A Spring Offering

Pass the Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes and you will often see people on their own or in small groups pausing to kneel or stand in prayer. Since its dedication in 1953, the Grotto has been attracting students, faculty, staff, alumni and guests seeking spiritual reflection.

That Marian legacy of turning to Mary, the mother of God, for guidance and intercession, has special meaning for Richard Schiffmann ’54. As president of the Class of 1954—the smallest in College history with just 49 students—he rallied his senior classmates, while working with faculty and staff, to make the Grotto’s Marian May Day celebration a success.

As the Summit reported, the seniors went a step further as event participants by adorning the Grotto with spring flowers, “an act of devotion conceived and inspired by Schiffmann.” The Catholic Church sets aside a month not just a day for honoring the Mother of God. Therefore, for 31 days, Schiffmann and his classmates took turns making daily deliveries of fresh flowers to the Grotto.

“We felt it was a blessing on our young school, a sign that it had a future, and we were giving something back before graduating. We were a small class with a big spirit, and our professors and Holy Cross religious encouraged our initiative and involvement,” he recalls.

For the past 10 years, Schiffmann has been quietly sending beautiful floral arrangements to the Grotto every May in tribute to his classmates and fellow alumni. May also holds special significance for him as it marks the month he and his wife, Jean, were married. This year, the couple is celebrating their 60th wedding anniversary. 

A structure of stone and mortar in a serene setting, the Grotto is located on Holy Cross Drive across from the tennis courts. There, visitors often light votive candles, which burn day and night, to express prayerful intentions. 

Like many grottos across America, including the one at the University of Notre Dame, it is inspired by the 1858 appearances of the Virgin Mary to a young girl in Lourdes, France. While part of a Catholic tradition, the Grotto often has wider appeal. As James Dunn ’14 wrote in Rolling Stonehill magazine in 2013:

“In today’s world, we’re encouraged to hurry from place to place and leave no time to reflect and just be within ourselves…But even the shortest pause at the Grotto can be such a welcome reprieve from the all the noises.”

A history and government major, Schiffmann became a successful attorney, senior Labor Department official, and later opened his own law practice upon moving to Cape Cod. He was principal of a real estate firm that Jean managed—which fast became a family business. At 92, Schiffmann attends his office each day to see former clients, occasionally assisting them in their needs. He also enjoys participating and advising in real estate matters. An engaged alumnus who received the 2013 Francis X. Dillon ’70 Alumni Service Award, Schiffmann is a regular visitor to campus and not just for reunions or special events.

“A while back, I took my grandson with me to visit the Grotto,” Schiffmann recalls. “I just wanted to give him a sense of what has shaped my life for the better.”