The Franciscan Monastery of the Holy Land in America is a Catholic monastery with gardens and catacombs
The Franciscan Monastery of the Holy Land in America was constructed as an alternative to making the long and often cost-prohibitive journey to religious sites in the Holy Land. Full-size replicas of these shrines enable visitors to the Franciscan Monastery to make a pilgrimage of sorts. Alters, chapels, crypts, and grottos are all recreated on the grounds in DC for religious and secular visitors to experience. While the church and grounds are open to the public, the monastery itself is not.
As a replica of the real thing, the Franciscan Monastery is like a Catholic theme park. The church is impressive, but the construction and artwork are lower quality than the typical ornate church. Visitors should keep in mind that this is a monastery, not a cathedral, in order to maintain appropriate expectations for what they will experience on this adventure.
Guided tours of the church take about an hour. The main benefit of taking a tour of the church instead of exploring on your own is access to the catacombs and crypts below the church. Adventurers on a tour will follow their guide down a flight of stairs to the basement. Various short passageways lead to chapels and crypts. My favorite part of the catacombs is the Chapel of Purgatory, which is designed to remind visitors of the inevitability of death and, by contrast, eternal life. The amazing mural on the right side of the altar is of Ezekiel’s vision of the Valley of Dry Bones.
The temperature of the catacombs in the Franciscan Monastery is an obvious sign that these are reproductions instead of the real thing. Unlike the cool stone that usually lines these burial places, the stones in the Franciscan Monastery are painted onto plaster. Most of the crypts are symbolic, but the monastery houses several authentic relics, including the bones of Saint Innocent. For those who enjoy getting into the Christmas spirit all year round, the Grotto of the Nativity is the last stop on the catacombs portion of the tour.
After your tour of the church and catacombs, step outside to explore the 42 acres of contemplative gardens. The lower gardens slope downwards and have additional chapels, tombs, and grottos. The walk towards the Grotto of Gethsemane is a bit more wild than the cultivated gardens that surround it, and I found it to be the most peaceful spot.
Surrounding the church and upper gardens is the Rosary Portico with chapels interspersed among the archways. The words of the Hail Mary prayer are inscribed in 150 languages throughout the different chapels. Even for the non-religious, the portico and gardens are a lovely place for quiet reflection.
The gardens are most beautiful in the spring and summer, so I recommend timing your visit to be able to see them in full bloom. The upper gardens also houses a replica of the Portiuncula, which is the church Saint Francis rebuilt in response to a religious vision and the birthplace of the Franciscan movement.
The outdoor space of the Franciscan Monastery may steal the show, but the church and catacombs are worth checking out at least once. Although all are welcome to tour the Franciscan Monastery, the guide may assume visitors share the faith and values of the Catholic church. You can learn more about the monastery by checking out A Guide to the Franciscan Monastery Mt. Saint Sepulchre on Google Books.
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Address
1400 Quincy St. NE
Metro Station
- Brookland-CUA (RD)
Directions
Take the Kiss and Ride exit from the Brookland metro station. The Monastery is a 10-15 minute walk from the metro. Adventurers can also take the H6 bus from the metro to the Quincy and 14th Street stop.
Cost
Free
Hours
Monastery tours are offered Monday to Saturday at 10:00 am, 11:00 am, 1:00 pm, 2:00 pm, and 3:00 pm and Sunday at 1:00 pm, 2:00 pm, and 3:00 pm
Garden tours are available April to September on Saturdays at 11:00 am and 12:00 pm
Gardens open daily from 9:00 am – 4:45 pm
Length of Adventure
1-2 hours
