THE APOSTLE OF YOUTH
constant, boundless; and to her he ascribed all his progress in virtue and the success of his works.
Three events in Church history have glorified this beautiful and alluring title of Mary. Its origin dates back to 1571, when Mahometanism was turned away from its threatened invasion of all Christendom by the Christian fleet in the gulf of Lepanto, under the banner Viva Maria. St. Pius V, who saw in spirit the astounding victory, moved by a profound feeling of gratitude added to the Litany of Our Lady the invocation, Auxilium Christianorum, Help of Christians, pray for us. In 1683, Sobieski, the heroic Pole, under the standard of Mary, again thrust back the Turkish horde and a second time saved the West to Christianity. The great Confraternity of Our Lady, Help of Christians, was the lasting memorial of thanks to Mary for his signal triumph. Finally, the renowned papal prisoner of Napoleon, Pius VII, having recovered his liberty and entered Rome amid rejoicings on May 24, 1814, fulfilled a vow he had made to consecrate to Our Lady, Help of Christians, the day of his restoration to the throne of Peter.
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