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.
ABBOT PHILIP TO RETIRE
The Right Reverend Philip J. Lawrence, OSB, the Abbot of the Monastery of Christ in the Desert, recently announced in the summer newsletter that given the required retirement of an abbot at age seventy-five coming in 2019, he has decided that he will retire on...
read moreThe Abbot’s Notebook for October 17, 2018
The Abbot’s Notebook for October 17, 2018 My sisters and brothers in Christ, Blessings to you! It has been a relatively quiet week, although some fairly important things have happened. Brother Charles went to have his fingerprints checked by the FBI. This is one of...
read more29th Sunday in Ordinary Time – Cycle B – 2018
29th Sunday in Ordinary Time - Cycle B - 2018 FIRST READING Isaiah 53:10-11 The Lord was pleased to crush him in infirmity. If he gives his life as an offering for sin, he shall see his descendants in a long life, and the will of the Lord shall be...
read moreImpressions of Italy: Monastic Products
I have said it often enough over the past forty-seven years as a monk to have gotten tired of hearing myself say it, but here I am actually writing it: monks (and nuns) don’t receive a monthly pay check from the Vatican for being good monks and nuns. Therefore, in...
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Daily Martyrology for October 18, 2018
In the first century, St. Luke the evangelist. Luke wrote his carefully planned Gospel for a Gentile audience. The parables of the Prodigal Son and the Crafty Steward, which occur only in his gospel, are examples of his storytelling skill. He highlights the place of Jerusalem in the plan of salvation, Jesus' mercy to sinners and his concern for outcasts. He is a patron saint of the medical profession and of painters.In 1918, in Uganda, the martyrdom of Blessed Daudi Okelo and... 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 Thursday, October 18, 2018
The road leading to the Monastery, Forest Service Road 151, is passable for all vehicles.