The Grotto
| The Grotto | |
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| The National Sanctuary of our Sorrowful Mother |
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The Grotto Shrine, 2012
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| Type | Shrine, garden, sanctuary |
| Location | 8840 NE Skidmore St Portland, Oregon, U.S. |
| Coordinates | 45°33′12″N 122°34′24″W / 45.5533°N 122.5734°WCoordinates: 45°33′12″N 122°34′24″W / 45.5533°N 122.5734°W |
| Area | 62 acres (25 ha) |
| Created | 1924 |
| Founder | Ambrose Mayer |
| Operated by | Archdiocese of Portland, Oregon |
| Visitors | 300,000 (annually) |
| Designation | National Sanctuary |
| Religious Affiliation | Roman Catholic (Friars of the Order of the Servants of Mary) |
The National Sanctuary of our Sorrowful Mother, popularly known as The Grotto, is a Roman Catholic outdoor shrine and sanctuary located in the Madison South district of Portland, Oregon, United States. Constructed in 1924, the sanctuary covers 62 acres (25 ha), and is set both at the foot of and on top of a 110-foot cliff.
A large meditation hall whose main chamber is at clifftop level extends down to the foot of the cliff; the cross on the hall is visible many miles away. In addition to a church, there are several thousand feet of trails, including a trail of the Stations of the Cross, along which visitors may pass in contemplation through botanical gardens.
The Grotto also features a full-service Conference Center, and a Gift Shop.
The Grotto was established in 1924 by Friar Ambrose Mayer, a native of Ontario, Canada, who was sent to the United States where he was a Servite pastor for the Archdiosese of Portland, Oregon. Upon moving to Portland, Mayer found acreage located outside Northeast Portland that was at the time owned by the Union Pacific Railroad Company, and had been put up for sale to be developed into residential property. Mayer made a downpayment of $3,000 and purchased the property in 1923.
Mayer envisioned The Grotto as a natural cathedral, and construction began in September 1923. A cave was carved out of the 110-foot basalt cliff, and a statue of Mary holding Jesus's crucified body was installed. Several years later, a marble recreation of Michaelangelo's Pietà was also installed. Three thousand people gathered for the first mass at the Grotto on May 29, 1924.
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