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The Grotto - Portland, Oregon
A magnificent sanctuary of majestic fir trees, quiet caves and refreshing
waterfalls lies just minutes from downtown Portland, Oregon. Amid 62
acres and 2 levels of breathtaking gardens, scenic views
and gentle streams are over a dozen shrines, grottoes, chapels and
monuments dedicated to the life, death and resurrection of Jesus, and the
sorrows of his mother, Mary. I completely forgot I was in Portland, as I
wandered peaceful paths, profuse with flowers and shaded by towering
trees. Even the incessant drizzle that is Oregon seemed rather enchanting
in this setting. The National Sanctuary of Our Sorrowful Mother, as The
Grotto is also known, began as a promise made by a little boy as he
prayed to the Virgin Mary for his mother's life, who lay dying
after giving birth to his little sister. His mother (and sister) did live,
and Father Ambrose Mayer embarked upon the building of The Grotto many years
later, with little more than faith and a determination to keep his childhood
promise.
We started out from the parking lot to the lower level and were stopped
short of the welcome center by one of it's most spectacular features, Our Lady's
Grotto, top picture. This is a large, deep cave carved out of the
rock face to hold a replica of Michaelangelo's "Pieta", showing our Sorrowful
Mother Mary holding the lifeless body of her son Jesus, just removed from the
cross. Below the sculpture is an outdoor altar of native stone where
Sunday Mass is celebrated Mother's Day through September.
Also on the lower level is the Chapel of Mary, pictures above, which features
exquisite hand painted murals on walls and cielings, intricate mosaics like the
one of St. Anne above, and many works of Carrara marble, including all the
statues and the Stations of the Cross.
Now we purchase an elevator token at the gift shop and ride 10 stories
up to the upper level gardens. Our first stop is the Meditation Chapel,
with its glass walled view of Portland, the Columbia River, and Mount
St. Helen's. Deep intake of breath. Were it not for today's
haze and drizzle we might see Mt. Rainier as well. If we came back to this
spot tonight, it would be lit up and visible as a large cross to those
travelling southbound on Interstate 205.
Now ready to begin our explorations, we enter St. Joseph's Grove. It is
guarded by a statue of St. Joseph holding the child Jesus. A series of
carved marble panels pays tribute to the joys and sorrows of the man chosen by
God to be the foster father and protector of His Son Jesus during his
childhood.
After contemplating the life of St. Joseph, we pass out of this garden
into the next. A sandstone monastery, with a convent behind it, house the
Servite friars and sisters who minister at The Grotto. The Peace Pole, a
gift from Japan, marks The Grotto as an international place of peace. The
meandering paths and trickling stream of the Peace Garden provide the setting
for the Mysteries of the Rosary, depicted on bronze plaques and grouped into the
Joyful, Sorrowful and Glorious Mysteries of the life of Mary, mother and most
perfect disciple of Jesus.
Meditating on the Mysteries of the Rosary in this way is most
refreshing; we are now ready to begin the Via Matris, or The Way of
Our Sorrowful Mother. Each of the seven scenes is meant to reflect upon a
particularly painful or difficult time in the life of the Holy Family. The
figures are housed in lighted glass cases, so that they may be enjoyed day or
night. We pass through this garden slowly and come out upon yet another
garden.
An authentic Lithuanian wayside shrine is dedicated to those who fought
for Lithuania's freedom during World War ll.
As we complete our tour of the upper level, the life-sized bronze of St.
Francis of Assissi reminds us of our own stewardship responsibilities.
We descend once again to the lower level, but not without first stopping in
again at the Meditation Chapel and drinking in the view.
We now walk the Stations of the Cross, contemplating the suffering and death
of Jesus, as we appreciate each bronze reminder, surrounded by ferns and mosses,
flowers and trees.
The bronze statue of Jesus carrying the cross gestures to the top of the
cliff, where His Sorrowful Mother watches over The Grotto grounds and
visitors.
