This cave have the name of Maria Lourdes Cave or Gua Maria Lordes. This famous cave of Virgin Mary is crowded with pilgrims from all over Indonesia in May and October.
In addition to praying, in general the pilgrims take water from the water source in there. They believe that the water can cure various diseases.
The atmosphere of silence and beautifully graced Maria Sendangsono Cave. Large trees shaded and streams split into this pilgrimage. This atmosphere is suitable for pilgrims who want to be silent and pray in Gua Maria Sendangsono.
A long time a go, Sendangsono is a spring that is often used by monks who will make a pilgrimage to the Borobudur Temple. Sendangsono means spring near angsana tree (sono). There is indeed a spring that is shaded by large angsana trees.
Pilgrims can pray under this angsana tree overlooking the cave of Mary. Sendangsono is known as a place of Catholic pilgrimage since the arrival of Father Franciscus Georgius Josephus Van Lith or better known as Father Van Lith and the baptism of 171 people from the Kalibawang area in Sendangsono.
This baptism took place in 1904 by using spray water. The location of the baptism that we now know as the Gua Maria Sendangsono.
Place of pilgrimage Sendangsono now has been arranged to be more slick. Development is done in the complex Sendangsono Maria Cave with a blend of typical Javanese architecture that utilizes wood and bamboo and modern architecture.
In addition to praying in the cave of Mary, pilgrims can do Jalan Salib to commemorate the passion of Jesus. Pilgrims can also remember the early baptisms in Sendangsono through reliefs in the main chapel of the compound of this pilgrimage site.
There is also the Chapel of the Virgin Mary and the Chapel of the Apostles. Near the Chapel of Our Lady, there is the tomb of Barnabas Sarikromo, one of the citizens who was baptized in 1904. Barnabas Sarikromo became the first catechist in the Kalibawang area.
Pilgrims who come to the Gua Maria Sedangsono are not only Catholics, but also people of other faiths. This place of pilgrimage is open to anyone, as long as it remains a calm there.
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