Strange Facts – St. Bernard Abbey and the Ave Maria Grotto
There is only one Benedictine Monastery in the State of Alabama - St. Bernard Abbey in Cullman.
The Abbey was founded in the late 1800’s after benedictine Monks were sent to the area to minister to German Catholic settlers in the area.
The abbey is also well known for the Ave Maria Grotto which is on its grounds.
Joseph Zoettl, O.S.B came to St. Bernard in 1892 and soon began to create detailed miniature sculptures of famous churches, shrines and buildings, mostly from the Holy Land. As word spread of Brother Joseph’s work, donations of material and money came in from all over the world. By 1934, his collection had become so large that it was moved to the Grotto. Joseph continued this work for over 40 more years, completing 125 shrines. His Basilica of Lourdes was the last completed, in 1958, when he was 80 years of age.
Brother Joseph died in 1961 and is buried in the Abbey cemetery. St. Bernard Abbey remains a thriving monastic community and the Ave Maria Grotto has become a popular tourist attraction.
IS that real church or a miniature one.In any case it is beautiful.
Hope you &family had exellent easter
Been there (twice), stayed there, got the photos, and got the hugs! Remember when I mentioned that one-half of my ancestry is German Catholic? Two of my great-uncles were Benedictine monks and lived there. We stayed in the guest quarters and camped on the grounds in a then-little-used area. Fr. Marion (grandfather’s brother) and Fr. Gabriel (grandmother’s brother) are both buried in the cemetery there. It’s a beautiful, peaceful place.
I’ve been there! It makes a nice side trip when visiting Our Lady of the Angels Monastery/National Shrine of the Blessed Sacrament in Hanceville, AL and the EWTN studios in Irondale, AL.
Wish there was a website that listed shrines for travel planning!
been there a couple of times art. jonathon and i have been there a few times in retreat. we like it cause they let you stay in the cloister and do prayers in the choir lofts. if you want to work they will let you do that too. i didn’t know that brother zobel was buried in the grotto. he might actually be buried down the walkway, as the regular cemetary is only a couple hundred yards away from the grotto.
kentuckyliz, try this list
http://www.yesbutnobutyes.com/archives/2006/12/top_10_christia_1.html
now THOSE are some beautiful pictures.
My wife and I have visited the Grotto on our snowbird trips to and from Florida. A very beautiful and peaceful place. We happened to be there at the very time of the death of Pope John Paul II. What a spiritual experience for us and the others at the Grotto at that time.
Hi,
Are you looking for Monks? I’m 65 but in good health!Whats the procedure .
Bruce Wansart
718 Longmeadow Road
Amherst 14226, N.Y.
Very cool to know. I’d like to go one day.
What cool looking buildings!
huh…been there, live very near the Grotto. It’s been part of my life and really don’t see it as *strange*, I see it as *amazing*!
I’ve been there. It’s pretty nice.
I went there several times as a child. I thought it was very strange!
I wonder if you feel as bad as I do for making fun of the grotto? It just seems so out of place in the “heart of Dixie”, or is it just me?
This is for StacieSays– Why cant something like this come from “heart of Dixie” . I have been there. Very beautiful place. Didnt spend enough time there. Would love to go back and take the time to really appreciate every building. Under those really large and beautiful trees make the place seem solemn. More people should take time to stop and take in this very informative site. Bless you all.
is it just me?
well, no. in the Alabama county in which I live, there are 84 Baptist churches, 42 Churches of Christ, about fifteen Methodist churches (about half of which are United), and one Roman Catholic parish.
I am not making this up.
And the only people I know in Cullman are officers in the Salvation Army. I am not making this up either.
I hear Mother Angelica is not to be trifled with, however.
this place has added itself to my “places to visit before I die” list.
It has been my experience that many southern Protestants are attracted to the celebratory elements of Catholicism without the need to make a radical departure from their Protestant upbringing.
I find that Catholicism can be much more cerebrally stimulating than many other religious expressions, especially in the US.
The maintenance of shrines, monasteries, mother houses and grottoes may seem in some way idolatrous, but they do offer a place of quiet and prayerful repose for all.
It seems that there is a popular image of Alabama of being some what of a hillbilly culture. That is far from a true and fair assessment. While there may be some rough edges in the South, it is more often than not to find expressions of toleration and acceptance at the level of the individual.
My own religious journey began with a Catholic mother. A nominally Presbyterian father. And, a fundamentalist Baptist grandmother. I was exposed to the person and the speaking of Thomas Merton at Trappist in rural Kentucky. It has stayed with me for 50 odd years.
How to explain the phenomenon of Mother Angelica . . . she was entertaining. I got much more from Father Groeschel.
Lantern Bearer has been a student of the spiritual and the mysterious since his first whiff of the smoking censure. Lantern Bearer submits only to a doctrine of the Good that may be found in others and expressed in return.
LB
I think there is more than one Catholic grotto in Alabama, though perhaps not ones as lovely. I seem to remember being surprised at billboards for several individual grottos on a journey down 65 from Nashville to Montgomery–I tend to think of Alabama as homogenously Baptist, but clearly that’s not so.
Thanks for all the comments. Just to clarify, I was not making fun of this site or calling it “strange” in a derogatory way. I find it fascinating and interesting and I hope to visit it one day myself.
It is both strange and fascinating, and I think your post conveys the reality with dignity and originality.
That’s interesting that someone thought you were being derogatory by calling this groto strange. It is a very sirene and beautiful place but yeah it is a little strange to see all those little buildings…it makes you feel like a giant!…that’s not derogatory
Alabama is a beautiful state and alhtough we are best know for being in the bible belt and the baptists……we have all faiths here
must see this:
http://bvontease.wordpress.com/
There are in fact TWO Benedictine monasteries in Alabama, and the other is right there in Cullman – Sacred Heart Monastery, where a group of Benedictine women pray and work. It’s about half a mile from the men’s monastery.
Good Morning:
I just wanted to point out there are actually four monasteries in Cullman County. There are three within the city limits of Cullman, AL and the other is located near Hanceville, AL.
This is quite amazing since the denominational makeup is probably 99% protestant.