For those members of the Order who wish to celebrate the great naval victory over the Turks at the Siege of Rhodes by Grand Master Pierre d'Aubusson on this day in 1480, given below are the prayers to be added to the prayers of the day for the Mass and Office.
D'Aubusson, who was 57 at the time of the siege, was one of the most accomplished Grand Masters ever to lead the Order. A man of fine presence, a polished diplomat, a Cardinal, and as the siege was to show, a courageous leader in war.
The besieging Ottoman army was made up of 170 ships and 100,000 men, under the command of Gedik Ahmed Pasha. Grand Master d'Aubusson's small garrison was reinforced by 500 knights from France, and 2,000 soldiers under the command of the Grand Master's brother Antoine.
On this last decisive day of the battle, on which the Turks managed to capture the tower of the Langue of Italy, the battle rose to a frenzy during which 4,000 Turks were slain. The Hospitallers finally reached the tent of the Grand Vizier and captured the holy standard of Islam.
Defeated, the Ottoman fleet finally left on 27th August. Safety for Christian sea traffic in the Mediterranean was thus assured, until the fall of Rhodes in 1522.
For next year, it would be very kind if someone would furnish us with a good usable translation into English, this may be sent to "Blog Editor" via the BASMOM office, either by email or post.
The prayers were first published in a Missal in use in the Order's church of Saints John and Cordula in Cologne in 1659. Two years ago this Mass was celebrated solemnly at Pantasaph on the BASMOM Holywell Pilgrimage. Chaplains are encouraged to commemorate it in their daily Mass.
This day is celebrated in the Order as a First Class feast.
ORATIODeus in te sperántium fortitude, adesto precibus nostris : quas tibi cum gratiarum offerimus actione : pro Victoria Magistro nostro, ac ejus exercitui, contra hostes Fidei Christanæ Turcos, per te mirabiliter Rhodi concessa : supliciter deprecantes: ut solitá tuæ pietatis clementiá muniti, dextráque tuæ potentiæ defensi : ab hostium infidiis, omníque adversitate protegámur. Per Dominum nostrum Jesum Filium tuum, qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitate Spiritus Sancti Deus, per omnia sæcula sæculorum. Amen.
SECRETAHostias tibi Domine placationis et laudis offerimus, suppliciter exorantes : ut qui nos de Fidei tuæ hostibus triumphare fecisti : clementer ab inimicorum infidiis, et omni periculo salves et munias. Per Dominum nostrum Jesum Filium tuum, qui vivit et regnat in unitate Spiritus Sancti Deus, per omnia sæcula sæculorum. Amen.
POSTCOMMUNIOSumptis redemptionis nostræ muneribus, quæsumus Omnipotens Deus : eorum celebratione tuæ protectionis auxilium : et famuli tui N. Hospitalis Hiersolomitani Magistrum, cum suo Exercitu, gratias de Triumphis Turcarum hostium fidei, nomini tuo sancto referentem : ab omni inimicorum incursu, cunctisque adversitatibus liberes semper et protegas. Per Dominum nostrum Jesum Filium tuum, qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitate Spiritus Sancti Deus, per omnia saecula sæculorum. Amen.
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