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.
Health & Safety
On March 13, 2020, Archbishop John Wester announced the closing of public liturgical services throughout the Archdiocese of Santa Fe due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Consequently, the Monastery is closing all retreat reservations, the giftshop, and the public celebration of liturgical Offices and Mass until further notice.
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.
Explore the Monastery
We warmly invite you to explore a photo gallery that shows where we live and how we go about our monastic life.
Abbot’s Notes, Homilies, and News
We invite you to subscribe to our newsletters to receive homilies and news directly via email.
May 15th: It’s Twins!
Another set of twins was born in our sheepfold on May 14th. The ewe is named Velma and the lambs are Lotti and Lotto. They seem healthy and the mother attentive to the new born. With these two lambs, we now have had twelve births this Spring. They join the thirteen...
The Desert Blooms: Spring Flowerings at Christ in the Desert
An Easter Season Video Offering from Abbot Christian.
Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord
Scripture Readings: Acts of the Apostles 1:1-11; Saint Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians 1:17-23; Gospel According to Saint Mark 16:15-20 We celebrate our Lord’s Ascension, taking place forty days after his resurrection. We recount with joy the day Christ completed his...
Abbot’s Notebook
“Our Monk in Rome” is now “Our Abbot in Abiquiu,” or something like that. There will no longer be new postings on the “Our Monk in Rome” page, but please proceed to the “Abbot’s Notebook” page for my news and views. At least to begin with, there might not be a weekly...
Daily Martyrology for May 15, 2021
In Egypt, in 346, St. Pachomius. The son of comparatively wealthy parents, he learned to read and write Coptic in his youth. He was conscripted into the army and, impressed by the kindness of Christians, became a Christian when his military service was over. He became a disciple of the hermit Palamon. Moving to Tabbennesi, where disciples gathered around him, he organized a community of monasteries.About the ninth century, St. Rupert of Bingen, the patron saint of St.... 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 7 PM Monday, May 10, 2021.
The Monastery is currently closed to guests due to COVID-19 pandemic precautions. Our gift shop and Guesthouse are also closed.