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

Anyone who has ever been employed knows the importance of a job description. This document establishes the relationship of the employee to the workplace. It outlines the expectations for employee and employer. A job description helps one know how to fulfill their job.

In today’s gospel Jesus gives His disciples their job description. The Eleven are to go into the world and proclaim that in Jesus, God’s loving mercy is available to all who desire it. The proof of accomplishing their job were the powerful signs manifested in a believer’s life.

As followers of Jesus our job description has not changed from that given to the Eleven. We are called to proclaim God’s love by words and deeds that bring peace and hope to others. The signs that accompany our work is a world brightened by caring actions, a hopeful attitude and loving words that encourage. To fulfill our job description is easy. We simply love as God does. 

Fr. Don Siple, OSM, Rector of The Grotto.
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Bringing The Grotto to You Series

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 40: Looking Out a Window
Looking Out a Window

All gracious and ever living God.
I know it is you who guards my coming and my going.
Help me to seek you always, especially now while I feel I'm at a stand still;
Like I am looking out a window watching the world go by.
Help me focus on you, and the many blessings in my life.
May I see you more clearly in the beauty of your creation;
May I hear you in the readings of Scripture;
and through an email or phone call from a friend.
I ask your Son Jesus, Blessed Mary his Mother and Your Holy Spirit to inspire me as a person of hope.
May I wait in joyful hope - striving to be your loving and faithful servant.
Amen.
Windows of The Grotto

We all spend a lot of time these days looking out the window at the world. Here at The Grotto, we eagerly await the day when we can look out our windows and see all of you.

In the meantime, please enjoy a few extra windows to look through today ...
Mt. St. Helens is seen through two sets of windows at the Meditation Chapel.
Looking through the glass from inside St. Anne's Chapel in the Upper Gardens.
Reflection in the doors creates an optical illusion for these newlyweds.
A spectacular sunset, seen from the Meditation Chapel.
The stained glass window in the Chapel of Mary.
The other side of the chapel window, during the Christmas Festival of Lights.
The view is different every day from the Meditation Chapel.
This circular window gives guests in our Visitor Center a view of the tall firs.
The Chapel of Mary's tall windows give a glimpse of the forest outside.
Our Lady of Czestochowa Polish Shrine is one of five wayside shrines.
Children love to watch the planes land from the Meditation Chapel windows.
Daylight reflects The Grotto's forest in the Chapel of Mary window.
St. Anne's Chapel is the oldest structure at The Grotto.
Dambana's walls are made of capiz, a shell used on windows in Filipino homes.
Guests can rest or have snack by this window in the Visitor Center.
Thank you, @arriii_t, for sharing this charming photo via Instagram .
What are your favorite photos?

Do you have a favorite photo from The Grotto? We would love to see it.

Please send photos to events@thegrotto.org . We will feature them in an upcoming edition of "Bringing The Grotto to You."
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 Grotto Gift Shop

The Grotto Gift Shop is open for curbside pick-up or online shipping during our closure.

Check out our new  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 .
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
Lighting a Candle
Chapel of Mary

Week 6
Come to the Water
Our Lady of Lavang Shrine
Celebrating God's Creation on Earth Day
Our Lady of Lourdes
The Labyrinth
Today: Looking Out a Window
Tomorrow: How The Grotto Began
The Grotto
The National Sanctuary of Our Sorrowful Mother

NE 85th & Sandy Blvd.
Portland, Oregon

503-254-7371