During my academic career, I’ve been blessed by two grottos- one in Western NY - the other in North Carolina en route from the Piedmont to the High Country.
There‘s shared geography between the two. North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Mountains and Western New York’s Enchanted Mountains are each component parts of the Appalachian Range that extends from the Eastern US into Canada. The Enchanted Alleghenies (also spelled
Allegany and Allegheny) are “Appalachian” with a long A, while the Blue Ridge are “Appa-latch-en” to their locals. Geographically, the separate pronunciations grate equally on the ears of the opposite listener.
The Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes was established at Belmont Abbey College in 1891. It was blessed as a pilgrimage site at that time. Stunningly beautiful, it presides over a quiet enclave adjacent to rustic Stations of the Cross nestled in the woods. Belmont Abbey is home to Benedictine Monks who founded the college.
The Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes was established at Saint Bonaventure University in 1925. It was a favored place of prayer for Thomas Merton, who later became a Trappist Monk and authored The Seven Storey Mountain. It remains a favorite place for contemporary students, alumni and visitors from far and wide. It was renovated in 2016. Saint Bonaventure University is home to Franciscan Friars, who founded the university.
Alleghany and Allegany