Lastly we behold the shrine of St. Philip Benizi, who fled to a cave in the
mountains to escape being elected Pope. There he lived a life of great
prayer and penance. The fountain from which he drank is said to have
miraculous healing qualities.
Reluctantly we leave The Grotto and bravely face the hustle and bustle of
Portland. But with a difference. Because of the few moments or hours
spent there in the company of Our Lord and His Sorrowful Mother, we carry with
us a greater sense of peace and serenity and of our calling to bring this gift
with us into that world.
A wealthy landowner follows a mysterious
light to discover a crucifix uncovered by a flood on his property. When
taken by procession to the nearest church, several miles away, three times the
crucifix returns to its point of origin on the Don's property. In 1814,
Don Bernardo Abeyta finally receives permission to build a chapel on the
site.
Privately owned by his descendants until
1929 when it was turned over to the Archdiocese of Santa Fe, El Santuario de
Nuestro Senor de Esquipulas, or the Shrine of our Lord of Esquipulas, has been
called the Lourdes of America. Penitentes and Guadalupanas walk for 100
miles in pilgrimage to dig the sacred earth from El Pozito, the little well,
where Don Bernardo originally found the crucifix.
Strangely, with all the pilgrims who
come for the sacred earth, the well doesn't seem to get any deeper. Many
return after miraculous healings are received or other petitions are answered
favorably, to leave milagros , little tokens symbolizing the favor
received, at the statue of El Nino de Atoche or Our Lady of Guadalupe in
thanksgiving.
Handpainted altar screens in
the church have recently finished undergoing painstaking restoration.
Outdoor Stations of the Cross and several small shrines surround an outdoor
altar facing the river. The hills of El Potrero enclose the shrine and
gardens like a secret fortress.
Organized pilgrimages converge upon the
little valley in June and must be booked by the previous December. See the
shrine's website for details.
At the southern end of the San Luis Valley,
nestled between the San Juan and Sangre de Christo Mountains, lies the town of
Antonito, Colorado. Just a few miles north of the New Mexico border, it is
the home of the historic Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad. Farms and
ranches still dominate the landscape in this part of Colorado and some say the
best potatoes in the country are grown here.
The Crowning with Thorns
Antonito is also home to Jose and Lucy
Vigil. On the portion of their 7 acres that fronts Colorado Highway 285,
they have built a small chapel, the "Oratorio de Santa Familia y Juan Diego",
locally known as "El Santuario". The chapel is always open for prayer and
meditation. The focal point of the chapel is a statue of Our Lady of
Guadalupe. The windows and walls are adorned with handpainted
murals. Saint Michael the archangel, Juan Diego and others silently wait
to welcome visitors. Candles are available and donations are
accepted.
The Agony in the Garden
Behind the chapel, a footpath meanders
alongside the river, handpainted slabs of flagstone command the pilgrim's
attention every few yards. Fifteen mysteries of the Rosary have been
erected along the river path, with the five Luminous Mysteries yet to
come. The walk is peaceful, exhilirating. The air is fresh, the sky
beautiful, the weather mild. The pilgrim might even find him or herself
the object of much animated discussion among Lucy's geese and
turkeys.
The Finding of the Child Jesus in the
Temple
One can walk the Mysteries in contemplative
silence; stop at each painting and pray the appropriate mystery; or simply enjoy
a unique and beautiful experience. While in Antonito, enjoy a ride on the
historic Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad; visit the adjacent city
of Conejos and stop by Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, "the oldest church in
Colorado"; or make the short hop to Alamosa to visit the Alamosa National
Wildlife Refuge and the San Luis Valley Alligator Farm.
El Santuario is located at 5118 South Hwy
285, Antonito, Colorado.
Copyright 2003 by Robyn Dolan
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unless otherwise noted, is Copyright 2003-2008 by Robyn Dolan. Content is
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