Friends of the Rosary,

Today, we celebrate Columbus Day.

Christopher Columbus was not a saint, but he was motivated by ambition and the Catholic faith when he discovered America in 1492 after a trip sponsored by Isabella the Catholic, Queen of Spain.

Not only did Isabella the Catholic always show herself the protector of Columbus, but she was also the protector of the American aborigines against the colonists' and adventurers' ill-use of them.

A vast continent previously unknown to Europeans was brought into the history of the world.

Pope Leo XIII wrote:

“For Columbus is ours. … It is indubitable that the Catholic faith was the strongest motive for the inception and prosecution of [his] design; for this reason also the whole human race owes not a little to the Church.” 

The Irish celebrated the first Columbus Day in New York in 1792. In response to a mass lynching of Italians in New Orleans in 1892, a one-time national celebration of Columbus Day was held.

Thanks to lobbying by the Knights of Columbus, Franklin Roosevelt made it a permanent holiday in the 20th century.

We should not lose that connection. Without 1492, there never would have been 1776.

Happy Columbus Day!

Ave Maria!
Jesus, I Trust In You!

Come, Holy Spirit, come!

To Jesus through Mary!

Mikel Amigot | RosaryNetwork.com, New York