also based on several biblical themes and principles.

First, PRAY FOR OUR BRETHREN. “Pray for one another…” (Jas. 5:16). “So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all men, and especially to those who are of the household of faith" (Gal. 6:10).

Second, PRAY FOR OUR ENEMIES. “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven" (Matt. 5:43-44).

Third, PRAY FOR ALL MEN, PARTICULARLY LEADERS AND THOSE IN AUTHORITY. “First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all men, or kings and all who are in high positions…” (1 Tim. 2:1-2).

Fourth, GOING INTO BATTLE WITH THE ARK. When the ancient Israelites came to Jericho, God didn't tell them to besiege the city. Instead, He told them to march around it with the Ark of the Covenant seven times, and on the seventh the walls would fall. We will now "march" in prayer for seven days with the New Ark of the Covenant, Our Lady, through the Rosary. We pray in hope that on the seventh day, a day especially devoted to Our Lady (Saturday), extraordinary graces of conversion will be given to those we are praying for.

Fifth, EVANGELISM AND APOLOGETICS = LOVE + ARGUMENTS + PRAYER + PENANCE. Ultimately it is God who reveals Himself to a soul, and empowers them to say "yes" to Him by His grace. He chooses to use us, but He does not have to. We must remember that as we evangelize and defend the Faith, our arguments will be fruitless unless informed by love (charity), and reinforced by prayer and penance.

Sixth, RETURNING GOOD FOR EVIL. “Do not return evil for evil, or reviling for reviling; but on the contrary bless, for to this you have been called, that you may obtain a blessing" (1 Pet. 3:9).

THIS WEEK, the first week of the Great Rosary Campaign, we are praying for the Pope and Priests of the Catholic Church. The SUGGESTED PENANCE this week is giving up a meal.

Sign up to take part in the Great Rosary Campaign today: www.GreatRosaryCampaign.com