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

I learned to pray from my Mom. She trusted the Lord with a great and deep faith. No matter what was happening or what she was feeling, Mom knew that the Lord was close to her. Like the Psalmist, Mom often prayed “keep me safe, O God; you are my hope.” Faith assured her that God was deeply interested in her and that was her hope.

Mom’s teacher in prayer was the Blessed Virgin Mary. My mom had a great devotion to Mary. Every morning, even before the first cup of coffee, my mom prayed her rosary. When Mom prayed the rosary, she was praying to a woman who guided her, a teacher in living the faith and a fellow mother who knew what it was like to raise a child and care for a husband. When my mom prayed to Mary it was two mothers talking together. In praying her rosary, my mom encountered the peace, love, and mercy of God through Our Lady’s prayers. I know that my dad, my four siblings and I and a whole host of people were prayerfully spoken of when Mary and Mom got together every morning.

Sadly, I think many in the Church have forgotten the joy of praying for each other. Faith gives us the privilege of spiritually standing before God. In the sweetness of the divine presence our heavenly Father welcomes us to listen to what is on our heart. To pray for another is to lovingly present them to our God who is always ready to love and heal. To pray for another is to love them in the deepest way possible, in the Spirit, who dwells within us.

In today’s Gospel (John 17:20-26) Jesus stands before the Father praying for his disciples. He does the same for us every day. Faith can move mountains. Faith is our love language with the Father. When words or actions escape us in our efforts to help another, faith calls us to pray and stand with them before God. In the presence of God, faith gives birth to love that heals in way that we can never imagine.

Today, make a list of your loved ones who need prayer and with Our Lady and the Psalmist cry out in faith for them “keep them safe, O God; be their hope as you are my hope.”

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

Last week we were happy to report that our gift shop was once again open, following the governor's strict guidelines. Click here to view shopping guidelines and temporary hours.

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.


In the meantime, we hope you continue to enjoy our daily emails until The Grotto is ready to fully open our gates.
Day 74: The View
The View from the Upper Gardens

The Grotto is split into two levels by a 110-foot basalt cliff. An elevator takes visitors up the cliff to the Upper Gardens.

Today we share photos taken from our viewpoint over the outdoor altar, from the elevator bridge at the top of the cliff, and from the Marilyn Moyer Meditation Chapel.
The Big Picture

Gracious and ever-loving God,

Help me to seek you, to learn from you, to know you.

I so often get caught up in my thoughts, my daily routine, and my circle of friends and family that I forget about everything else.

Remind me of the Big Picture: others around me who I do not see.

Open my mind and heart to their needs and burdens.

May I tend to others as sisters and brothers.

Broaden my view and understanding of the world around me.

May I tend to the earth as a steward.

Help me to see others and the world with your eyes - your view becoming more loving and forgiving; patient and kind.

I pray that each day I grow to be ever more faithful to the teachings and life of your Son.

I humbly ask all this through Jesus Christ your Son, in union with the Holy Spirit.

Amen.
The View from the Meditation Chapel

The Marilyn Moyer Meditation Chapel is located in the Upper Gardens and hangs over the edge of the cliff. The view is spectacular no matter the weather or the season. Mt. St. Helens can be seen 52 miles to the north.

To learn more about the Meditation Chapel, click here to view an earlier edition of "Bringing The Grotto to You."
The View from the Overlook

The overlook is located at the top of the cliff above Our Lady's Grotto and the outdoor altar.

The overlook offers a scenic view to the north, and is also a great place to look at The Grotto Plaza from above.

Standing next to the overlook is the statue of Mary, Our Mother. To learn more about this statue and the overlook, click here to view an earlier edition of "Bringing The Grotto to You."
The View from the Elevator Bridge

A short bridge leads visitors from the elevator to the entrance to the Upper Gardens. The view is different to your left and to your right.

To learn more about the elevator and cliff, click here to view an earlier edition of "Bringing The Grotto to You."
The Four Seasons

The view is different at all times of the year.

Spring ...
Summer ...
Autumn ...
Winter ...
An Annual Pass to Visit the Upper Gardens

We invite you to visit us throughout the year. An annual pass will provide admission to the Upper Gardens all year long, so you can enjoy all the seasons.

Proceeds from annual pass sales allow The Grotto, a self-supporting nonprofit, to continue its ministry of being a place of peace, prayer and natural beauty for all people.

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
Today: The View
The Grotto
The National Sanctuary of Our Sorrowful Mother

NE 85th & Sandy Blvd.
Portland, Oregon

503-254-7371