A Place of Sanctuary
Bringing The Grotto to You
Daily Spiritual Reflection

What tender words Jesus speaks to his disciples “I have called you friends” (John 15:15).

These words are meant for us as well. We are Jesus’ friends because we keep his command to love. Maybe we are not always perfect in living this command, but Jesus never said that to be His friend we had to perfectly keep the command.

Each time we try our best to love others as we are loved we strengthen our faith, and our relationship with Jesus grows stronger. When times are tough and we need to find courage to hope, Jesus our friend invites us to tell Him what troubles us. In fact, this can be a great prayer moment. Take some quiet time alone and picture Jesus sitting opposite you. As He smiles at you, tell Him what you need. He will listen and love you. He will tell you the words we all need to hear from Jesus “I call you my friend and I love you.” What better words can we hear that will lift our spirits and fill us with joy?

Blessings on your day.

Fr. Don Siple, OSM, Rector of The Grotto
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Bringing The Grotto to You

We will continue to share a piece of The Grotto with you each day until Masses resume and our gardens open. We hope this feature brings you joy.

Please share our emails with friends and family. Help spread the word that The Grotto is here, and looking forward to the glorious day when we can reopen our gates.
Day 60: A Seat Waiting for You
Here I Sit
 
Gracious God,

You have called my name and daily I try to follow. I am tired, Lord.

I listen to your words in Scripture. I seek you in the hustle and bustle of my day. You call me to come to you - to bring my worries, my regrets, my hopes and cares. I am tired, Lord.

You call me to come and sit with you a while - in a church, under a tree, or on a bench outdoors.

Here I sit, Lord - tired, worried, burdened and afraid.

I take a deep breath and exhale ...

Sitting here, surrounded by the quiet, I can really listen. I can reflect and contemplate.

With each breath I take in, and each beat of my heart, I feel invigorated, inspired, renewed.

Thank you for the ways that you create in me. Thank you for the gift of salvation through your Son, Jesus. And thank you for the inspiration that your Holy Spirit brings.

Amen.
A seat waiting for you

We hope it won't be long before we can invite you all to make your way to The Grotto, a place of peace, prayer and natural beauty.

Until then, we have a seat waiting for you ...
A place to sit and reflect
A place to sit among nature
A place to sit and relax
A place to sit and pray
A place to sit and hope
A place to sit in awe
A place to sit and respect
A place to sit and rest
A place to sit in solitude
A place to sit along the way
A place to sit and unwind
A place to sit and watch
A place to sit and meditate
A place to sit and remember
A place to sit and enjoy
A place to sit in peace
A place to sit and refresh
A place to sit and learn
A place to sit and praise
A place to sit in the sun
A place to sit in the rain
A place to sit and be thankful
A place to sit and listen
A place to sit and prepare
A place to sit with loved ones
A place to sit and celebrate
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The Grotto Gift Shop

The Grotto Gift Shop is open for curbside pick-up or online shipping during our closure.

If you do not see what you are looking for, feel free to contact our director of retail operations by  clicking here .
The Series

We hope you are enjoying our daily feature A Place of Sanctuary: Bringing The Grotto to You.

Week 1
St. Francis of Assisi
Celebrating St. Patrick's Day
St. Anne's Chapel
St. Joseph's Grove
The Marilyn Moyer Meditation Chapel
Spring in the Garden
Our Lady's Grotto

Week 2
St. Jude Thaddeus
Statue of Mary, Our Mother
The Pollinator Garden
St. Philip Benizi's Retreat
Pathways of The Grotto
St. Peregrine Shrine
The Servites

Week 3
Here Light Shines
The Peace Garden
Dambana
Looking Up
Feast of Our Lady at the Foot of the Cross
The Rose Garden
Palm Sunday, The Christus Garden

Week 4
Crosses and Crucifixes
Sacred Heart Statue
Angels of The Grotto
Holy Thursday of The Lord's Supper
Good Friday, Stations of the Cross
Holy Saturday, Via Matris
Easter Sunday

Week 5
The Forest
Blessing of the Animals
Our Lady of Guadalupe Shrine
Colors of The Grotto
Mysteries of the Rosary
Lighting a Candle
Chapel of Mary

Week 6
Come to the Water
Our Lady of Lavang Shrine
Celebrating God's Creation
Our Lady of Lourdes
The Labyrinth
Looking Out a Window
How The Grotto Began

Week 7
The Cliff and Elevator
Lithuanian Wayside Shrine
The Grotto by the Numbers
Music at The Grotto
May Flowers
Take a Closer Look
Outdoor Mass

Week 8
The Feast of St. Peregrine
Celebrating Your Favorites
A Year at The Grotto
The Seven Holy Founders
Views and Perspectives
The Rhododendrons
Mother's Day at The Grotto

Week 9
Twilight at The Grotto
The Peace Pole
Our Lady of Czestochowa Polish Shrine
Today: A Seat Waiting for You
Tomorrow: The Murals
The Grotto
The National Sanctuary of Our Sorrowful Mother

NE 85th & Sandy Blvd.
Portland, Oregon

503-254-7371