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

An Easter Thursday Prayer

Lord,
in the days after your Resurrection
your disciples and friends remained
behind locked doors
as they were frightened without you.
You came into their midst and spoke
the reassuring words “peace be with you.”
Your presence and words gave them joy and hope.
Lord, in these days when I feel behind the locked doors of many types,
I feel afraid, alone and concerned.
I know that you are with me.
Speak the words “peace be with you”
to my weary soul that in faith
I may find joy today.
Amen.

Fr. Don Siple, OSM, Rector of The Grotto
Video Message and prayer from Fr. Richard Boyle, OSM

Fr. Richard shares a special prayer from Pope Francis, relevant to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Recorded in The Grotto Upper Gardens.

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

We will continue to share a piece of The Grotto with you each day until Masses resume and our gardens open. We hope this feature brings you joy.

Please share our emails with friends and family. Help spread the word that The Grotto is here, and looking forward to the glorious day when we can reopen our gates.
Day 32: The Colors of The Grotto
Symbolism in Colors

In the Catholic tradition, as well as in other denominations, color plays an important role in worship celebrations. The color of the liturgical vestments and other church decorations symbolizes the different seasons and celebrations throughout the year.

Purple is worn during the seasons of Advent and Lent to symbolize sorrow, repentance and humility. Red, the color of blood, can signify the suffering and death of Jesus, martyrdom, and the coming of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost. Green is the color of ordinary time, symbolizing hope and eternal life; white and gold denote joy, light, and victory over death. Rose is the symbol of joy to come.

In popular Catholic devotion, the color blue is almost always associated with Mary, the mother of Jesus. 
We hope you enjoy this tour through the colors of The Grotto ...
The Grotto Gift Shop

The Grotto Gift Shop is open for curbside pick-up or online shipping during our closure. Check out our Curbside Shopping  page on our website.

If you do not see an item in our online shop which you would like to purchase, or you would like to arrange a curbside pick-up, contact our director of retail sales by  clicking here .

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
Today: Colors of The Grotto
Tomorrow: The Mysteries of the Rosary
The Grotto
The National Sanctuary of Our Sorrowful Mother

NE 85th & Sandy Blvd.
Portland, Oregon

503-254-7371