
The Spirit of the Grotto
The Grotto is a place of new beginnings; I have a great deal of personal history there. It is where my family's journey officially began, when my father proposed marriage to my mother. Going there as individuals, they left prepared to spend the rest of their lives together, open to bringing forth new life from that beautiful love. It is there that, at the beginning of the school year, I processed with all the other seminarians to join them as a seminarian in the Congregation of Holy Cross. I came to the Grotto as an individual, and I left as part of an intimate community. Here, I showed my devotion to discernment, to my new brothers, and to my faith. I opened myself to God's will for me in a special way.
The Grotto has a certain sanctity that can move one to prayer and renewal. When we embrace this atmosphere, we can find solace in God's presence, and gain the strength to persevere, or perhaps even a better understanding of whatever we bring in prayer. It is this spirit of the Grotto that allows us the grace to return to our lives and to begin again in the Lord with a renewed mission and purpose.