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

St. Paul gives his friend Timothy some great advice about faith. He tells Timothy “I remind you to stir into flame the gift of God that you have” (2 Timothy 1:6).

The gift is faith in God. The Catechism of the Catholic Church defines faith as “a personal act - the free response of the human person to the initiative of God who reveals himself” (166). The Letter to the Hebrews speaks of faith as “the realization of what is hoped for and evidence of things not seen” (11:1).

St. Paul made Timothy bishop of the church in Ephesus, in modern day Turkey. Timothy was a young man and a somewhat new Christian. To be the shepherd of a local church must have been a daunting task. But Paul reminds his friend of the great gift he received, his faith in Jesus. To stir in flame the gift of faith was to practice the faith and to engage God through faith in prayer. It was to see where God was revealing His presence in Timothy’s life. The more Timothy lived Jesus’ commandment of love, studied the scriptures and prayed devoutly, his faith in Jesus grew stronger and deeper. It gave Timothy the courage to minister to God’s people in the Ephesian church.

Faith in God is not magic. It is our response to God who reveals his love in our lives in great and small ways. Faith is our response to God who calls us into a relationship with him. Like any relationship, ours with God must be tended to and nurtured.

We experience God in many ways. Understanding the movement of God and responding to God in faith takes some work. Prayer, reading scripture, being charitable and going to Church nurtures our faith, perfects our spiritual eyesight to see the Lord moving in life and gives us courage to always respond in faith when the Lord calls us.

It is never too late to stir into flame our faith. When our faith is vibrant and strong we have the courage to endure all things, because faith reminds us that God is always holding us close. 

Fr. Don Siple, OSM, Rector of The Grotto
Pray the Servite Rosary of Our Lady of Sorrows in the Present Pandemic

Join Fr. Richard Boyle, OSM, in praying this special Rosary.

Recorded at the Via Matris (Way of the Mother) in The Grotto's Upper Gardens.

Reopening Plans

Yesterday we shared some exciting news. We expect to reopen our gates and our gardens on Friday, June 12. We will be taking guidance from Multnomah County.

As we get closer to that date, we will inform you of visiting guidelines and our sanitation practices. Safety of our visitors and staff is our number one priority.
9 DAYS
 UNTIL WE OPEN
Sunday Mass

Under the guidelines set by the Archdiocese of Portland, The Grotto will celebrate Mass on Sundays at 10 a.m. and noon in the Chapel of Mary. Under these strict guidelines there is an 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 ask that you please sign up for only one Mass per four week period.
The Grotto Gift Shop

The gift shop is now open from 9 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. daily, following the governor's strict operating guidelines. Click the button below for shopping instructions.
Bringing The Grotto to You

Until we fully open, we hope you continue to enjoy our daily email feature, "Bringing The Grotto to You."

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Day 80: A Sanctuary of Peace
The National Sanctuary of Our Sorrowful Mother

The Grotto is a place of solitude, peace and prayer.

All are welcome at our beautiful sanctuary, but for nine more days, we must bring The Grotto to you.

We hope you enjoy these photographs. May you, too, experience the peace our visitors and pilgrims encounter in the spiritual and natural beauty of our holy sanctuary.
A Prayer for Peace

Ever living, Ever loving God,

Our world is in need of your Peace.

Fill the hearts of all peoples with honor for every human life.

May your loving touch heal those who dwell in anger, pain and sorrow.

May your Holy Spirit reconcile and unify strangers and neighbors.

I, too, am in need of your Peace.

Plant your words of healing and understanding within my heart.

Give me strength to live peace, and speak peace, and be a peacemaker.

I humbly ask this through your Son Jesus Christ, our Lord.

Amen.
Light a Candle at The Grotto

Purchase a candle to be lighted at The Grotto while we are closed. 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 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
Celebrating Pentecost

Week 12
Then and Now
Meet Me at The Grotto
Today: A Sanctuary of Peace
The Grotto
The National Sanctuary of Our Sorrowful Mother

NE 85th & Sandy Blvd.
Portland, Oregon

503-254-7371