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

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you’ (John 14:27).

In the last few weeks, as we have lived through “stay at home” orders for our safety, I wonder how much peace many of us are experiencing.

People are necessarily worried about their livelihoods and having the means to provide for themselves and their families. Many are feeling frustrated at not being able to live life before the COVID-19 virus changed everything. Even watching Mass on the computer has become tiresome.

The Apostles were feeling much of what we are feeling today. Jesus is preparing them for life and ministry without him. They are worried about how to accomplish Jesus’s work and still provide for their families. Some of them are feeling frustrated because they can’t quite figure out what Jesus is telling them.

They might be wondering if their lives can ever return to what they were before Jesus called them. Jesus knows their fears, doubts, frustrations and concerns. He knows ours as well. In gifting His peace to them, Jesus is reassuring the Apostles that they can accomplish what He is asking. They can go through whatever will happen in the mission.

Life for the apostles was never the same after Jesus entered. But they found renewed joy and vigor for life because Jesus’ peace was experienced in their resolve to accomplish His work the best they could. I believe that this is what Jesus is saying to us. Yes, life has changed and with the change has come new experiences that make us worry, feel frustrated or make us afraid. But as we find ways to adapt to the changes, we find a new resolve to live as best as possible.

When we are able to learn a new way of living life well it doesn’t feel as scary as it did before. Here, I believe is the peace of Jesus upon our lives.

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 58: The Peace Pole
What is a Peace Pole?

A Peace Pole is an internationally-recognized symbol of the hopes and dreams of the entire human family, standing vigil in silent prayer for peace on earth.

Each Peace Pole bears the message  May Peace Prevail on Earth  in different languages on each of its four or six sides.

There are estimated over 250,000 Peace Poles in every country in the world dedicated as monuments to peace.
The Origin of Peace Poles

The idea of Peace Poles was first thought up in Japan in 1955 by Masahisa Goi, who had been greatly affected by the destruction caused by World War II, and had dedicated his life to spreading the message “May Peace Prevail on Earth”.
The Grotto Peace Pole (1986)

The Society of Prayer for World Peace, whose headquarters are in Japan, presented The Grotto with a peace pole in 1986. It marked The Grotto as an international place of peace. The original pole was smaller and made of plastic. In 1988 it was replaced with the current pole.

The 12-foot pole was cut from redwood to complement the surrounding beauty. Joe Valesek, a local artist from Newberg, Oregon, carved the message of peace in four languages into the pole after it was installed on the grounds. The message "May Peace Prevail on Earth" is written in English, Spanish, Japanese and Russian.
The Peace Garden

The Peace Pole stands at the entrance to the Marguerite M. Casey Peace Garden. To learn more about the Peace Garden, click here to view an earlier edition of "Bringing The Grotto to You."
A Prayer at the Peace Pole

H eavenly Father,

I stand at this peace pole. “May Peace Prevail on Earth” is carved on it’s 4 sides. One language is my own; The other three are words of people and cultures unfamiliar to me. They represent all others that I may encounter.

Plant your peace in my heart. May your eternal peace enfold me like a blanket and infiltrate my thoughts, my words, and my actions.

Help me to be a person of peace; a person of hope; a person of mercy and forgiveness.

I ask this in union with Blessed Mary Ever Virgin and all the Saints, through Christ Jesus - the Prince of Peace.

Amen.
A Sanctuary of Peace

On May 29, 1924, three thousand people gathered for the first Mass and Dedication of the Sanctuary of Our Sorrowful Mother. At the blessing, Archbishop Alexander Christie offered this prayer:

"Let this be a sanctuary of peace for all peoples of the earth, and surely in this day a sanctuary is needed. Torn with differences, strife and grief, the world needs sanctuary where the human spirit can seek peace and consolation."

96 years later, The Grotto welcomes people from around the world. Without exception our visitors speak of the peace they encounter in the spiritual and natural beauty of our holy sanctuary, where God's presence abounds, and where special tribute is given to Mary, the Sorrowful Mother of Jesus.
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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

Week 9
Twilight at The Grotto
Today: The Peace Pole
The Grotto
The National Sanctuary of Our Sorrowful Mother

NE 85th & Sandy Blvd.
Portland, Oregon

503-254-7371