National Shrine of The Divine Mercy

Stations of the Cross 

Eden Hill, Stockbridge, Massachusetts

There are places to which we travel for scenery, places we visit for history, and places we enter because something within us is asking for quiet. In the Berkshire hills of western Massachusetts, the National Shrine of The Divine Mercy offers precisely that kind of destination: a place where the landscape, Catholic devotion, prayer, and stillness come together on Eden Hill in Stockbridge.

Set across 375 acres, the National Shrine of The Divine Mercy is administered by the Congregation of Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception. The property combines a working Catholic shrine with gardens, outdoor devotional sites, walking paths, chapels, and spaces intended for prayer and meditation. Although the grounds are extensive, the landscaped devotional area occupies a more intimate portion of Eden Hill, allowing a pilgrimage here to feel less like sightseeing and more like a retreat. (The National Shrine of The Divine Mercy)

The Marians have been connected with Eden Hill since the 1940s, and the site gradually developed into a center for the propagation of the message of Divine Mercy. A chapel was established soon after the community's arrival, with an altar dedicated to Divine Mercy. As pilgrims began coming to the property, the need for a larger shrine became apparent, and construction of the Shrine of The Divine Mercy began in 1950. (Shrine of Divine Mercy)

A Pilgrimage Through Prayer

The heart of the visit is the Shrine Church itself. Here, pilgrims can participate in daily Mass, Confession, Eucharistic Adoration, the Rosary, the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, and Benediction. The Shrine also offers blessings of religious articles and a blessing with a first-class relic of St. Faustina. (The National Shrine of The Divine Mercy)

For a Catholic traveler, the rhythm of the day is part of the beauty of the place. Rather than moving quickly from one attraction to another, a visit can unfold slowly: Mass, a walk through the grounds, time before the Blessed Sacrament, Confession, the Rosary, and finally the Chaplet of Divine Mercy. The Shrine's current schedule places Confession, Adoration, and the Rosary together in the early afternoon, followed by Mass and the Chaplet of Divine Mercy. (The National Shrine of The Divine Mercy)

The outdoor devotional spaces extend this atmosphere beyond the church. Visitors can walk the life-sized Stations of the Cross, visit the Lourdes Grotto and Immaculate Conception Candle Shrine, spend time at the Mother of Mercy Outdoor Shrine, and visit the Shrine of the Holy Innocents and the Holy Family Shrine. There are also numerous places where pilgrims may light candles for people they love. (The National Shrine of The Divine Mercy)

The Holy Family Shrine

Among the outdoor devotional spaces, the Holy Family Shrine provides an especially contemplative setting. It is surrounded by gardens and a reflection pool, with the Holy Family at its center and votive candles lining the space. The Shrine describes it as a place where pilgrims can pray for the guidance and protection of the Holy Family or simply give thanks for the gift of family. (The National Shrine of The Divine Mercy)

This is one of those places where the experience of travel becomes very simple. There is no need to fill every moment. One can sit quietly, light a candle, walk through the gardens, or pray for someone who could not make the journey. The setting invites the visitor to slow down and allow the pilgrimage to become personal.

A Day on Eden Hill

The Shrine itself provides suggested pilgrimage itineraries, making it possible to visit whether one has a full day or only a few hours. A full pilgrimage can begin in the morning with the Stations of the Cross, followed by time in the Shrine Church and its reliquaries. The afternoon can then be devoted to Confession, Adoration, the Rosary, Mass, the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, and the blessing of religious articles. (Shrine of Divine Mercy)

For travelers with less time, the Shrine also provides morning-only and afternoon-only pilgrimage schedules. This makes Stockbridge particularly suitable for a spiritual day trip while traveling through the Berkshires rather than requiring a lengthy retreat to make the journey worthwhile. (Shrine of Divine Mercy)

The surrounding Berkshire landscape adds another dimension to the experience. Eden Hill rises within a region known for its natural beauty, and the Shrine's own grounds provide opportunities to walk, sit, reflect, pray, and simply be still. The setting is not incidental to the pilgrimage; the natural environment is part of what makes the visit feel removed from the pace of ordinary life. (The National Shrine of The Divine Mercy)

Traveling for Serenity

A journey to the National Shrine of The Divine Mercy is not principally about seeing another landmark. It is about creating room for prayer.

For some visitors, that may mean coming with a particular intention: thanksgiving, repentance, grief, healing, discernment, or prayer for a loved one. For others, it may simply mean stepping away from ordinary responsibilities long enough to remember that silence can itself become a form of prayer.

The spirituality of Divine Mercy is inseparable from the Catholic devotion associated with St. Faustina Kowalska and the message entrusted to her. The Marian Fathers have played a significant role in promoting this devotion in the United States, with Stockbridge serving as their American center for the work of spreading the message of Divine Mercy. (Marians of the Immaculate Conception)

The result is a destination where travel and devotion naturally overlap. A person may arrive as a tourist, but the character of the place encourages something slower and more intentional: walking rather than rushing, praying rather than merely observing, and leaving some silence in the day.

Planning the Visit

The National Shrine is open throughout the year, including holidays and holy days. The Shrine Church is currently listed as open from 8:45 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., while the Shrine Gift Shop has its own daily hours. Visitors should check the Shrine's current schedule before traveling because Masses and outdoor devotions can sometimes be moved outside during warmer months to accommodate larger crowds. (The National Shrine of The Divine Mercy)

The Shrine gives 11 Pine Street, Stockbridge, Massachusetts 01262 as its GPS address, while its physical street address is 2 Prospect Hill Road. The Shrine recommends following Pine Street uphill to Eden Hill and continuing to the top. (Shrine of Divine Mercy)

For those coming specifically for the spiritual program, checking the Mass and devotional schedule before setting out is worthwhile. The daily rhythm can become the framework for the entire visit.

A Quiet Place to Leave Something With God

There is a particular kind of serenity found in a Catholic pilgrimage: the knowledge that one does not have to arrive with everything figured out.

At Eden Hill, the Berkshire landscape gives the visitor space to breathe, while the Shrine gives that quiet a spiritual center. A candle can be lit for someone far away. A Rosary can be prayed for a family in need. A confession can mark a new beginning. A walk along the Stations of the Cross can become an opportunity to place suffering before Christ. A few minutes before the Blessed Sacrament can be enough.

The National Shrine of The Divine Mercy is therefore a destination for travelers seeking something deeper than an itinerary. It is a place to step away, become quiet, pray, and remember the Catholic understanding at the heart of Divine Mercy: that God's mercy is not merely an idea to contemplate, but a gift to receive and a way of life to embrace.

In the hills of Stockbridge, the journey can be wonderfully uncomplicated. Come to Eden Hill. Walk slowly. Pray. Light a candle. Sit in the gardens. Enter the Shrine Church. Give God the things you carried there.

Then, when it is time to leave, take the quiet with you.

Official Shrine: National Shrine of The Divine Mercy — the Shrine's official site has the current schedule, pilgrimage information, directions, and visitor details. (The National Shrine of The Divine Mercy)