The Grotto in Portland, Oregon

The Grotto - The National Sanctuary. The Grotto offers a spectacular natural gallery of religious art with more than a 100 gracefully-sculpted statues and shrines along flower-lined pathways. Amid the natural beauty of this outdoor cathedral, you will discover inspiration and peace. The central attraction, Our Lady's Grotto, was carved from solid basalt in the cliff wall in 1925. Above its natural rock altar is the white marble replica of Michelangelo's famed masterpiece, the Pieta, set in a shallow rock cave at the foot of the cliff. High above the cliff stands the bronze statue of Our Sorrowful Mother, designed for the Sanctuary and blessed in the Vatican by Pope Pius XI in 1934 to commemorate the 700th anniversary of the Servite Order. An elevator ride to the top of the bluff offers panoramic views of the Cascade Range, Columbia River and Mount St. Helens.

The Grotto Gardens. Although this forested sanctuary is foremost a Catholic religious shrine, the botanical gardens at The Grotto are extremely beautiful. The serene pathways and gardens of The Grotto offer a special place for reflection, contemplation and inspiration for all who come here. The tranquil Marguerite M. Casey Peace Garden begins as a winding, foliage-shaded path that gradually expands to an open park setting. Stroll into the award-winning rose garden, with the statue of the Assumption of Mary and enjoy the fragrant and beautiful roses. Visit the gardens in the early summer when they are at their best and during the Christmas season when the grounds are decorated with thousands of lights and present a choral festival. Individuals dealing with loss or recovery find healing in the solitude of The Grotto’s gardens.  [Top]

Events & Facilities at The Grotto. The Grotto celebrates special liturgical events throughout the year, including Christmas & Holy Week liturgies, a special Mass on Mother's Day, a Freedom Day Mass on the Sunday closest to Independence Day, a St. Anne's Summer Twilight Retreat, the Blessing of Animals in July, and an evening mass and sundown candle light rosary procession on the feast of The Assumption of Mary on August 15. The Visitor Complex provides information, art displays, a small video theater and conference and banquet facilities. Visit The Grottos’ chapels, gift shop and restaurant / coffee shop. For information and facts about The Grotto, visit www.thegrotto.org

History of The Grotto. The Sanctuary was established by the Servite Friars in 1924 as a memorial to Christ's dying appeal from the Cross, "Behold Thy Mother." Throughout the years, the theme of the shrine continued to stress devotion to Our Sorrowful Mother, the patroness of the Servite Order (Servants of Mary) and patroness of motherhood.  The pietà by Michelangelo which sits atop the altar in the cave became a focal point for this devotion and other statues and paintings depict the stations of the Via Matris (the Way of the Mother) which tell the story of the seven major sorrows in the life of Mary from the prophecy of Simeon to the placing of the dead body of Jesus in the tomb.  [Top]