One often reads about pilgrimage sites around the world, particularly those ancient ones in Europe that remain popular among the faithful. Pilgrimage has been an ever-present motif in our culture, from The Canterbury Tales onward. Yet too often those places worth visiting near us are forgotten or simply not publicized enough. Though well known in Iowa and among those who look for such places, the Grotto of the Redemption is a worthy place of pilgrimage."If your messages are carved in stone they are well nigh imperishable. The imperishableness is the outstanding feature of the Grotto."
-Father Dobberstein
From the website:
"The story of how the Grotto came into being is as moving as are the scenes it portrays. It is generally told as a fact that as a young seminarian, Father Dobberstein became critically ill with pneumonia. As he fought for his life he prayed to the Blessed Virgin Mary (the Mother of God) to intercede for him for the grace of health. He promised to build a shrine in her honor of he lived."
Once Father Dobberstein arrived in Iowa and became pastor of Sts. Peter and Paul in West Bend, he set to work on his creation, a monument of stone depicting the fall of Man and his eventual redemption through Christ as well as Mary's role in that process.
It's really pretty amazing. I've been to the Grotto several times over the years and had the privilege of hearing the lecture on the building by Father Dobberstein's original assistant and successor, Father Greving (nowadays, the tour guides give a short introduction and then play the video of Father Greving's lecture).
As far as pilgrimages go, a stop at the Grotto is always an interesting experience and a faith-enhancing one as well. Next time you're blowing along Interstate 80 on summer vacation or some other reason, give a thought to taking a day to driving up into northwest Iowa and visiting West Bend.
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