“Our Lady of Victory welcomes you!” This isn’t just a greeting. It’s an invitation to step into a space filled with faith. This is Our Lady of Victory Roman Catholic Church in Los Angeles.
Our Lady of Victory stands as a testament to faith in the community. The parish is at 4168 Union Pacific Avenue. It’s a beacon for Roman-Latin worshippers.
Mass times are plentiful. You can attend Saturday at 7:00 pm. Sunday Masses are at 8:00 am, 10:00 am in English, 11:30 am, and 1:00 pm. Weekday Masses are Monday through Friday at 9:00 am. Confessions are heard on Saturdays. They are from 5:00 pm to 6:00 pm.
But there’s more to the name Our Lady of Victory. It goes back to a pivotal moment in Christian history. During Pope Pius V’s time from 1566-72 the Ottoman Turks posed a huge threat. They controlled the Mediterranean. They raided Italian coastal cities. Venice appealed to the Pope.
Pius V formed the Holy League of Christian powers. This was a crusade against the Turks. A fleet assembled at Messina under Don Juan of Austria. In 1571, it included 206 galley ships. There were 80000 soldiers from Venice, Naples, Genoa, Spain, and Malta. The Turks had more forces. They had 230 galleys and 120000 soldiers.
On October 7th, 1571, Don Juan met the Turkish fleet. It was in the Gulf of Lepanto. The battle was fierce. By day’s end, the Turkish flagship Sultana was captured. Admiral Ali Pasha was killed. The Turks were defeated. Also 12000 Christians were freed from slavery.
That same day, the Rosary Confraternity of Rome prayed for victory. News of the victory reached Rome. It was credited to Our Lady’s intercession. Pope Pius V established a feast in honor of Our Lady of Victory. Later, Gregory XIII changed it to the feast of the Most Holy Rosary. It is celebrated on October 7th.
Our Lady of Victory Roman Catholic Church continues this legacy. It offers daily Mass. It provides a place for prayer and reflection. The church also builds community. Consider the history and the present. Join the faithful in prayer and celebration here at Our Lady of Victory.