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As violence and unrest continue to embroil Afghanistan, I would like to invite Aleteia readers and friends to join me tomorrow to pray the Rosary.
A spiritual weapon and a balm for the soul, for centuries Catholics have turned to the Rosary to seek Our Lady's intervention and consolation. Pope Pius XI exhorted the praying of the Rosary, saying, “If you desire peace in your hearts, in your homes, and in your country, assemble each evening to recite the Rosary. Let not even one day pass without saying it, no matter how burdened you may be with many cares and labors.”
More recently, Pope Francis has invited the Church to pray the Rosary, saying, "The recitation of the rosary is the most beautiful prayer we can offer to the Virgin Mary; it is a contemplation on the stages of the life of Jesus the Savior with his Mother Mary and is a weapon that protects us from evils and temptations." The Holy Father has also noted that the Blessed Virgin Mary has urged the recitation of the rosary "especially in the face of the threats looming over the world."
Those who would like to view the prayers of the Rosary, should consult this excellent guide from Aleteia.
Aleteia's John Burger described the situation saying, "Concerns are growing for the tiny community of Christians in Afghanistan, who might face forced conversion to Islam or death as the Taliban drills down on the details of who is now living under their regime."
Experts, such as Thomas Heine-Geldern, executive president of Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), have expressed profound concerns about the future of the country. Heine-Geldern said in a recent statement, "All those who do not espouse the extreme Islamist views of the Taliban are at risk, even moderate Sunni. The Shia (10 percent of the population), the small Christian community, and all other religious minorities, already under threat, will suffer even greater oppression. This is a huge setback for all human rights and especially for religious freedom in the country."
