Lourdes Grotto at Notre Dame catches fire
.- The University of Notre Dame released a statement on July 26 saying that the campus's Grotto of our Lady of Lourdes caught fire on Monday evening.
The university's fire department quickly extinguished the flames when
they broke out early in the evening, Notre Dame spokesman Dennis Brown
told the South Bend Tribune. No injuries were reported and the cause of
the fire is still under investigation, Brown said.
Notre Dame's July 26 statement added that the “interior of the Grotto
has been closed while officials determine if it is safe to enter.
Visitors may still pray at the perimeter of the shrine.”
Candles are often lit in the grotto by those visiting to pray and have posed a hazard in the past with the grotto catching fire in 1985 due to the large number of lit votive candles.
Built in 1896, the Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes is one-seventh the size of the shrine in France where the Blessed Mother appeared to St. Bernadette numerous times in 1858.
Comments
Dear Lisa. Technically speaking we do not pray TO the grotto but only TO God. But I assume that you meant that you pray for the grotto or while keeping it in mind, which is absolutely ok. In fact, in many locations around the world, also in the small place where I grew up, there are replicas of THE grotto in Lourdes to commemorate this place where heaven reached down to earth. Thanks for your prayers.
I will pray to the Lourdes Grotto. Hail Mary Full of Grace; The Lord is With Thee; Blessed Art Thou Amongst Women; and Blessed is The Fruit of Thy Womb Jesus; Holy Mary, Mother of God, Pray For Us Sinners, Now and At The Hour of Our Death. Amen Glory be To The Father and To The Son and To The Holy Spirit; As It Was In The Beginning; Is Now; Ever Shall Be. World Without End. Amen O My Jesus Forgive Us Our Sins; Save Us From The Fires of Hell; Lead All Souls to Heaven, Especially Those In Most Need of Thy Mercy. Amen
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