What is Mary's grotto?
What is Mary's grotto? Benedictine College built Mary's Grotto in 2008 to commemorate the 150th anniversary of two 1858 events: the appearance of Our Lady in Lourdes, France, and the founding of Benedictine College in Atchison, Kansas. The grotto is in the heart of campus.
Was Jesus born in a grotto?
The holy site known as the Nativity Grotto is thought to be the cave in which Jesus was born. In 135, Emperor Hadrian had the site above the grotto converted into a worship place for Adonis, the mortal lover of Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of beauty and desire.
Why do we light candles at the Grotto?
It is a long standing tradition in Catholic, as well as other religious traditions, to light a candle as a physical representation of one's prayers.
Why are grottos important to society?
Today, artificial grottoes are purchased and built for ornamental and devotional purposes. They are often used as shrines in which to place statues of saints, particularly the Virgin Mary, in outdoor gardens. Many Roman Catholics visit a grotto where Bernadette Soubirous saw apparitions of Our Lady of Lourdes.