The Monastery of Christ in the Desert
Our Benedictine monastic community near Abiquiu, New Mexico, warmly welcomes you to our Abbey on the banks of the Chama River.
Be our Guest
We welcome both day visitors and overnight guests for self-directed retreats. We celebrate mass daily, and invite you to pray with us.
Support Us
This monastic community is possible only by the generous support of friends like you. While the Monastery is an officially recognized Roman Catholic organization, it does not receive any direct financial support from the Church.
Visit our Gift Shop
We sell statuettes, plaques, boxes, and CDs of our chants. 100% of the proceeds support our monks and upkeep of the abbey.
Abbot’s Notes, Homilies, and News
We invite you to subscribe to our newsletters to receive homilies and news directly via email.
Adventures of Thumper and Benny
On April 16, 2018, Abbot Philip left for Mexico early in the morning. One of the brothers took Rosco, Thumper and Benny for a walk, but did not use a leash. As soon as Thumper and Benny got outside the cloister they disappeared. Brothers looked for Thumper and Benny...
read moreThe Abbot’s Notebook for May 23, 2018
The Abbot’s Notebook for May 23, 2018 My sisters and brothers in Christ, Blessings to you! This week I have been challenged to write because my mind seems caught up with other things. That does not happen often to me. Usually I can just sit down and write a letter...
read moreTrinity Sunday-Cycle B-2018
Trinity Sunday-Cycle B-2018 FIRST READING Deuteronomy 4:32-34, 39-40 Moses said to the people: "Ask now of the days of old, before your time, ever since God created man upon the earth; ask from one end of the sky to the other: Did anything so great ever...
read moreImpressions of Rome: Public Transportation
For all its drawbacks and faults, which I have mostly avoided discussing in these essays, Rome does have an elaborate and fine public transportation system. I grew up in Oregon in the United States and for the past forty years have lived in New Mexico. In both states...
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Daily Martyrology for May 25, 2018
In 735, at the abbey of Jarrow in Northumbria, St. Bede the Venerable, monk and doctor of the church. Raised in the monastery, he was educated by abbots Benedict Biscop and Ceolfrith. He lived a quiet, prayerful life of study, in which he was a dedicated teacher not only of his fellow monks but of the Anglo-Saxon people. His biblical commentaries and his Ecclesiastical History of the English People are highly esteemed to this day. He spent his last days translating the Gospel of John into... read morePrayer and Chant
Learn more about the Monastic Day or review our Daily Prayer Schedule.
Prayer Requests and Mass Intentions
We are glad to include your requests for prayer in our daily chanting of the psalms. Mass intentions (including the delivery of a Mass card) may be requested for small stipend.
Our Chanting
We have recordings of our chants available on CD and MP3.
Ave Maria
Daily Prayer and Mass Schedule
All are welcome to join us at daily worship. Click here for our daily prayer schedule which begins at 4:00am and ends at 7:30pm.
Current Road Conditions
Updated at 5:00 am on Friday, May 25, 2018
The road leading to the Monastery, Forest Service Road 151,is passable for all vehicles.