The Grotto: National Sanctuary of Our Sorrowful Mother

I had the day off work yesterday, so I went to The Grotto for Mass and to spend some time in the peaceful quiet of this beautiful Shrine.  The readings today focus on the purification of the temple. The first reading focused on the re-dedication of the alter after the Maccabean revolt around 165 BC which re-established the Jewish faith after it was oppressed by Antiochus IV.  This full story is told in the books of Maccabees, yesterday's reading is here:

Judas and his brothers said,
“Now that our enemies have been crushed,
let us go up to purify the sanctuary and rededicate it.”
So the whole army assembled, and went up to Mount Zion.
Early in the morning on the twenty-fifth day of the ninth month,
that is, the month of Chislev,
in the year one hundred and forty-eight,
they arose and offered sacrifice according to the law
on the new altar of burnt offerings that they had made.
On the anniversary of the day on which the Gentiles had defiled it,
on that very day it was reconsecrated
with songs, harps, flutes, and cymbals.
All the people prostrated themselves and adored and praised Heaven,
who had given them success.
For eight days they celebrated the dedication of the altar
and joyfully offered burnt offerings and sacrifices
of deliverance and praise.
They ornamented the facade of the temple with gold crowns and shields;
they repaired the gates and the priests’ chambers
and furnished them with doors.
There was great joy among the people
now that the disgrace of the Gentiles was removed.
Then Judas and his brothers and the entire congregation of Israel
decreed that the days of the dedication of the altar
should be observed with joy and gladness
on the anniversary every year for eight days,
from the twenty-fifth day of the month Chislev.

Near the end, we have Judas Maccabee's decree that the  "days of the dedication of the altar should be observed with joy and gladness on the anniversary every year for eight days", an observation which we today know as Hanukkah.

In today's Gospel reading, Jesus enters the Temple and drives out the money changers.

Can you imagine churches being taken over by civil authorities, the practice of our faith banned, it made a capital offense to posses scripture?  As Father Jack said in his homily today, we are in no grave danger of this in our own country today.  However, there are places in the world where religious oppression is alive today, and throughout history we have seen such oppression in many times and forms.  For instance:

• The English Martyrs
• Cristero War in Mexico
• Religious Persecution in Soviet Union
• Hitler and Christmas

In his homily today, Father Damien talked of a different sort of assault on our traditions.  His homily was on the somewhat dying Catholic practice of "making a visit", stopping in a church or holy site when passing by even if only for a moment or two.  Thank God for The Grotto, a prayerful, peaceful, transcendent, holy place right here in Portland.  It becomes less 'Peaceful' and more 'Joyful' beginning next Friday when the 22nd annual Festival of Lights begins, the day after Thanksgiving.  There is beautiful choral music every night from various local churches and other musical groups.  Check out the Festival of Lights link on the grotto website for details.

I took a few pictures of some of the paintings in the shrine church, the Chapel of Mary

On the left is the painting of the Crowning of Mary in Heaven.  It fills the sanctuary area behind the alter in the Chapel of Mary.  On the right, I believe is a painting of St. Joseph on his death bed.  The image is in the entrance to the Shrine Church opposite the Wedding of Cana painting

Painting of the Wedding at Cana in the entrance of the Shrine Church

Crucifixion scene at the entrance to the Grotto.