STORY OF OUR LADY OF VICTORIES OF SAINT MARK

Feast Day - April 16

In 1683, a formidable army of more than 100,000 Turks invaded Austria and laid siege to Vienna for the second time. The city was strategically located in Europe, and the Ottoman Turks had been pressing further and further into Christendom in the preceding centuries. If they could take Vienna, then all of Europe would be a minor to them.

Unfortunately, all of Europe was not united against the invader. The differing Protestants hated their Catholic neighbours more than they feared the Ottoman Turks, and stood by doing nothing as the Catholics fought alone to save Europe. In fact, the Ottoman Empire had been supporting the Protestants, and encouraged them to revolt and rebel against their lawful government, which weakened Christendom and obviously played into the hands of the Turks. They went as far as promising their Protestant dupes that they would be given the “Kingdom of Vienna” if they should aid their victory.

Suffering under an intense siege, Vienna was on the point of surrendering to the enemy. The people were filled with fear and anxiety, for had this happened, the Turks would easily have invaded the rest of Europe, and filled it with blood and strife. From all parts of the Catholic world prayers were offered to the Queen of Heaven, that she would intercede and avert this disaster. Our Lady, Comfort of the Afflicted, did not fail her people.

The pious and valiant Catholic King of Poland, John Sobieski, with an army seemingly inadequate to the need, bravely marched against the enemy anyway. Even though his army was tiny in comparison to the multitudes that awaited him, there was no one else who could come to the aid of Vienna.

When John Sobieski came in sight of the Turkish camp, before beginning battle, he ordered Holy Mass to be celebrated, at which he himself served; then he begged the celebrant to bless the whole army.

Being confident in the help of Our Lady Virgin most powerful, King John Sobieski bravely threw his forces into the conflict. Initiating what would be the largest cavalry charge in history, King John led his now legendary Winged Hussars into the face of the enemy like a host of avenging angels, disrupting the enemy formations and breaking their lines.

The enemy, though far more numerous, turned and fled, while the king’s army were masters of the field. The rejoicing of Christians was great at this news, and from all Christendom fervent prayers were offered to the Blessed Mother, Our Lady of Victories, in thanksgiving for her protection.

The reigning Pope at that time, Pope Innocent XI, placed all his trust in the Blessed Virgin Mary. He had vowed to institute a feast in her honour, if she would liberate the Church from this terrible danger. In fulfillment of this vow, he extended to the whole Catholic world the solemnity of the feast of the most Holy Name of Mary, which had up to that time only been observed in particular churches.

The famous image of Our Lady of Victories is the one which Emperor John Zimiarnes and John Commenus carried in a triumphal car after having besieged the enemy. The image is now borne in procession at Vienna to obtain rain or fine weather, as the case may be.