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

“I am the vine, you are the branches” (John 15:5).

This past Fall members of my family and I spent a day visiting a wine growing area of the state. During our visits to some wineries and tasting some of their vintages we learned how the taste of the wine was affected by the composition of the soil, the climate, and the care taken to nurture the vines on which the grapes grew. I was amazed that the vine was key to the grape. The healthier the vine and better tasting the grape.

Isn’t this true in our relationship with Jesus? The more we pray, the less worried we are. The more we read sacred scripture the less confused about life we become. The more we live in the Lord’s love the better we feel about ourselves. The more we lovingly care for others the more joy we feel.

A healthy relationship with Jesus the vine makes us the grapes all that better. This is our good news today.
Fr. Don Siple, OSM, Rector of The Grotto
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 59: Our Lady of Czestochowa
Our Lady of Czestochowa Polish Shrine (2007)

This outdoor shrine contains a replica of the icon popularly know as the Black Madonna. The original icon, depicting Mary and her child Jesus, is darkened from the soot of candles and incense for centuries, and bears the scars of vandalism from the 15th century.

A pilgrimage destination for hundreds of years, the shrine dedicated to Our Lady of Czestochowa in Poland continues to draw countless pilgrims today. The icon's origins and early history are steeped in legend, attributing the authorship to St. Luke the Evangelist. Critical studies have dated the image back to the fourteenth century.

Battles won, territories protected, and countless healings have all been credited to prayer before the image of Our Lady of Czestochowa.
The Image of Our Lady

The picture follows the traditional form of an icon. Mary gestures toward Jesus, directing the attention away from herself, and pointing to Jesus as the source of salvation. The child Jesus extends his right hand in blessing to the viewer of the painting and holds a book of the gospels in his left hand.
Keeping the Faith

This particular image of the Virgin Mary reveals a mother who has been scarred, but still faithful in her duties. She never forgets her spiritual children and gazes at them with a look of compassion. Our Lady of Czestochowa is a strong woman, and encourages us to keep the faith, no matter what might happen to us throughout the day.
Building the Shrine at The Grotto

This shrine was made possible in large part through the support of the local Polish community of St. Stanislaus Catholic Church, which celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2007, the year the shrine was built. 
A Morning Prayer to Our Lady of Czestochowa

Holy Mother of Czestochowa,

Thou art full of grace, goodness and mercy.

As my morning offering, I dedicate to you my thoughts, words and actions, my soul and body.

I seek your blessing and intersession.

Like you, may I withstand the challenges and sufferings that befall me and those whom I love.

May I be a compassionate, faithful follower of your Son Jesus, today and every day.

Amen.
The Shrine Path

This shrine is one of the older cultural shrines at The Grotto. Located in the Upper Gardens, Our Lady of Czestochowa Polish Shrine is one of five wayside shrines found on the shrine path.

Other wayside shrines include the Lithuanian Shrine , Our Lady of Guadalupe , Our Lady of Lavang Vietnamese Shrine, and Dambana , the Filipino Shrine.

To learn more about any of the other wayside shrines, click on the links above.
Throughout the Year

The Grotto is open throughout the year. Every season sheds a new light on the amazing art and architecture at The Grotto.

We hope you enjoy these photos of the four seasons at the shrine to Our Lady of Czestochowa.
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.

If you do not see what you are looking for, feel free to contact our director of retail operations 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
Our Lady of Lourdes
The Labyrinth
Looking Out a Window
How The Grotto Began

Week 7
The Cliff and Elevator
Lithuanian Wayside Shrine
The Grotto by the Numbers
Music at The Grotto
May Flowers
Take a Closer Look
Outdoor Mass

Week 8
The Feast of St. Peregrine
Celebrating Your Favorites
A Year at The Grotto
The Seven Holy Founders
Views and Perspectives
The Rhododendrons
Mother's Day at The Grotto

Week 9
Twilight at The Grotto
The Peace Pole
Today: Our Lady of Czestochowa Polish Shrine
The Grotto
The National Sanctuary of Our Sorrowful Mother

NE 85th & Sandy Blvd.
Portland, Oregon

503-254-7371