The grotto at the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal will be celebrating a special anniversary. The grotto will celebrate its 100th anniversary on November 11, and Association of the Miraculous Medal President and CEO Don Fulford said it is special, even during these trying times. The grotto will not hold an official ceremony to commemorate the occasion, but will still invite the community to celebrate the milestone by visiting the grotto throughout the week.
“If you think about everything that’s happening right now, people need a place to reflect and think,” Fulford said. “The grotto has an enormous history and something like that should still be celebrated.”
Initially, seminarians pitched in to get the project off the ground during World War I, but multiple problems seemed to delay the progress, including a lack of funding. As they tended the grounds in the spring of 1917 on a quarry near the back of the seminary grounds, Vincentian Father Byrne asked why things weren’t farther along. Upon hearing
the reason, Byrne donated $100 in the hopes that construction could begin. Byrne had originally saved that money to visit family, but felt the money would be better served on the construction of the grotto, and eventually encourage others to donate to the project.
Soon, with but an old steam engine, “Iron Bessie,” and a homemade crane at their disposal, the Vincentian community broke ground to construct the grotto. Seminarians were joined by priests, brothers, and local laborers. The culmination of their work came on November 11, 1920, when Saint Louis Archbishop John Joseph Glennon dedicated the grotto.
In the century since, innumerable Catholics from across southeast Missouri and faithful Christians from around and beyond the United States have come here to offer prayers of thanksgiving, celebrate Marian feast days, take part in the annual May Procession.
Today, the grotto has played as the backdrop to many special occasions including engagements and weddings. But Fulford noted that many people come to the grotto for other things as well.
“I’ve had people tell me that their dad brought them to the grotto to talk about an upcoming wedding or to talk about joining the armed forces,” Fulford said. “The grotto has been used for many things, not just faith-based.”
Despite the long history of the grotto, Fulford believes the grotto will continue to be around for another 100 years.
“As long as people continue to keep their faith and need a place to rest and think about the things going on in their lives, I see no reason why the grotto will go away,” Fulford said.
