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

Click here to view daily spiritual reflections, based on the day's Gospel reading. Daily reflections are provided by Fr. Don Siple, OSM, Rector of The Grotto.
Lighting a Candle in the Darkness

Click on the candle above and enjoy the flickering light while you listen to Fr. Richard Boyle, OSM, speak about how it is better to light a candle than to curse the darkness.
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 34: Lighting a Candle at The Grotto
Lighting a Candle

Throughout the world, lighting candles is a sacred ritual. We light a candle for many purposes: to illuminate darkness, dedicate prayers, solidify intentions, offer blessings, and nourish grateful living. 
The Catholic Custom of Lighting Candles
 
The Catholic custom of lighting candles is rooted in Church teaching that Christ is the Light of the World. Candles serve as an outward sign of the light of faith burning in our hearts. They help us to draw into communion with the Living Christ. They are our silent sentinels lifting up our prayer intentions to the Lord for 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
  
Through an offering, you may have a candle lit as a way of entrusting your special intentions before the Lord. The light signifies our prayer offered in faith coming into the light of God - allowing us to be filled with His light. With the light of faith, we petition our Lord in prayer, or petition a saint for intercession - to pray with us and for us to the Lord. The light also shows a special reverence and our desire to remain present to the Lord in prayer, even though we may depart and go about our daily business. 
Supporting The Grotto

When you light at candle at The Grotto, you support the shrine. The proceeds from candle sales allow us to continue our ministry of being a place of peace, prayer and natural beauty for all people.

We are extremely grateful to those who have supported us by purchasing candles during our closure.

Above, Fr. Richard Boyle lights one of those candles.

To learn more about Servite Ministries and The Grotto's beautiful gardens, which are open to all throughout the year, please visit our website: thegrotto.org .
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.

The Christmas Festival of Lights

Visitors to the annual Christmas Festival of Lights are treated to the beauty of the candles burning in the dark.

To learn more about the Festival, stay tuned for a future edition of "Bringing The Grotto to You."
St. Peregrine Candles

The The Grotto offers a wide variety of candles, including one depicting our Shrine to St. Peregrine, the patron saint of those with life-threatening illnesses.

To learn more about St. Peregrine, click here to view a previous edition of "Bringing The Grotto to You."
The Feast of the Assumption

Every August The Grotto celebrates the Feast of the Assumption of Mary into Heaven, with a special outdoor evening Mass and candlelight rosary procession.

Did you know The Grotto celebrates Mass outdoors in the plaza in front of Our Lady's Grotto every Sunday during the warmer months? It is truly a spectacular setting, and we invite all of you to join us once our Masses resume.
Where to go to light at candle at The Grotto

Lighted candles at The Grotto are placed in the cradles next to Our Lady's Grotto, or immediately below the cradles. Because of our forested environment, we can not allow burning candles to be placed at other shrines.
The Grotto Gift Shop
The Grotto Gift Shop is open for curbside pick-up or online shipping during our closure.

You can shop online now, or check out our new Curbside Shopping  page on our website.

Throughout the year, candles can be purchased in the Gift Shop, Visitor Center or online.

The Grotto Gift Shop offers a wide variety of merchandise. If you do not see what you are looking for in our online shop, you may contact our director of retail operations 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 Shrine
Colors of The Grotto
Mysteries of the Rosary
Today: Lighting a Candle
Tomorrow: The Chapel of Mary
The Grotto
The National Sanctuary of Our Sorrowful Mother

NE 85th & Sandy Blvd.
Portland, Oregon

503-254-7371