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.
MONASTIC RETREAT
THE MONKS OF THE COMMUNITY ARE ON RETREAT FROM MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY, NOV 12-17, AND WHILE THE CHURCH IS OPEN FOR VISITORS, THE GIFT SHOP IS CLOSED AS IS THE GUESTHOUSE.
read moreThe Abbot’s Notebook for November 7, 2018
The Abbot’s Notebook for November 7, 2018 My sisters and brothers in Christ, Blessings to you! I am sitting at my own desk in my own office once again. That will change pretty soon. Tomorrow I begin to move into a normal monk’s cell so that the rooms of the abbot...
read more32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time – Cycle B – 2018
32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time - Cycle B - 2018 FIRST READING 1 Kings 17:10-16 In those days, Elijah the prophet went to Zarephath. As he arrived at the entrance of the city, a widow was gathering sticks there; he called out to her, "Please bring me a...
read moreImpressions of Italy: Medieval Memories
Though I am perfectly happy to have been born in the mid-twentieth century, 1952 to be precise, when many of the conveniences we now take for granted, such as cars, air conditioning, central heating, modern plumbing, reliable medicine, health care, the telephone,...
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Daily Martyrology for November 13, 2018
In 1917, in Chicago, St. Frances Xavier Cabrini. She was the tenth of eleven children born to farmers near Pavia. She became a school teacher, ran an orphanage, then founded an order called the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart. The bishop of Piacenza, Blessed Giovanni Batista Scalabrini (June 1) encouraged her to send her missionaries to minister to immigrants in America. She went to New York with six sisters. They were poor and at first unwelcome, but she gradually gained support.... 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 Tuesday, November 13, 2018
The road leading to the Monastery, Forest Service Road 151, is passable for all vehicles.
PLEASE NOTE: THE MONKS OF THE COMMUNITY ARE ON RETREAT FROM MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY, NOV 12-17, AND WHILE THE CHURCH IS OPEN FOR VISITORS, THE GIFT SHOP IS CLOSED AS IS THE GUESTHOUSE.