• Holy Rosary Shrine - Santuario del Santo Rosario
    Holy Rosary Shrine - Santuario del Santo Rosario

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Come, Contemplate with Mary the Face of Christ

Holy Rosary Shrine is dedicated to fostering union with Jesus through Our Blessed Mother and her Holy Rosary. Central to our mission is beautiful and reverent worship, preaching His Word, devotional and evangelization events, and service to those in need. Staffed by the Franciscans of the Poor Christ, we offer extended hours for the Sacrament of Confession, Eucharistic Adoration, retreat days and Franciscan and Marian spiritual formation. The Shrine has a rich history of being home to many different ethnic groups in the "Immigrant City" of Lawrence, Massachusetts which continues to this day.

Confession Times

Confession Times

Information about confession times and days and how to make a good confession.

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How to Pray the Rosary

How to Pray the Rosary

The Rosary Center & Confraternity. Promoting devotion to the Rosary for more than 500 years.

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Rosarium Virginis Mariae

Rosarium Virginis Mariae

Letter from St. John Paul II about the importance of the Holy Rosary.

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From the Friars: The Valley of Hinnom

In various ancient cultures children were sacrificed to pagan gods to placate them or plead for some need of the people. In the Old Testament the practice was especially associated with the god Molech of the Ammonites. The Book of Leviticus (20:2-5) mandates that any Israelite or foreigner who sacrificed a child to Molech must be stoned to death. Sadly, various kings and many of the people of Israel fell into this evil practice. It was one of the main reasons that God allowed the destruction of the Northern kingdom, the fall of Judah and the exile in Babylon. Children were burned in sacrifice to false gods especially in the Valley of Hinnom near Jerusalem. This is where the word Gehenna comes from, which Jesus used as an expression for the fires of hell.

On August 10th, Governor Maura Healey signed a law that removes any restrictions on abortion up to the moment of birth. The similarities between Massachusetts and the Valley of Hinnom are numerous. Both are places where innocent defenseless children are killed. In both cases the child’s life has no value and is sacrificed for what is seen as a greater good for someone else. In both cases the mother is likely not desirous of the death of her child but is pressured by others. In the case of abortion, this is often done by parents, boyfriends, husbands, peers or doctors. Finally, most surgically aborted babies are incinerated, burned like the children in the fires of Gehenna. In chemical abortions they end up in the garbage or are flushed down the toilet.

Depiction of an offering of killing of children to Molech

Offering to Molech, by Charles Foster – Public Domain, Link

The thought of people throwing their children into a blazing fire before the statue of some pagan god strikes us as horrible and barbaric. But the legal killing of unborn children in our own time is ignored or even defended. Governor Healey’s office stated that she is a “proud Catholic” and acted out of kindness and empathy. Jesus said, “when the light in you is darkness, how great is that darkness.” (Mt 6:23)

I have no special gift of prophecy, but the Word of God shows clearly that the Lord’s punishment is often a withdrawal of His protection so that we experience the results of our sin.

May He have mercy on us all.
Fr. Peter