Greymore (St. Francis Monastery)

Just north of the Bear Mountain Bridge, on the mountain and in the woods near the Appalachian Trail lies Graymore, a St. Franciscan Monastery, that is a place of healing, refuge and peace.

I first went to Graymore when I was around eighteen years old. My friend Tina brought me and I have been going there ever since. When I learned about St. Francis; about his journey from being the son of a rich merchant sent to war, to injured soldier who had a spiritual awakening which lead him to denounce his life of privilege to one of serving God and others, I fell in love. His passion, his commitment to truth, his devotion to service; I so related.
And at Graymore, St. Francis's energy and essence can be felt as strongly as if he were still in his body and walking the grounds.

Graymore is a unique place. First, it's small chapel was transported from Assisi (St. Francis's home). Monday services are held there and many come from far and wide for the reported healings that occur.

Second, on the property is home to St. Christopher's Inn, an in-patient rehab for men struggling with addiction. The men in treatment work at various jobs throughout the monastery which aids in their recovery process.

Third, the monastery is open and inclusive. Along with your more traditional Catholic traditions, Graymore has offered workshops on self-help including Healing the Inner Child  and retreats aimed at women's growth. Their bookstore has everything from bible, the different saints, nad Catholic philosophy to books on the Enneagram and other spiritual tools including recovery material. I find the openness as inviting and as a breath of fresh air.

On our short visit, the girls and I walked a bit on the grounds, took in the breathtaking views and spent some quiet time in the chapel. The girls may have been a bit too young to really understand what it all meant but just Being in that energy was what mattered most. For the heart and soul take in what the mind and words can not.