The Grotto of Redemption (Part 2)

The Grotto is in West Bend, Iowa - the next town north of us. It is a huge, artistic creation made of stone and gems and impossible to really show how amazing it is in pictures. It's a tourist attraction and tours are given.

Here is a paragraph from the The Grotto's web site telling how it came about.

"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."

Father Dobberstein was the artist and it was built mainly by only two other men.

"The Grotto is a composite of nine separate Grottos, each portraying a scene in the life of Christ. It includes the largest collection of precious stones and gems found anywhere in one location. The beautiful artistry has to be seen in order to be appreciated, and the message it inspires is beyond words."


Click here to read more at The Grotto's web site. Don't forget that you can click on each picture to see it bigger - then click on your < Back button to get back to this page. (top left corner)