Author: The Crusader Staff Writer, Katelyn Saxe Belmont Abbey College is defined by our Catholic roots and by the Benedictine monks who reside here. These followers of Christ and students like you built this college. The basis of the Benedictine tradition is what built the guidelines for the college, and we are lucky to have a lot of rich history and old architecture on our campus—every brick of building like ‘St. Leo’s Hall and statues like ‘The Lady of Lourdes Grotto’’ were put together by the Benedictine Monastery. Funds for new buildings and additions to the school are completed with the help of alumni. One of the best places to admire the history and love behind Belmont Abbey College is at ‘The Lady of Lourdes Grotto.’ Maybe you walked past it and remembered stopping by it on a tour of the college your freshman year, but do you know its history? ‘Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto’ sits behind the monastery and just below the Holy Grounds Cafe. This structure was first built in 1891 after a significant leader of the school, Fr. Francis Meyer, contracted typhoid fever. He was not expected to live, but this did not stop the members of the school from calling out to God for his recovery. They declared that if he lived, they would build a Grotto for the Lady of Lourdes. This structure was built after Br. Meyer survived his illness and was designed by using materials easily found in the area. Wood and many large pieces of rock-like granite make up the base that surrounds the statue of Mother Mary and the crucifix of Jesus. An article was written about the consecration of the Grotto (Theclio.com), and this is where I found most of my information. The Grotto was consecrated on May 7, 1891, on the Solemnity...