Washington, D.C.’s Hidden Gem
by John Clem
There is a hidden gem in Washington, D.C., that many do not know about. It is the Franciscan Monastery of the Holy Land in America. This monastery was first constructed in 1898 through the divine guidance of a Franciscan Friar named Father Godfrey Schilling. This beautiful place in Washington offers the visitor inspiration with art, architecture, and nature’s glory.
In one place, you can visit many recreations of holy sites from around the globe–Italy, France, and many revered places in the Holy Land. This order of the Franciscans have been protectors of the holy sites since 1219 in Jerusalem, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Egypt, and Cyprus. Recreations of many Holy Sites include: the Tomb of Christ, Saint Francis’ Chapel in Assisi, Grotto of Lourdes, the Catacombs of Rome, Tomb of Mary, Grotto of Gethsemane, and Chapel of the Ascension.
One of my favorite places to say the rosary is around the Rosary Portico which has 15 beautiful mosaics of the Mysteries of the Rosary, and it has the “Hail Mary” in about every language from around the globe including many Native American languages. True to Saint Francis’ love of nature, the grounds are filled with beautiful flowers, trees, and plants that are maintained by many volunteers. One can find solace and peace in the gardens all through the year.
The Memorial Church is a wonderful piece of architecture and filled with incredible stained glass and paintings. I highly recommend anyone visiting DC to visit. Do you have any favorite places for retreats? You can find out more about the Franciscan Monastary at their newly redesigned website–take the virtual tour:
Anonymous, 
Beth-In-KCMO and 3 others are discussing. 
Craig 3:44 am on May 13, 2011 Permalink |
The Saint Olaf Young Adult group did a pilgrimage to the National Shrine and also visited the Monastery…I think it was around 2000-2001. The Monastery was awesome, as was the Shrine.nnThanks for posting this!
Anonymous 2:53 pm on May 9, 2011 Permalink |
I have been there and even stayed there a few times. It is really beautiful! I also love the chapel to the Holy Souls under the main church.
Beth-In-KCMO 9:33 pm on May 6, 2011 Permalink |
I visited the Monastery on my last trip to DC. I am still enraptured by one particular stained glass window in the chapel depicting the Blessed Mother as a child with St. Ann. But the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception is my all-time favorite place in the entire world. I’ve spent several cumulative days there and know that I *still* haven’t absorbed the entire beauty of the site. It’s just beyond words. EVERY American Catholic should make pilgrimage to this site.n
John Clem 9:09 pm on May 4, 2011 Permalink |
I agree with Beth that a trip to the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception is well worth visiting since it is so close. Also, the Pope John Paul II Cultural Center is also nearby and worth a visit. I am planning to write a blog soon about both of these places, as I visit them often:nnhttp://www.nationalshrine.com/site/c.osJRKVPBJnH/b.4719297/k.BF65/Home.htm nnhttp://jp2cf.org/home.htmlnnNote: The Pope John Paul II Cultural Center is currently only available for tours by appointment. It is currently for sale and actively looking for a buyer. Blessed John Paul II deserves to have his legacy remembered at this wonderful facility that promotes the message and spirit of The Great John Paul II (soon to be a saint).
Beth 11:42 pm on May 3, 2011 Permalink |
I’ve been here many times. It’s close enough to the National Shrine that if you visit one you should certainly visit the other.
Rory 8:59 pm on May 2, 2011 Permalink |
I was a student at CUA, which is a jaunty walk to the Franciscan Monastery. And many’s the time I would go there to meditate. It’s quite astounding how quiet and peaceful the grounds are, while you’re still in the midst of Washington DC. There are some awesome tours of its catacombs as well as an outdoor Stations of the Cross. When family visited me during the school year, many times we’d go to mass at the monastery rather than the National Shrine … my Dad said he could hear the mass better at the monastery.