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

On this Pentecost Sunday the Lord blesses his disciples with the words “peace be with you”.

He blesses us with the same words. But where is peace today? The COVID-19 virus rages throughout the world claiming more victims. Our nation once again grapples with the age-old sin of racism. Millions are displaced from their homes because of wars they never started. The land of Abraham, Jesus and Mohammed yearns for peace. Men and women sleep on our streets.

Where is the peace that Jesus blessed us with? It resides in our hearts that are moved to pray for those who suffer; in the meal we provide for an elderly neighbor; in the money we send to support international relief agencies; in the letters we write to elected officials that express our support for legislation that brings justice to the suffering.

Every time we choose to right injustice with prayers, words, and actions of love we let the Lord’s blessing of peace explode through our lives into the world. Being a disciple of Jesus means to be an active participant in making peace real and not letting it be a pious theory.

Pope St. Paul VI understood that the disciple of Jesus can only have peace when they work for justice for all people. His words in 1972 are so true today, “If you want peace, work for Justice”. May the Holy Spirit guide us in living peace by bringing Jesus’s love to others.

Fr. Don Siple, OSM, Rector of The Grotto
A Homily for Pentecost

Fr. Richard Boyle, OSM, shares a homily for Pentecost.

Recorded at The Grotto Monastery.

Sunday, May 31, 2020.

Bringing The Grotto to You

This week we are delighted to be making another step toward reopening. Following the strict guidelines set out by the Archdiocese of Portland, we will celebrate Mass this Sunday, at 10 a.m. and 12 noon in the Chapel of Mary. Under these guidelines there is a strict attendance limit, and those attending must be registered in advance for contact tracing and crowd control. We can only sign up 21 people per Mass so we are asking that you sign up for only one Mass per four week period.


Last week The Grotto Gift Shop reopened following the governor's guidelines. Click here to view shopping guidelines and temporary hours.

In the meantime, we hope you continue to enjoy our daily emails until The Grotto is ready to fully open our gates.
Day 77: Celebrating Pentecost
Today we celebrate Pentecost

Pentecost is the celebration of the Holy Spirit descending on the apostles after the Ascension of Jesus.

Pentecost is celebrated on the seventh Sunday after Easter.
The Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit, is the third person of the  Trinity. The Triune God manifested as  God the Father ,  God the Son , and God the Holy Spirit; each entity itself being  God .

The Holy Spirit descended on Jesus like a dove during his  baptism , and in his  Farewell Discourse  after the  Last Supper,  Jesus promised to send the Holy Spirit to his  disciples  after his departure.

The Holy Spirit is referred to as "the Lord, the Giver of Life" in the  Nicene Creed .
The Dove

The Holy Spirit is often depicted as a  dove, based on the account of the Holy Spirit descending like a dove on  Jesus at his baptism .

The book of Acts describes the Holy Spirit descending on the apostles at  Pentecost  in the form of a wind and tongues of fire resting over the apostles' heads. Based on the imagery in that account, the Holy Spirit is sometimes symbolized by a flame.

Here at The Grotto, the Holy Spirit is represented as a dove both in paintings and sculpture.
Prayer

Holy Spirit pour down upon us your gifts of wisdom, understanding, courage, grace and peace.

May your gifts unify and strengthen each and every heart of those who are gathered in Christ Jesus.

Amen.
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.

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 Online

Check out our online shop if you are unable to visit. And if you don't see something you are interesting in our online shop, feel free to contact our Director of Retail Operations by clicking here and we can make arrangements.
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
A Seat Waiting for You
The Murals
Mosaics of The Grotto
The Chapel Saints

Week 10
The Grotto Gift Shop
The Servite Mission
Architecture of The Grotto
A Retreat at The Grotto
The Visitor Center
Arriving at The Grotto
Sr. Ruth's Well

Week 11
Celebrating Memorial Day
A Gallery in the Woods
Hope and Healing
The View
The Grotto Plaza
The Leaves
Today: Celebrating Pentecost
The Grotto
The National Sanctuary of Our Sorrowful Mother

NE 85th & Sandy Blvd.
Portland, Oregon

503-254-7371