Saturday, January 8, 2011

Battle of Lepanto: Original Main Banner of the Flag Ship of the Christian Fleet

Now kept at the diocesan museum in Gaeta, south of Rome.
Blessed by Pope St. Pius V, this banner was flown on the flag ship of the papal fleet during the victorious battle of Lepanto on October 7, 1571.
On November 4, 1571, the banner, as a vow, was left in the Cathedral of Gaeta by Don Giovanni of Austria who was the commander of the Christian fleets.
You can see how severely damaged the banner is (from the Nazi bombing on the night of Sept. 8-9, 1943 - by the explosion of an aerial bomb which hit the Cathedral nave).
An image of tremendous historical significance, it was an honor to pray here this very day and to know that "In Hoc Signo Vinces."

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