Sometimes, You Find Lovely Places when Looking for Masses While Traveling...

For years now, when traveling to different areas, I've consulted MassTimes.org to find times and locations for daily and Sunday Masses. Similarly, I sometimes click through The Real Presence to find churches and chapels that have Eucharistic Adoration.

Doing so has brought me to some lovely little chapels, beautiful churches, and peaceful shrines, the most recent of which was St. Anne's Shrine in Sturbridge, MA, where pilgrims have been traveling for over 100 years to seek solace, peace, and healing from God through the intercession of St. Anne.

At the Shrine, you will find both indoor and outdoor spaces to inspire prayer, contemplation, and peace.

Be sure to stop at the Hall of Saints...

and walk about to enjoy the picturesque grounds...

Throughout the Shrine grounds, you'll find statues...

Grottoes...

A Stations of the Cross walk...

Chapels...

Sacra Santa (Holy Stairs)

Outdoor prayer spots...

Churches, chapels, an outdoor worship space under the pastoral care of the Assumptionists.

A picnic area...

(Yes, my crew were all hungry, a bit tired, and not wanting to smile for a picture. ;) )

Plus, there is a gift shop and Russian icons display, which we, unfortunately, missed since we got there after 5 p.m. in order to go to a 6 p.m. Mass. (The gift shop and icon display close at 5 p.m. daily.)

However, just outside the gift shop and Russian Icon display area, we found a favorite sculpture, the Generations Statue, a moving depiction of the Holy Family embraced by Saints Anne and Joachim, the  parents of the Blessed Virgin and grandparents of Jesus.

And, nearby, was a striking sculpture of St. Micheal...

And and older, sweet statue of St. Anne and St. Mary.

Truly, the Shrine is a serene and holy place...

Nearly every turn there brings you to another place to contemplate and pray...

To be reminded of miracles...

To recall the saints...

To remember the simple power and beauty of prayer...

The pray for the intercession of the Holy Family...

For our own families and for the whole world.

To remember, as St. Therese de Lisiueux says that "prayer is a surge of the heart; it is a simple look turned toward heaven, it is a cry of recognition and of love, embracing both trial and joy.”

If you are ever in the area of Sturbridge, MA, I encourage you to stop at St. Anne's Shrine. It is simply lovely.

St. Anne, pray for us.