the abbey of gethsemani

I'm a regular day tripper to the Abbey. When driving onto the grounds I feel my blood pressure drop (and I've no problem with BP).Pack a picnic. Wander the grounds. Disconnect from the matrix. Return to the Sanctuary for prayers with the Monks.Sample the fudge in the Gift Shop.Slow down. Listen. Be present. Who knows a miracle may arrive to you at the Abbey of Gethsemani!

I have been to Gethsemani 4 times now, all of them day-trips. A few of the reviews say that this is not a good place to come if you're not doing a retreat. I disagree. My typical day at Gethsemani is as follows:Usually, I come early in the morning and if it's early enough, sing the prayers with the monks. Then I take a Bible and a notebook and hike the trails up to the cross on the hill and then beyond it. I find a nice quiet place to sit down (which is not hard. Gethsemani is one of the few places in the world where it is truly quiet), and read, pray, meditate, and think. Then I keep walking until I find the statues of Jesus and the Disciples as well as the rosary chapel in the woods. At this point I go back to the main part of the Abbey and pray with the monks again. Then I have a nice picnic on the grounds and afterwards, explore the gift shop and watch the informational video they have on repeat in a little room in the gift shop building.In short, I'd say it's definitely not something you could stop at for an hour or so and get much out of it, but most of my visits have been 4-5 hours long and been very enjoyable. If nothing else, it makes for a good hiking trip and a good way to get away from the noise of the city. The Abbey also amazingly sustains itself by producing things with their hands. There is some excellent fudge and cheese in the gift shop though it is a bit pricey (but usually there are free samples at the counter so don't be afraid to try for them!)

Truly a special "spiritual place". God is very present here. Just shut up and listen! Not for your average tourist. If you seek Peace and Prayer and an incredible place to sit in the woods and be with God; to contemplate and pray; or to pray in a chapel with 50 men who have dedicated their lives to God and Prayer.. this is it. Perfect for prayer and meditation.Hike the grounds, Hike the Statue Trail, wander the 1000 acre woods, you can get lost and you can find Peace. There is a shop with all sorts of religious stuff and a very nice visitor center and movie loop that tells the story of the Monks. Awesome Trappist Cheese, Fruitcake and Fudge. Get a map for the trails west of the Monastery. If you know of Thomas Merton then know that this was his home and you should visit... but you probably already have.I have visited this area three times. Twice solo to hike and pray and meditate and to be "contemplative" and closer to God. It is beautiful. It is spiritual. This year I took my wife and two boys 17 and 22 for the week after Christmas through New Year. Yes they got the vibe.We stay at a private retreat cabin, Bethany Spring, formerly owned by the Merton Institute. We attend the Liturgy of the Hours and sing the Psalms and Pray with the monks a couple of times per day. We play cards and scrabble and "just be together as a family" without WIFI or TV in our cabin. We took a few side trips to Bardstown and Mammoth Cave. Honestly at Gethsemane there is little to do but hike and pray and meditate. There are many things in the area to do for day trippers. Bourbon Trail, Lincoln, Civil War Museum etc. History rich area.For the true "Spiritual Pilgrim" you may make reservations and check into the Monastery as a guest for a very private and very silent retreat. Or contact Bethany Spring around the corner.Gethsemane was the home of Thomas Merton and is the home of 50 Monks who work to support themselves and pray for the world. Simple place, incredible place, deeply spiritual, very historic.

I make annual 5 day religious retreats at Gethsemani. It is spiritually refreshing and emotionally relaxing. The facility is 'silent' allowing the individual to hear his inner spirit and to engage in deep prayer and contemplation. The Abbey and the many hundreds of surrounding acres aid in leaving the worries and frustrations of the outer world behind while you explore your spiritual side. The beauty of the grounds and the surrounds forests and fields can not be put into words. The accommodations are modest but immaculate and very helpful in building on the monastic experience. The food is modest but substantial. The Monks do not eat meat but meat is occasionally served to those making retreats.The Monks follow the religious Office and pray at various select times during the day and night. All retreatants are invited to join in the prayers that begin in the middle of the night and continue periodically throughout the day. It is inspiring to watch the Monks go about their day of work, prayer and silence. They are such outstanding role models for those wishing to become more devout.They fund their life through the sale of Fudge, cheese and fruit cakes made on site by the Monks and free will donations from those attending retreats. In summary, it is an amazingly holy place. They offer both 4 and 5 day retreats during the week and on the weekend. I highly recommend it. For the reasons expressed here it is impossible to answer the questions below as they do not apply, in general.

Unless you're planning on taking a retreat here at the Abbey, there really isn't much to do for the random stopper by. However, if you are like me and have read a little Thomas Merton or have a strong interest in Abbey's, stop by any way. The gift shop is packed full of great gifts and tokens to take with you, the chapel is more than worth the visit, and if you can secure a seat underneath the statue of St. Joseph, bring a book and enjoy the peace and quiet. I've already made a deal with my wife to go on a retreat by myself to the abbey while she's away with her roommates from college. I can't wait!

One of Kentucky Best Kept Secrets. A holy place of prayer, relaxation. serenity, introspection, meditation and Spiritual Awakening. Have gone to the Abbey for many years, have taken family and friends and we all keep coming back to the beauty of the grounds and the serenity of the facility.

