Grotto of Our Sorrowful Mother
Something I never expected to find on my first visit to the Pacific Northwest was a beautiful grotto dedicated to the Blessed Mother.
My friend Pat Morrow promised me a “surprise” when I joined her at the agriculture-related event in Portland, Oregon. The surprise was an afternoon at “The National Sanctuary of Our Sorrowful Mother” – better known as just “The Grotto.”
This beautiful 62 acre Catholic Shrine and botanical garden was established in 1924 and is administered by the Order of Friar Servants of Mary. 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. High above the grotto’s cliff stands the bronze statue of Our Sorrowful Mother, designed especially for the Sanctuary and blessed in the Vatican by Pope Pius XI in 1934 to commemorate the 700th anniversary of the Servite Order.
There is much more to the Grotto and to see it all requires an elevator ride up to the top of the cliff (for a nominal fee) and we spent about four hours on a lovely day exploring the grounds. I highly recommend a visit if you are ever in Portland.
Post update: Here is a video on YouTube that I put together with photos from our visit.