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 Guillermo Arboleda Tamayo, O.S.B., Elected Abbot President of the Subiaco Cassinese Congregation
On September 22, 2016, the General Chapter of the Subiaco Cassinese Congregation elected Abbot Guillermo Arboleda Tamayo, O.S.B., abbot of the Abbey of Santa Maria of Medellin and Administrator of Guatapè (Colombia) to be the new Abbot President. He succeeds...
read moreThe Abbot’s Notebook for September 21, 2016
The Abbot’s Notebook for September 21, 2016 Blessings to you! I am still in Italy but now outside of Rome. The Congress of Abbots ended on Friday, September 16th, and that afternoon a bus came to take those of us going to the General Chapter of the Subiaco...
read more26th Sunday of the Year—Cycle C—2016
26th Sunday of the Year—Cycle C—2016 FIRST READING Amos 6:1a, 4-7 Thus says the Lord the God of hosts: Woe to the complacent in Zion! Lying upon beds of ivory, stretched comfortably on their couches, they eat lambs taken from the flock, and calves from...
read moreTwenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C, September 25, 2016
Scripture readings: Book of the Prophet Amos 6:1, 4-7; First Letter of Saint Paul to Timothy 6:11-16; Gospel According to Saint Luke 16:19-31 “A wise man is known by the fewness of his words,” as the saying goes. Saint Benedict cites it in his Holy Rule in the chapter...
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Daily Martyrology for September 27, 2016
In 1660, in France, St. Vincent de Paul. He was born of a peasant family and studied theology at Toulouse. He joined the circle of Pierre de Bérulle and was much influenced by St. Francis de Sales (January 24). When he served as a parish priest, he organized a confraternity of women to care for the sick poor. In 1625 he founded an order of priests, the Congregation of the Mission, which was dedicated to preaching and revitalizing Catholicism in France. With Louise de Marillac (March... 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 5:45 am on Tuesday, September 27, 2016
The road leading to the Monastery, Forest Service Road 151, is passable for all vehicles.
As always, be careful and be aware of the weather, especially if it rains hard for that makes the road difficult. We will do our best to keep you posted.