When Paramhansa Yogananda came to Europe in 1935 on his way to India, he stopped to visit Assisi, Italy. While there, Master made a special trip to a place sanctified by the presence of St. Francis, called “L’Eremo delle Carceri.” Roughly translated, this means “Hermitage of Secluded Places,” though over time “carceri” came also to mean “prison.”

Deeply inspired by his visit there, Master called St. Francis his “patron saint,” and later said, “I felt Christ’s presence everywhere in Assisi, but on the little forest paths of L’Eremo, I saw him walking by my side.” What is the story behind this holy place?

In 1205 Francis and a few of his fellow monks were walking, as was their wont, through the countryside outside of Assisi. As they began climbing the forested slopes of Mt. Subasio, which rises high above the town itself, they discovered an area that was dotted with many small caves. Francis found a tiny cave that would be perfect for seclusion and prayer. Brother Leo and the others soon followed his example, and each of them chose a little cave in which to dwell and focus his thoughts on God. Here they happily lived deep in prayer and contemplation.

Francis and his brothers could easily have remained there for the rest of their life, but at a certain point after deep prayer, this humble saint knew that Christ wanted him to leave his place of seclusion. His mission was to share his joyful love for God and all of creation with others, and so he did for the remaining twenty years of his life, until he died at the early age of forty-six.

Many miraculous events took place during Francis’s life. At one point, he asked his spiritual sister, Clare, to join him to discuss how to bring a life of prayer and simplicity to those who had followed them. St. Clare, who like Francis was canonized as a saint, was the founder of what is now known as the Order of Poor Clares, and was the first woman to write guidelines to create a monastic order.

During their discussion, they became so enrapt in the presence of God that a light began to emanate from them, filling the countryside. The people of Assisi saw this brilliant light and feared that a great fire had started. They raced towards this blazing light to find, not a conflagration, but Francis and Clare sitting quietly, lost in contemplation of God.

Over the centuries a small monastery and chapel were built near the caves, but L’Eremo remains essentially as it was in St. Francis’s time. The huge grey stones and little caves of Mt. Subasio are millions of years old, yet they are alive still with divine consciousness. Timelessly, they carry the inspiration of the great saints who once dwelt there.

Jyotish and I, along with our dear friends Anand and Kirtani, decided to visit L’Eremo during our last few days in Assisi. This past month has been a very busy one here, filled with many classes, satsangs, and joyful social gatherings. As soon as we entered those holy grounds, we were struck by the spiritual power and pristine beauty there. But most of all, we felt enveloped by a wave of interiorization and peace that emanates from the very stones. Thinking of Master as we walked the forest paths, we were spiritually refreshed by the spirit of God that remains there to this day.

All of us, in the midst of the busyness of life, need to remember to find times and places to which we can withdraw in solitude and renew our souls. This interiorization, through meditation and prayer, enables us to live in the spirit of the great souls who have come before us.

St. Francis walked the forests of L’Eremo nearly a thousand years ago, and ninety years have elapsed since Yogananda’s visit. But the power of great saints remains in such places, blessing and guiding all who come there to follow in their footsteps until we, too, find the inner kingdom of God.

In his beautiful song, “God’s Call Within,” Swami Kriyananda wrote:

Turn, turn, turn within: In silence of soul, in cave of love Find My abode.

With love and joy,

Nayaswami Devi

Listen to Devi as she first reads the blog, then expands on its meaning and messages for readers with behind-the-blog commentary. Subscribe to the podcast or download the audio recording by right-clicking here. Or listen to it here (8:59):

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Timeless Saints