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

“Mary did for her Child what every mother does for her own child. She performed those very human, natural acts, such as clothing and feeding. She also performed the religious acts common to all the mothers in Israel, such as presenting the newborn in the Temple. But in the view of the gospels these deeds of the Blessed Virgin are not actions that pertain only to the private sphere; they always have a universal and perennial symbolic character that is valid for all times and for all of the Lord's disciples.”- SERVANTS OF THE MAGNIFICAT, no. 20 - 210th Servite Friars’ General Chapter.

Prayer

Most Holy Mary, our glorious and blessed Lady, as mother of Jesus you cared for him, taught Him life lessons and modeled faith in God for him.

Teach me to care well for the people I love, and those who depend upon me.

Pray that I have patience to listen, energy to serve and hope to love.

Mary, pray with me that those I love will be protected from all harm, find peace in their searching and faith in Jesus’ love.

Mary, be my example of loving service.

Amen.
Fr. Don Siple, OSM, Rector of The Grotto
Light a Candle at The Grotto

Purchase a candle to be lighted at The Grotto. Your candle will burn for seven days in the outdoor cradles by The Grotto.

Your support will help The Grotto continue its ministry through this difficult time.

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 57: Twilight at The Grotto
A Twilight Prayer

Almighty and ever-living God,

I know it is you who rule the day and the night.

I seek you here in the twilight, as the radiance of the sunset colors soften into grey tones along the skyline.

As the day transitions into night I lift up my heart in gratitude for this day.

Thank you for the many ways you reminded me of your faithfulness and mercy.

As I move toward my bedtime allow me to rest in the assurance of your guidance and inspiration.

Please bless and multiply my efforts to love, serve and care for those around me.

I ask this through Christ our Lord,

Amen.
Summer Evenings at The Grotto

During the summer months, The Grotto remains open until 8:30 p.m. Admission to the Upper Gardens is sold until one hour before closing.

Visitors who stroll the grounds in that last hour can be treated to some wonderful lighting, especially in the late summer.

Since we are not open at this time, we thought we would share some photos from that special twilight hour. We hope you enjoy this tour of The Grotto at dusk.

Below: The Grotto Gift Shop, located next to the main parking lot. The Grotto Gift Shop is open during the closure for online and curbside shopping .
Below: The Grotto Plaza and the Chapel of Mary, locate on the lower level of The Grotto. The lower level is free to all throughout the year. To learn more about the Chapel of Mary, click here to view an earlier edition of "Bringing The Grotto to You."
Below: The view of the sunset from outside the Meditation Chapel in the Upper Gardens. To learn more about the Meditation Chapel, click here to view an earlier edition of "Bringing The Grotto to You."
Below: The Christus Statue on the lower level. To learn more about the Christus Statue, click here to view an earlier edition of "Bringing The Grotto to You."
Below: The beautiful sunset, seen from the lower level at The Grotto.
Below: The silhouette of the Assumption of Mary Statue, located in the Rose Garden on in the Upper Gardens. To learn more about this statue and the Rose Garden, click here to view an earlier edition of "Bringing The Grotto to You."
Below: The view from the overlook, 125 feet above Our Lady's Grotto.
Below: The darkening skies, looking northwest from the lower level.
Below: Michael Allen Harrison plays at benefit concert on the lawn in the Upper Gardens. To learn more about music at The Grotto, click here to view an earlier edition of "Bringing The Grotto to You."
Below: The cross at the viewpoint. To learn more about the crosses and crucifixes found at The Grotto, click here to view an earlier edition of "Bringing The Grotto to You."
Below: The beauty of nature, found in the Upper Gardens.
Below: Lights in Our Lady's Grotto. To learn more about Our Lady's Grotto, click here to view an earlier edition of "Bringing The Grotto to You."
Below: The sunset looking north from the Meditation Chapel in the Upper Gardens. To learn more about the Meditation Chapel, click here to view an earlier edition of "Bringing The Grotto to You."
Below: The forest with surrounds The Grotto. To learn more about the forest, click here to view an earlier edition of "Bringing The Grotto to You."
Mass Enrollment Cards
Perpetual Enrollment in The Grotto’s Guild of Masses and Prayer honors yourself, your family or your loved ones, and provides support for The National Sanctuary of Our Sorrowful Mother.

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

Today: Twilight at The Grotto
The Grotto
The National Sanctuary of Our Sorrowful Mother

NE 85th & Sandy Blvd.
Portland, Oregon

503-254-7371