28th Jul - THE SIEGE OF RHODES, VICTORY THROUGH OUR MOTHER’S INTERCESSION

 The Siege of Rhodes began with a tremendous bombardment on the tower of Saint Nicholas. Grand Master Pierre D’Aubusson was not intimidated as he asked: 

    “What is more sacred than to defend the Faith? What is happier than to fight for Christ?” Fighting with broken blades and notched axes, the Knights of Saint John continued to hold 

    the breach, cutting down any who approached them, until a huge Janissary rose up and hurled a spear with all his might directly at the Grand Master. 

    A miracle is exactly what they got. Suddenly there appeared in the sky “a refulgent Cross of gold, by the side of which stood a beautiful woman clothed in garments of dazzling white, 

    a lance in her hand and a shield on her arm, accompanied by a man dressed in goatskins and followed by a band of heavenly warriors armed with flaming swords.” 

    It was the glorious figures of Saint John the Baptist, the Patron Saint of the Order of Saint John, Saint Michael the Archangel brandishing his unsheathed sword, 

    the Blessed Virgin Mary herself, dressed in battle array! The Turks turned at the sight and ran in panic-stricken flight. Thousands fell as they fled, 

    cut down and pursued through the breaches by the knights of Rhodes and their heavenly allies. The siege of Rhodes had ended, 

    and Grandmaster D’Aubusson later recovered of his wounds. In 1480 that the knights of Rhodes had gained this signal victory over the Turks by the help of the Blessed Virgin, 

    whom the Knights regarded ever after as Our Mother of Victory. Thanks to Our Lady of Victory, the all-conquering swords upon the walls of Rhodes!




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