My sister makes retreats to the Abbey of Gethsemani, and she recommended it as a place to visit. In addition, I make frequent online orders for the bourbon fudge that is made by the monks, so this was further motivation for a visit. For these reasons, my wife and I decided to make a visit on March 13, 2014 after touring the Bourbon Trail. We walked the scenic grounds, and then visited the church. This was an experience in itself, particularly the balcony. We only saw a few monks, because they were on retreat. At the conclusion of our visit we stopped by the visitor's center and gift shop. The gift shop has a lot nice items for sale. We recommend the coffee mugs, which have a nice design. Of course, I can't do without the great tasting bourbon fudge, so I bought a few boxes.

We visited last week. The atmosphere is peaceful. We bought the Kentucky Bourbon fudge. Wish I had purchased more than one box. Best fudge ever!

I made a retreat November 11-15th, 2014. The solitude and time to reflect were wonderful.There are religious services 7 times daily, starting at 3:15 am- to Compline @ 7:30 pm. I enjoyed daily services and was so appreciative of the brothers hospitality. Be prepared to eat light meals of vegetables, monk cheese and their fine bread. It is probably the most healthy diet for most persons. I would strongly endorse a trip to Trappist Kentucky for either a weekend or week long retreat!

It all depends on what you want out of an experience. I had been reading the works of Thomas Merton, OCSO for many years and decided to visit his home here. The monastery was the first of its kind in the USA, established in 1848-51 and over the years has given birth to several others, both monks and nuns, here in this country. Close by Bardstown, KY, the 2000 or so acres are farmed by the monks, who sell their wares in a large gift shop/bookstore near the entrance.For those unaccustomed to religious venues, this is first and foremost a church, Roman Catholic in dogma and doctrine, and thus certain rules need to be kept in mind. Modesty in dress, as little speaking as possible and respect for the surroundings are paramount in keeping such places open to visitors. Retreats are welcomed and encouraged. Those seking such enlightenment should review the Abbey's website - (http://www.monks.org/) - contact the retreat master through the website. Meals are provided, and donations are encouraged.For a truly spiritual experience, Gethsemani is the locus of many, if not all things pastoral. Walking the grounds may a favorite pastime for many, tourists included. In fact, for a place meant to be cloaked in silence and reflection, the Abbey seems to be almost always buzzing with foot traffic. There are areas of silence, such as the church, the library and certain areas of the grounds, including the monks' cemetery. Merton's grace is always easily discerned by the presence of flowers or other ornamentation. His works are available in the gift shop.As mentioned, three meals are provided daily for registered guests. Monks and guests eat the same meals, and though the former eat not meat, guests do enjoy some meat offerings during the week. Special dietary needs cannot be met, unfortunately. There is a minimum age of 18 to enjoy a retreat, or 16 if a a parent is along.The monks are of the Order of Cistercians of the Strict Observance - OCSO - going back about 1,500 years to its founder, Saint Benedict. They chant the divine office seven times daily, starting in the wee hours of morning. Mass is celebrated daily and the public is invited to attend all rituals. Photography is allowed, but flash is not.As always, call ahead for scheduling and special events. I arrived there one rainy, cold day in the midst of a funeral and had to wait a few hours to check in. Roman Catholic Holy Days may be unknown to non-Catholics, such as All Saints day, etc., so again, always best to call ahead.The monastery is located among the rolling hills and greenery of the country. Make sure your car is gassed up and you have eaten before arrival, as there is no place to 'grab a bite', unless you feel like snacking on cheese and fudge from the gift shop.

anyone wishing to attend services / offices will find many available throughout the day...seven beginning at 3:15 am and the last at 7:30 pm...additionally mass is celebrated daily and often there is a rosary service daily in the guest chapel.The Monks observe silence otherwise and welcome visitors to their grounds and some of their facilities. For much of the area "silence is spoken" and the visitor might want to share the experience outside of the daily services where chanting and prayer is aloud.It can be a powerful experience to attend the offices and maintain silence, be away from thenoise of the world and commune with the Lord. Why not try it? Open your heart! It made a huge positive difference for me!PS I would prefer not to call this "an attraction"...it is a spiritual place. The inhabitants, monks, practice their faith in a way different from most of the world. It is not intended as a spiritual Disneyland.

This is an awesome place. Silence is supposed to be 100 percent, but not all visitors comply. Opportunity to meet with monk, beautiful surroundings. Beware food is marginal but that is not their focus. Retreats are wonderful

The abbey is very beautiful. We were there and observed the monks choir practice, which was peaceful and amazing. There is a visitors center and store where you can purchase fudge, cheese and fruitcake made by the monks. You can only visit a limited area, it is a working abbey. Very beautiful, very educational about monastic life. A must see. It is a little bit of a drive, it's kind of in the middle of nowhere.

Having read Thomas Merton's book "The Seven Story Mountain", we wanted to visit the Abbey while we were in the Bardstown area. It is set on a beautiful rolling countryside that is so serene. The film gives a really good idea of a Monk's life and since you can't go into certain areas it is the best way to learn about this. The gift shop has many beautiful items made by the monks, all the Thomas Merton books/dvd's/cd's, as well as other items. Just browsing the gift shop was enjoyable. We did go into the chapel which is very bare and not elaborate as many chapels may be. The quietness (required in many areas) and serene setting gives a real sense of peace and closeness to God. We wish we had been at a time when we could have attended one of the prayer services. If you are going, check their website so you can participate one of the services.

This is a place I've always wanted to visit. Interesting and very informative video in the gift shop of the life of the monks and the history of the monastery. You can walk around the grounds but. Not inside the walled monastery area. We arrived in time to attend the noontime prayer service which was very interesting. The monks pray through all the Psalms every two weeks and have been repeating this pattern for 150+ years. The gift shop has many wonderful gifts but at a price. Income from the items the monks make is the prime source of the Abbey's income. Would love to come for a retreat.