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.
GUESTHOUSE NEWLY REFURBISHED
The Monastery of Christ in the Desert is pleased to announce a major refurbishing of the guest quarters at the Monastery’s Guesthouse and Ranch House. Prior Benedict MacCaffree, OSB, said that “We try to take quite seriously the Rule of St. Benedict which commits us...
read moreThe Abbot’s Notebook for June 21, 2017
The Abbot's Notebook for June 21, 2017 My sisters and brothers in Christ, Blessings to you! Learning to slow down is a real challenge for me. I think that I have done it well and then comes a day and I seem to work all day and the next day I have to have even more...
read more12th Sunday of Ordinary Time-Cycle A–2017
12th Sunday of Ordinary Time-Cycle A--2017 FIRST READING Jeremiah 20:10-13 Jeremiah said: “I hear the whisperings of many: ‘Terror on every side! Denounce! let us denounce him!’ All those who were my friends are on the watch for any misstep of mine....
read moreImpressions of Rome: Aldo Moro
Impressions of Rome: Aldo Moro Nearly every day I walk past a memorial to one of Italy’s Prime Ministers who tragically died in 1978. The memorial is just three blocks from where I live and is on my usual “exercise walk” route. This essay is the story of the man and...
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Daily Martyrology for June 25, 2017
In 465, in Aquitaine, St. Prosper. He was a lay theologian who was involved in the semi-Pelagian controversy over grace and free will. In addition to writings related to that controversy, he wrote a chronicle of world history.In 1142, St. William of Vercelli, abbot. After leading a life of penance and pilgrimage in his youth, he settled as a hermit in a mountainous area inland from Naples. Disciples gathered around him, and he established a severe monastery there, which became... read more
Prayer 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 Sunday, June 25, 2017
The road leading to the Monastery, Forest Service Road 151, is passable for all vehicles.