Tucked away in the peaceful former quarry behind the friary stands the Marian Grotto, a place of quiet beauty and deep devotion dedicated to Our Lady of Lourdes. First blessed on 8 September 1904, the grotto was created to commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of the proclamation of the Dogma of the Immaculate Conception. The celebration began with a solemn High Mass in the church, followed by the blessing of the new shrine, which gathered a great crowd of faithful from near and far.
Inspired by the famous grotto at Lourdes in France, this sacred space soon became a beloved site of prayer, healing, and reflection. Formed from the old “White Quarry,” the grotto’s natural rock surroundings give it a peaceful and timeless atmosphere — a perfect place to pause, light a candle, and entrust one’s intentions to the loving care of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Today, pilgrims and visitors alike are drawn to the Marian Grotto to seek comfort, offer prayers, and experience the same spirit of Lourdes — right here in the heart of Pantasaph.
